Christmas hardware wishlist – Power supplies

Power supplies provide the juice our PC’s need to keep going when a lesser rig would lag far behind. They are the reason we can run high-end graphics cards, multiple 3TB hard drives to store every possible Linux distro out there, and CPUs that turn raw power into entertainment without skipping a beat.

12 days of Christmas hardware wouldn’t be complete without a list of our most wanted power supplies, so without further ado:

Antec HCP 1200w

One of the premier power supplies of 2012, the Antec HCP 1200w is a favourite among overclockers who make it their business to push systems well beyond the limit, requiring an enormous amount of power in the process. The HCP 1200w has an 80 Plus gold rating, meaning it’s an efficient unit which prevents power leaving away during stress.

It’s also “capable of outputting 99 percent of its rated power on its eight +12V rails, which contain high maximum loads to ensure graphics card compatibility.” In other words you can strap this PSU to an array of high-end cards, push start and watch how it powers them all flawlessly.

It also features heavy-gauge 16 AWG wiring that reduces conducted resistance, increasing efficiency and improving power delivery. A DC to DC power converter built into the unit aims to provide excellent voltage stability, making the HCP 1200w one of the best PSU’s currently on the market. Two for me please.

Antec HCP 1200w

Corsair GS800 series 800w

Corsair is known for their incredible build quality, reliability and sky-high performance. However, the company also make mid-range units which are priced well and aimed at gamers who need ample power without going overboard. Less overkill and more responsible grown up logical choice.

Despite its reasonable price tag the unit comes with enough bells and whistles to keep gamers happy. It features an 80 Plus bronze rating for high efficiency, 4 x PCIe power connectors for SLI/CrossFireX systems, and LED light fans to add that bit of shine to your gaming rig. It lacks modular cables, but the saving justifies spending that extra bit of time managing your cables to make sure they don’t impede the airflow.

Corsair GS800 power supply

Silverstone Strider ST1500 series 1,500w

Does your computer have all the things? Are you building a computer with all the things? Just feel like having a power supply that can power all the things at once? The Strider ST1500 is for you.

1.5 kilowatts (more like Killerwatts amirite?) of pure power means there are very few gaming systems that will push the ST1500 to its limit (especially with a peak power of 1,600w) and there’s more besides. Four PCIe 8 power connectors and eight 6 pin PCIe connectors mean you can plug in almost any GPU combination available with the standard kit provided with the ST1500.

Did we mention the 12 SATA power connectors? An 80 Plus silver rating and fully modular design round off this attractive option, which is about as high-end as consumers can get. I’ll take two of these too please, because why the hell not.