The wattage you need depends mainly on the combined power draw of your CPU and GPU, which are the most power-hungry components in a gaming PC. A good rule is 20-30% more than your estimated peak load, for stability and future upgrades.

Use the ASUS PSU Calculator for a quick estimate: Simply enter your CPU and GPU details to receive a recommended PSU wattage. For additional components like storage and cooling, consider adding extra headroom beyond the suggested value.

ASUS offers different product lines based on your build priorities:

• ROG Thor Series: The flagship choice for those needing OLED power monitoring and ultimate efficiency.
• ROG Strix Series: A balance of premium aesthetics and high performance.
• TUF Gaming Series: Optimized for durability and long-term stability, making it the practical power supply for gaming PC setups in demanding environments.
• Prime Series: Ideal for users who value stable, efficient, and no‑frills performance. Prime PSUs focus on core electrical reliability and clean power delivery, making them a solid choice for productivity systems or mainstream gaming builds that require dependable power without premium extras.

80 PLUS certifications indicate PSU efficiency levels:

Higher efficiency indicates less heat, lower power consumption, and better long-term reliability.

Both 80 PLUS and Cybenetics certifications provide valuable insights into PSU performance, but they focus on different aspects:

• 80 PLUS measures efficiency at specific load levels (20%, 50%, and 100%).
• Cybenetics offers a broader evaluation, including efficiency across multiple loads and noise levels (LAMBDA rating).

Each serves as a useful reference for efficiency and overall quality. When selecting a PSU, look for models with high ratings in either or both standards for a good balance of performance and reliability.

To estimate the power requirements for your build, use the ASUS PSU Calculator tool. Enter your CPU and graphics card to get recommendations.

For the latest GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs:

• GeForce RTX 5090: Recommended PSU wattage is 1200W or higher, ideally with PCIe 5.1 and a 12V-2x6 port.
• GeForce RTX 5080: Recommended PSU wattage is 1000W or higher, ideally with PCIe 5.1 and a 12V-2x6 port.
• GeForce RTX 5070 / 5060 / 5050: Recommended PSU wattage is 750W–850W, depending on your system configuration.

Always check official NVIDIA guidelines and consider extra headroom for overclocking or future upgrades.

Yes, if you plan to use the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series or other cards that require this cable type. PCIe 5.1 12V-2x6 cables provide higher power delivery than standard cables, plus better safety standards than 12VHPWR to keep cable temperatures under control.

“GPU-First” Intelligent Voltage Stabilizer (IVS) is a patented technology available on ROG Thor III and ROG Strix Platinum Series PSUs. The technology enhances voltage stability at the graphics card power input by up to 45% — even during demanding gaming sessions and overclocking scenarios.

It works by measuring GPU voltage instead of CPU voltage. This requires attaching the “GPU-First” IVS purple connector to the PSU, which also allows the unit to respond significantly faster to changes in GPU power draw. By detecting real-time voltage changes, drops, and spikes caused by the GPU's fluctuating power consumption, the PSU instantly adjusts its output to compensate. This active feedback loop helps ensure that the GPU receives a steady flow of power, minimizing the fluctuations inherent in a PSU and its cables.

GPU-First IVS is available for 16-pin 12VHPWR or 12V-2x6 interfaces, such as those used by high-end NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 40 and 50 series graphics cards and selected AMD graphics cards. The “GPU-First” IVS is purpose-built to stabilize voltage under the high-current transients and heavy load conditions typical of these next-gen high-power graphics cards. The GPU-First IVS is not available for traditional 8-pin PCIe power cables.

By maintaining a tighter voltage regulation window, “GPU-First” IVS prevents V-droop (voltage sags) that can cause system instability or black screens during high-load transients. Consistent voltage delivery also reduces electrical stress on a graphic card’s voltage regulator modules, potentially extending the lifespan of your high-performance hardware.

Yes. While most 80 PLUS Gold units focus primarily on energy efficiency, the TUF Gaming Gold EVO is specifically engineered for extreme longevity. On a component level, it uses military-grade capacitors to ensure stable power delivery under higher temperatures. Beyond efficiency, the entire series undergoes rigorous environmental stress testing—including 75cm drops, vibrations, and extreme temperature cycles—to maximize its MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures). Combined with a protective PCB coating and dual-ball fan bearings, it offers a level of resilience against dust and moisture that typical gold PSUs do not provide.

GaN (Gallium Nitride) is a high-performance material for power delivery that replaces traditional silicon MOSFETs to improve conversion efficiency and minimize thermal loss.

As silicon approaches its electrical performance limits, GaN’s superior energy efficiency, faster switching speeds, lower heat generation, and higher voltage resistance position it as a server-grade material for demanding applications such as AI development, high-end gaming, and video editing.

Furthermore, GaN MOSFET’s compact size enables a more efficient internal layout, freeing up space for larger heatsinks and enhanced airflow to ensure maximum cooling and stability under heavy loads.

Thermal stability is the primary design goal of the ROG Equalizer cable. An innovative conductive bridging architecture enables it to efficiently dissipate heat and eliminate the risk of hotspots. This increased efficiency and thermal capacity is designed to deliver rock-solid stability and connection reliability—meeting the rigorous safety demands of high-powered, high-performance graphics cards.

Each pin is engineered to support a short-term current peak of up to 17A. A physical bridging design, optimized cable materials, and advanced thermal management significantly increase current tolerance per pin and enhance the overall thermal robustness of the connector. This high-spec configuration provides an ample power safety margin and longer service life, protecting system stability under extreme power conditions.

ROG employs a high-specification hard gold-plating process to ensure long-term stability and reliability based on the following considerations:

• Superior oxidation resistance: Gold possesses high chemical stability and does not easily form insulating oxide layers, so consistent electrical contact is maintained.
• Robust moisture protection: This reduces the risk of contact degradation that may occur in high-humidity environments.
• Stable contact performance: This ensures a secure and stable interface with tin-plated surfaces, reducing initial contact resistance and heat generation.
• Exceptional wear resistance: The hard gold-plating reduces abrasion from repeated plugging and unplugging, which to maintain long-term reliability.
• Long-term stability design: By maintaining a stable, low-oxidation, and low-resistance contact state at the cable end, the overall system remains within a safe operating range, even as natural changes occur at the graphics card interface over time.

The ROG Equalizer features a reinforced bridging structure designed to deliver stable connectivity and safety while catering to practical installation needs:

1. Dual focus on stability and safety: The bridging architecture maintains connector stability within confined spaces, minimizing the risk of misalignment or poor contact caused by tension or bending. This helps ensure long-term operational reliability.
2. Installation recommendations: For the best experience, users should leave at least 4 centimeters of clearance between the chassis side panel and the power connector on their graphics card. This allows the cable to form a natural curve for optimal connection stability and system safety.