A few months ago, we covered Thermaltake's "AI Forge" feature for the first time, detailing how it can generate custom backgrounds for you based on AI prompts. At the time, we even highlighted how it must connect to the internet to use some diffusion model instead of running anything locally. Today, Thermaltake has finally given the feature a purpose with its new MAGCurve 360 Ultra ARGB Sync AIO, and it turns out that you do need a paid subscription to either OpenAI or JiMeng to create the images.

The cooler itself looks maximalist in the best ways possible. It's another entry in the line of L-shaped AIOs with curved OLED screens, a trend that the Tryx Panorama kicked off last year. Thermaltake's iteration uses a 6.67" AMOLED panel that wraps around the pump block, and features a resolution of 2240 x 1080, which puts it in the territory of a phone display. It's very sharp, but we don't have info on max brightness or refresh rate.

You need to use Thermaltake's TT RGB PLUS 3.0 software to customize this display, and there you'll find the option for AI Forge. Clicking on it will open up a new window where you can type out a prompt and an image will be generated using one of two available models: OpenAI's Dall-E 3 and JiMeng — both of which require their own setup.

There's an entire FAQs page that tells you how AI Forge works, where you'll also find the manual. For Dall-E, you need to have a paid OpenAI subscription, which you'll need to connect to the TT Plus software with an API key. Each image created with a prompt will cost roughly $0.04 based on OpenAI's pricing structure.

Thermaltake is kind enough to mention that if this is your first time using an OpenAI account (separate from a ChatGPT account), a minimum top-up of $5 is required using your credit card. That $5 can generate up to 125 images. On the other hand, JiMeng is free for the first 200 images, but costs $0.03 per image credit afterward. Either way, you're likely paying up if you want to use AI Forge in the long-term.

On the contrary, you can just use Gemini, ChatGPT, or even Grok to generate images for free, taking the downloaded JPEG and puting it in the TT Plus software manually. The built-in image generation gives you a static image anyway. Funnily enough, the software does include six built-in dynamic backgrounds that don't look far from AI slop to begin with.

Listings for MAGCurve 360 Ultra AIOs have popped up online but there's no official MSRP despite the fact that this cooler was originally unveiled at CES last year. It's available in both black and white. Since it's a brand-new option in the market, there are no reviews for it yet, but the last Thermaltake AIO we looked at ended up placing second in our best AIOs roundup.

There are plenty of all-in-one liquid coolers with built-in displays these days, where panels can be used to show system temperatures, animations, videos, or even act as tiny secondary monitors. However, Thermaltake’s new Minecube 360 Ultra ARGB Sync takes things a step further with its patented Quad-LCD Cube Display. After debuting the cooler at Computex 2025, the company has finally started selling it, and you can now pick one up from Newegg starting at $349.99 in black or white (Snow) color variants.

• Thermaltake's Minecube 360 Ultra ARGB Sync AIO liquid cooler at Newegg

Essentially, the CPU block has a removable top in the shape of a cube with four displays placed at the front, sides, and top, for a wraparound visual effect. Each square display measures 3.95 inches diagonally and uses a TFT LCD panel with a resolution of 720 x 720 pixels. With support for a wide range of formats, including JPG, GIF, MP4, and AVI, Thermaltake’s dedicated software lets you configure each panel individually to showcase various items all at once, or combine all LCDs together to create a dynamic block of digital art. The software additionally comes with some presets and the option to upload your own images or animations.

As for the cooling capabilities, it features a standard 360mm radiator with a thickness of 27mm and three 120mm Swafan EX ARGB Sync fans. Thermaltake says these fans can spin up to 2000 rpm and offer daisy-chain capability, which uses contact pads and magnets to reduce a chunk of cable clutter. They also feature a swappable fan blade design, allowing one to change the direction of airflow without having to unscrew and remove the entire fan. This also makes the fans easier to service as the blades can be rinsed with water and refreshed by applying the included bearing lubricant. The pump block has a copper-finish coldplate and a built-in 3500-rpm VRM fan that can potentially help in cooling various components on the motherboard, mostly around the CPU socket.

The quad-LCD setup does create a one-of-a-kind visual element for your PC, but the prominent bezels around each display mean it isn’t as seamless as it sounds. Then there’s the cost. At $350, the Minecube 360 is priced higher than most liquid coolers with a standard round or square LCD screen, and substantially higher if all you want is a reliable CPU cooler. Still, if you want your PC to stand out and don’t mind paying a premium, this cooler does make a statement.

A few months ago, Thermaltake took the covers off its MagFloe Ultra lineup of all-in-one (AIO) liquid coolers that have a pretty neat-looking display, along with flagship specs. These coolers are controlled by the TT RGB Plus software that has a bunch of built-in animations for the 3.4-inch LCD on the pump. It can not only display images and videos, but also overlays the weather, time, and CPU/GPU telemetry data on top. Unfortunately, these elements are bound by certainty and lack imagination — and Thermaltake is here to fix that with its new "AI Forge" feature.

Yes, your liquid cooler, whose sole job is to keep your CPU temperatures in check, now has AI. Inside the TT RGB Plus 3.0 app, there exists "a studio without walls" that will allow you to generate custom videos and images with your own prompts. The selling point here is that you don't need to fiddle with third-party services; new animations can be made and saved right inside Thermaltake's software, ready to be applied to your cooler's screen. These custom backgrounds can then be overlaid with the aforementioned time, weather, or hardware monitoring data.

As I am sure many readers can relate, I heard the hallowed, somewhat daunting words that friends and loved ones say to the resident PC geek or tech enthusiast in their lives — "Can you make me a PC?"

