Best budget PSU for a mid-range AMD build?

Question

Whats the best budget PSU I can grab right now for a mid-range AMD build without it literally exploding?

Im putting together a Ryzen 5 5600 and an RX 6700 XT this weekend and I am super stressed about the power supply part. I have like 70 bucks max to spend at the Microcenter near me. I saw the EVGA 600 BR is cheap but then I looked at that cultist tier list thing and its way down in the C or D tier? But then people on reddit say its totally fine for a budget build so I dont know who to believe... is it actually worth spending more for a Corsair CX or am I just overthinking this?

Mellyde · Accepted Answer

Honestly, those EVGA 600 BR 600W 80 Plus Bronze units are pretty disappointing and I wouldnt trust one with a 6700 XT. Unfortunately, skimping on the PSU is how people end up with dead components... You should really grab the Corsair CX650M 650W 80 Plus Bronze instead. Its way more reliable for that build. If they have the Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600W 80 Plus Gold on sale, grab it. Dont risk your parts over twenty bucks.

Selena Marisol Garcia · Answer

^ This. Also, totally agree that the BR is a bit risky for that GPU. In my experience, you really want something with DC-to-DC conversion so your 12V rail doesn't tank when the 6700 XT boosts. Those transient spikes are real and budget units like the BR use older group-regulated tech that just doesn't handle modern cards well. I've used these a bunch and they're usually right around your 70 dollar limit at Microcenter:

MSI MAG A650BN 650W 80 Plus Bronze: Basically the budget king right now. It's got way better component quality than the EVGA BR and actually handles those GPU spikes without tripping.

Cooler Master MWE Bronze V2 650W: Solid choice if it's in stock. It's built tougher than most budget units, tho the fan can get a bit loud when things get hot. Tbh I'd grab the MSI one if they have it. It's miles better than the D-tier stuff and wont break the bank... definitely worth the extra ten bucks for the peace of mind.

dvolvxgymr · Answer

Re: "Honestly, those EVGA 600 BR 600W 80 Plus..." - couldn't agree more. In my experience, those BR units are barely okay for an office PC, but a 6700 XT will stress them way too hard. I've tried many budget units over the years and the voltage ripple on those older group-regulated designs is just nasty. Since you are at Microcenter, grab the MSI MAG A650BN 650W 80 Plus Bronze if it's in stock. It's usually under 70 bucks and miles ahead of the EVGA in terms of build quality. Quick tip: check the 12V rail amperage on the box. You want a unit where the 12V rail provides almost the full rated wattage. If it's significantly lower, the internal components are likely low-grade. Also, use two separate cables for that GPU instead of one pigtail... it helps with those transient spikes mentioned earlier.