The Radeon RX 6800 is AMD’s newly announced RDNA2 based GPU. Aimed squarely to compete with the RTX 3070 this $579 GPU has 16Gb VRAM and promises exceptional 1440p gaming performance. With a 250W power draw, you need to ensure that your power supply is up to the task but this is a more efficient unit than the flagship GPUs making it more versatile. Because of the lower heat output and high efficiency, it will be better suited to small form factor builds. Whilst not cheap, combined with cost-effective parts the lower power requirements allow you to select a less expensive PSU keeping overall system costs down without detriment to performance. The RX 6800 looks set to redefine performance in 1440p high FPS gaming but needs a great system to support it.
In this article, we’ll recommend PSU’s for a range of RX 6800 builds and needs, all of which are plenty capable of ensuring the RX 6800 performs to its full potential and that there is no bottlenecking or loss of performance.
PSU requirements of the RX 6800
The Radeon RX 6800 has relatively frugal power requirements in the context of high-performance GPUs. We consider a 650W PSU to be optimum in terms of pricing and headroom to run this GPU in combination with any current mid-range CPU and supporting PC system. It uses two 8-pin PCIe power connectors which are standard on any reasonable PSU. As always it is sensible to look for the following features in any PSU you’re looking at:
- That it has some headroom to allow for component upgrades in future and deal with transient loads as the GPU powers up, for example.
- An efficiency rating of at least 80+ bronze shouldn’t be taken as a guarantee of quality but does at least mean some consideration has been given to ensuring the PSU outputs more power than heat.
- You should always check that the PSU has the full suite of thermal and over-current protections built-in, especially if it’s a lesser-known brand.
- You might want to consider if the PSU has ‘silent mode’ to keep it quiet by stopping the fan when not under load, for example when doing desktop tasks.
- Finally, a good warranty is a source of peace of mind and indicates how long the manufacturer has confidence that it will last. 5 years is an entry point with 7-10 years being common on higher-end units.
Best PSUs for RX 6800 – Our Recommendations
Best Budget PSU for RX 6800
If you’re looking to maximize the value on parts like the PSU in order to stretch your budget as far as it will go, then the CoolerMaster MasterWatt 650W 80+ Bronze is a great option. At just $84 this PSU has a semi-modular design so you only have to attach PCIe and SATA cables as required. The bronze rating means it’s at least 80% efficient but exceeds 85% under most loads at 110V, 230V it is more efficient still. It operates fanlessly under 15% loads so desktop use will be silent. The fan itself is optimized for low noise even when it is spinning. The compact design means it’s easy to fit into most cases. It has the full suite of protections and ships with a 5-year warranty. This is an excellent option to keep costs down and focus your spend on the parts that matter most affording the RX 6800 and a CPU to back it up.
Best Overall PSU for RX 6800
If you are looking for a balance of performance, features and price then the EVGA G1+ 650W Gold is an excellent choice. Retailing at just under $100 there’s a whole array of handy features. It’s a fully modular PSU so you only need to attach the cables you want. It uses Zero fan mode and a large 135mm fan to keep noise to a minimum. Build quality is good and high-end parts like Japanese capacitors and a fluid dynamic bearing fan are used to extend the life of the unit. Like all our recommendations it has the full suite of protective circuitry to preserve your components should anything go wrong and it’s backed by a 10-year warranty. We consider this PSU for the RX 6800 to be an excellent balance of price, performance and importantly availability.
Best High-End PSU for RX 6800
The Corsair RMx series is a long-standing stalwart of the high-end PSU market. The RMx 650W 80+ Gold takes a no-compromise approach with high-end componentry and design, wrapped up in rock-solid build quality. This fully modular PSU features ultra low noise design with zero fan mode until moderate power levels, and is 80 Plus Gold certified for over 90% efficiency. The fully modular design makes it easy to use custom cables and keeps the PC build neat by allowing you to omit cables you don’t want. Corsair even makes their own braided cable sets in various color schemes or you can buy off the shelf from third-party manufacturers like cable mod that are directly compatible. Internal components are all top-notch with all Japanese capacitors. From a support perspective, you get a 10-year warranty demonstrating the faith Corsair have that this as a PSU that will last the distance.
Best SFX PSU for RX 6800 SFF Builds
EVGA clearly saw a gap in the market for an SFX PSU bearing their name and reputation. The SuperNOVA GM 650W 80+ Gold is a compact PSU catering to the ever-expanding demand for small form factor PCs. The small size doesn’t mean it is lacking features or performance: It puts out 650W at 90% efficiency and uses Japanese capacitors for reliability. The 92mm fan is a dual ball bearing unit intended to be both quiet and reliable, and it isn’t powered on until 30% load so it’s completely silent under light loads. It has single 12V rail configuration capable of supplying over 50Amps (so over 500W) meaning that it’s happily able to cope with large transient demands from powerful graphics cards. The PCIe cable has two 8 pinheads on the same cable, which can be useful in compact builds where there’s limited room for additional cables. The full gamut of over current, over temperature and voltage protections are in place to protect your components in the event of a failure. Finally, it’s backed by EVGA’s great customer service and a 7-year warranty.
Best PSU for Overclocking a RX 6800 Build
If you want a rock-solid PSU as the foundation of an overclocking rig then the Fractal Design Ion+ 760W 80+ Platinum could be the power supply for you. With 760W output, there’s significant headroom for power-hungry CPUs or pushing the RX 6800 to its limit. It also has 8+4 pin connectors for CPU power, meaning you can fully populate a higher-end motherboards sockets for the most demanding CPU overclocks. An oversized 140mm fan means it’s quiet in operation and has zero fan mode at low load. Highly flexible cables and the fully modular design take the pain out of cable management. Fractal back this power supply with a comprehensive 10-year warranty so this is the last power supply you’ll need to buy until 2030!
We hope this article has helped you find the perfect PSU for your AMD RX 6800 PC Build!