PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

Gigabyte's New 1200W Aorus Power Supply Has a Built-In Display

It can play videos, GIFs, display photos, or act as a real-time PSU health monitor.

 & Matthew Humphries Former Senior Editor

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

Power supplies (PSU) are an essential part of any desktop computer, but not a component it's easy to get excited about. Gigabyte is aiming to change that by adding an LCD display to its latest modular power block.

As Hexus reports, the Gigabyte Aorus P1200W is a fully-modular PSU which makes for easier cable management. It not only offers 1200W of power and keeps noise to a minimum using a 140mm smart fan, but it's 80 Plus Platinum certified for power efficiency. That's the second highest rating for power efficiency (behind 80 Plus Titanium).

The feature making the P1200W stand out from the crowd, however, is the inclusion of an LCD display on the side. Gigabyte calls it a "Digital Monitor" and expects it to be used to display the health status of the power supply in real-time. The output is customizable, though. You can display custom text, GIFs, MP4 video, or images if you so wish. There's also RGB Fusion 2.0 support, which allows for lighting effects to be triggered behind the Aorus logo and below the display on the PSU.

There's no details on exactly how big the display is or what the resolution is. Being able to view it also means ensuring a case with a transparent side is used and that the bay for the PSU doesn't obscure the output. We currently don't know how much the Aorus P1200W costs, but it does include a 10-year warranty for peace of mind.

About Our Expert

Matthew Humphries

Matthew Humphries

Former Senior Editor

My Experience

I started working at PCMag in November 2016, covering all areas of technology and video game news. Before that I spent nearly 15 years working at Geek.com as a writer and editor. I also spent the first six years after leaving university as a professional game designer working with Disney, Games Workshop, 20th Century Fox, and Vivendi.

I hold two degrees: a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a Master's degree in Games Development. My first book, Make Your Own Pixel Art, is available from all good book shops.

My Areas of Expertise

  • PC components and system building
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Software development
  • Storage technology
  • Video games and gaming hardware

Read full bio