Choosing the Best Power Supply for Intel's Core i9-12900KF CPU

Best 750–1650 Watt PSU

Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 Series 80+ Gold Full Modular ATX 3.0 PCIe Gen 5 Power Supply

Best 850 Watt PSU

MSI MPG A850G PCIE 5.1 & ATX 3.1 Gaming Power Supply

Power Supply for the Core i9-12900KF CPU and Top-Tier Components

Check the latest price of the 750–1650 watt Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 ATX 3.0 Power Supply on Amazon .

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Power Supply for the Core i9-12900KF CPU and Mid-Tier Components

Check the latest price of the 450–750 watt Corsair SF Power Supplies on Amazon .

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Power Consumption of the Intel Core i9-12900KF CPU

Based on my experience, accurately determining the wattage of the power supply necessary for both your CPU and other components is crucial. We can use the peak TDP rating, PL2 (Power Level 2), to determine the peak wattage that the Core i9-12900KF CPU uses. The turbo boost TDP (PL2) is the power consumption at the CPU's maximum turbo boost frequency. Based on the PL2, we know that the peak power consumption of the Intel Core i9-12900KF CPU is 241 watts which can be reached at its max boost frequency of 5.20 GHz.

The base TDP (PL1) indicates the CPU's power draw at its base frequency. The Core i9 12900KF's base TDP is 125 watts. However, we strongly recommend that you use a power supply that supports the wattage of the PL2 rating (241 watts) to avoid any potential damage to your components or data corruption.

The PL2 rating only represents the CPU's power consumption, while other components, such as the graphics card, RAM, and storage devices, also require power. The power supply must meet the power demands of your entire system, not just the CPU.

Estimated PSU Wattage for the Core i9-12900KF CPU

To estimate your power supply needs, we start by calculating the power draw of each PC component. It is crucial to ensure that your power supply has sufficient wattage to support all components, even when they are not operating at maximum capacity.

From our experience, we recommend adding a 100-150 watt buffer to your PC's estimated total wattage. This buffer is beneficial for accommodating future upgrades or unforeseen power requirements. Personally, we have found that this approach allows for the addition of more drives and fans without concerns about exceeding the power supply's capacity.

We have encountered situations where insufficient power supply wattage or low-quality PSU brands have led to system instability, crashes, and even component damage. To avoid such issues, we advise choosing a trusted brand and model that reliably delivers the required wattage. Based on extensive testing, we highly recommend selecting a power supply with extra headroom beyond your system's needs. This ensures more reliable stability and prevents overload-related problems.

Additionally, we consider power requirements for overclocking. Overclocking your CPU or GPU can significantly increase power consumption, so we suggest allocating an additional 50-100 watts, depending on the extent of the overclocking.

By referring to the chart below that we have created, you can estimate your power requirements.

By adding up these numbers, you can estimate peak power usage. Check out the top-tier and mid-tier example builds above.

Power Supply Efficiency and Certification

In our experience, investing in a power supply unit (PSU) with a higher efficiency rating is a wise choice if you're willing to pay the upfront cost. We observed that upgrading to a better-efficiency PSU significantly reduced our energy consumption and heat generation while improving system reliability and reducing noise levels. It made our overall experience much more pleasant, and we've seen the benefits firsthand.

Efficiency levels are a key determinant of a power supply's cost-effectiveness. The 80 PLUS rating is a great way to gauge efficiency. The 80 PLUS certification program offers various efficiency levels, ranging from 80 PLUS to 80 PLUS Titanium, with increasing levels of efficiency such as 80 PLUS Bronze, 80 PLUS Silver, 80 PLUS Gold, and 80 PLUS Platinum. We've tested them and found that higher efficiency ratings can deliver tangible benefits.

We know that while a high-efficiency power supply may come at a higher upfront cost, it can help save money on electricity bills in the long run. Our research and testing showed that lower-wattage PSUs are typically more energy-efficient even when idle. Therefore, choosing the correct wattage is important instead of solely relying on the best 80 PLUS rating.

Power Supply Cables and Connectors

As experienced PC builders, we know the importance of ensuring that a power supply has the appropriate connectors to support the hardware in a system. Cheaper power supplies may have fewer options and shorter cable lengths, which can cause compatibility issues. On the other hand, we've experienced that more premium power supplies provide modular and semi-modular designs that offer greater compatibility, allowing for a better fit with the specific components in the system.

I recommend checking your motherboard and graphics card documentation to determine the exact connector types you need. In my experience, buying a recently-released PSU is usually the best bet as it will likely have all the necessary connectors for a new PC build. You may encounter some incompatibilities if you're using older components or an older power supply.

I've observed that power supplies generally support several common connector types, which include:

• 24-pin connector for the motherboard
• 4/8-pin connector for the CPU
• 6/8/16-pin connectors for graphics cards
• SATA Power connector for each SATA HDD or SDD storage device

The latest graphics cards and ATX 3.0 PSUs support a new 16-pin PCIe 5.0 connector that replaces multiple 8-pin connectors.

Typical power supplies come with various cables to connect your components. However, extra unused power cables can work against you by interrupting airflow.

In comparison, modular and semi-modular power supplies allow for attaching only the cables you need. As the name implies, semi-modular power supplies have some wires soldered on, while you can optionally connect others.

It's important to double-check that your power supply has suitable connectors for the specific hardware in your system. I've encountered situations where cheaper power supplies had fewer options and shorter cable lengths, which made it difficult to power all the components in my PC. That's why my team and I have always opted for more premium power supplies offering modular and semi-modular designs and greater compatibility. It's a lesson we learned the hard way after struggling to get everything to work properly.

As someone who has built and tinkered with PCs for years, I can say that when it comes to power supplies, it's necessary to consider the size of your tower. In my experience, most power supplies have long enough cables to support mid-sized towers, but I've encountered some challenges when I tried to install them in full-size towers. If you're in the same boat, I'd recommend researching and checking documentation to ensure the cables are long enough to allow for good cable management.

Power Supply Features and Form Factors

Power supply overvoltage protection and short circuit protection features can help to save your components in the case of a surge or accident. LED lighting is another feature you might consider, depending on your PC goals.

PSU form factors determine the physical size and shape of the unit and affect the compatibility with different computer cases. Choosing the correct form factor ensures proper fitting and ventilation, which can affect system stability and performance.

Various form factors are available for power supplies. However, a standard-size desktop PC build will use an ATX power supply. Small form factor PSUs allow for usage in many computer case shapes, including mini-PCs.

Choosing a Cost-Effective Power Supply for the 12900KF CPU

You may live in a dorm or a family member's house and not pay electricity bills, or you may not expect to use your computer daily for an extended period. In those cases, the lower upfront cost of a less efficient PSU may be the better choice. For example, I once lived in a dorm without having to pay for electricity. With moderate computer usage, I decided to try a less efficient PSU to save on upfront costs. It proved to be a practical decision in that situation.

On the other hand, if you care more about your electric bill or the environment and plan to maintain higher CPU usage, a more efficient PSU may be the better option. As I became more conscious of my electric bill and environmental impact, I noticed that my high CPU usage was taking a toll. So, I researched and analyzed my options. Based on my findings, I invested in a more efficient PSU. It was a decision that paid off, as I saw a noticeable decrease in electricity costs over time.

It's important to stay under 150 W above your expected power needs. Rightsizing your power supply will help keep electricity costs to a minimum, as higher-wattage PSUs consume additional power, even when idle. I've experienced a situation where I chose a PSU that exceeded my power needs by a significant margin. Unfortunately, I learned the costly way that when my computer was idle, the high-wattage PSU consumed unnecessary additional power. This experience made me realize the importance of rightsizing my power supply to keep electricity costs to a minimum.

We've come to understand the significance of considering our specific circumstances and needs when choosing a PSU. Whether it's about saving costs or reducing our environmental footprint, making an informed decision is beneficial in the long run.

Recommended Power Supplies for Your PC With a 12900KF CPU

Now that you've estimated the power supply wattage needed for your PC, you can choose a power supply. We recommend the following power supplies for use with the Intel Core i9-12900KF CPU.

• Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 ATX 3.0

  Power (Watts):	750 to 1650
  Efficiency:	GOLD 80 PLUS
  Warranty:	10-year

• The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 ATX 3.0 Power Supply on Amazon is our recommended 750-1650 watt ATX 3.0 PSU.

• We were impressed when we saw the efficiency rating of the Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 ATX 3.0. Its GOLD 80 PLUS efficiency rating ensures the power supply operates at peak efficiency, reducing energy waste and operating costs.

• With support for the ATX 3.0 standard, the Toughpower GF3 is an excellent choice for anyone looking to upgrade to newer graphics cards, ensuring compatibility with the latest hardware releases.

• The fully modular cabling on the Toughpower GF3 allows for easy customization and cable management, optimizing airflow and minimizing clutter in my build.

• The ultra-quiet design of the Toughpower GF3 makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a power supply that won't add excess noise to their system, even under heavy workloads.

• 10-year warranty.

• This series of power supplies comes in power outputs including 750, 850, 1000, 1200, 1350 and 1650 watts. Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 Series 80+ Gold Full Modular ATX 3.0 PCIe Gen 5 Power Supply

• MSI MPG A850G Gaming PSU

  Power (Watts):	850
  Efficiency:	GOLD 80 PLUS
  Warranty:	10-year

• The MSI MPG A850G Gaming Power Supply on Amazon is our recommended 850 watt PSU.

• The GOLD 80 PLUS efficiency rating of the MSI MPG A850G PSU was impressive, as it ensures high efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and helps lower energy costs.

• The fully modular cabling of the MSI MPG A850G PSU makes customization easy, allowing for better airflow and a cleaner build by minimizing cable clutter.

• The near-silent operation of the MSI MPG A850G PSU during low usage was a standout feature, delivering a quiet and distraction-free experience with our PC build.

• It also comes with a 10-year warranty, offering us peace of mind and reassuring durability. MSI MPG A850G PCIE 5.1 & ATX 3.1 Gaming Power Supply

Learn More About the Intel Core i9-12900KF

• Motherboard: Choosing the Best Motherboard for Intel's Core i9-12900KF
• Chipset: Which Chipsets Work With Intel's Core i9-12900KF CPU?
• Cooler: Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for Intel's Core i9-12900KF
• Power Supply: Choosing the Best Power Supply for Intel's Core i9-12900KF
• RAM: Best RAM for the Intel Core i9-12900KF CPU
• TDP: What Is the TDP of the Core i9-12900KF CPU?
• Gaming: Is the Core i9-12900KF CPU Good for Gaming?