Of course, I've done it dozens of times, but this was the first time that my wife, who regularly plays (or attempts to run) AAA games on a basic RTX 3050 gaming laptop, wanted something higher-end. I would figure out the components, and she could pick out a case, specifying other aesthetic frills she would like. It couldn't be a big, black, boring box, and it had to be an interesting color. My wife eventually settled on the Thermaltake Tower 250 in the eye-catching "Hydrangea Blue" colorway. The PC case is an evolution of the original Tower 100, which we reviewed in 2019.

Things began to come together, and being a resourceful sort, we managed to corral all of the components to build a (slightly larger than usual) ITX-based system.

This isn't a super-high-end build, sporting an AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and RTX 4080 Founders Edition GPU, which I had intended to use in a different build. With that, alongside a 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD from Sabrent and 32GB of Klevv RAM, it is quite a performant system, which should easily run just about every modern AAA title without issue at 1440p.

Once the case arrived and we started the build process, I noticed something unusual. The Thermaltake Tower 250 rotates the motherboard 90 degrees, compared to a standard configuration. This allows for a vertically-placed GPU, a motherboard placed in the center, and then support for an all-in-one cooler's radiator on the right. This isn't an issue in itself, but it does cause the motherboard's I/O to be pointing to the top of the case, in addition to any GPU display cables.

Where for art thou, I/O

The top of the Thermaltake Tower 250 is quite crowded; there are two preinstalled exhaust fans, in addition to the front I/O panel of the case. There's also a cut-out for cables, in addition to around an inch of clearance next to the fan shroud for anything coming from the motherboard IO, which feeds into a hole for the plastic shroud that covers it, leading out of the case.

So, if you want to plug anything into your motherboard, you'll have to navigate a frustrating labyrinth of cut-outs every single time. Many people will set and forget their rear I/O, ports, and with two USB-A and a Type-C port at the front, many just won't need it. Since this PC uses Wi-Fi, routing the antenna through was very simple, and I added a handful of USB-C cables to be routed to the desk to have a couple of chargers, in case she needs to plug things in.

What I didn't anticipate was the sheer number of random cables my wife would want to plug into her system at any given time. With the front I/O already populated, plugging in USB devices became more difficult than it really should be. When factoring in the heft of a DisplayPort cable in addition to everything else, things got pretty crowded.

So, the process of taking the top of the case off and wrangling around inside to plug in devices continued. This slight inconvenience turned into annoyance, and I answered the repeated calls of "Can you plug this in please?" repeatedly for a whole week, until I buckled and bought a generic USB hub from Amazon.

You shouldn't really have to do that for the sake of convenience, especially when a motherboard has enough IO for everything. But now that the saga is over, it also highlights another design issue for the Thermaltake Tower 250.

Building cleanly still results in visible cable mess

To Thermaltake's credit, the Tower 250 is broadly well-designed and very simple to build inside, and it took less than an hour for me to assemble a full system, including an all-in-one cooler and RGB frills, which were listed as "mandatory" under my wife's requirements. The case has consistent and simple channels for almost everything, including support for a full-sized PSU. Cable channelling for the GPU is well-thought-out, meaning we hid the majority of a white 12V2x6 cable into a corner, which cannot be seen from most angles. With everything put together, it looked and ran well, until I realized that the I/O pointing out at the top can become a bit of an eyesore.

With several cables running out at the top, the effort put in elsewhere to hide cables so efficiently was seemingly for naught. Above the I/O, there's an inch or two of clearance where cables can be routed. The problem is that with the Hydrangea Blue colorway of the case, the internal metal sheets are white, so if you have any black cables, they stick out like a sore thumb. This is admittedly minor compared to my other grievance, but it also has a fairly simple solution.

If Thermaltake built a detachable shroud for this part of the Tower 250, which puts some effort into hiding the cabling, it would also allow for a larger cable routing channel through the rear, making it simpler to actually make use of the motherboard I/O, or offer a wider cut-out, which makes accessing the rear IO much more accessible. Adding more steps between allowing a user to make use of the features of the components within the system is a black mark on an otherwise well-designed and good-looking PC case.

After showcasing its updated range of PC cases at this year’s Computex trade expo, Thermaltake has come up with a new AIO liquid cooler. The latest MagFlow Ultra ARGB Sync series will be available in 360 mm and 420 mm sizes, while highlight features include a three-sided borderless square display and ARGB fans that you can reverse by simply swapping.

The new AIO will come in Black and Snow (white) color options and includes a standard 27 mm thick radiator with a 20 mm copper chamber. It is also said to feature a new low-noise pump for quieter operations and compatibility with the latest Intel LGA 1851 and AMD AM5 sockets.

The LCD display sits on top of the pump block and measures 3.95 inches diagonally, offering a resolution of 480x480 pixels. Using Thermaltake’s TT RGB Plus software, the LCD can be used to showcase real-time system data (CPU or GPU usage, temperature, frequency), animated GIFs, and custom images or videos. While there’s nothing unique about that, Thermaltake has taken it further. Thanks to the companion TT PlayLink mobile app, one can use their smartphone to manage and upload content on the LCD.

The pre-installed Swafan EX ARGB Sync fans offer swappable fan blades (standard and reverse) that allow you to quickly change the airflow direction for intake or exhaust. This is quite useful as you don’t need to remove and mount the fans in reverse, which usually ends up sacrificing your aesthetics and lighting effects. Depending on the AIO size, these fans will be available in 120 mm (EX12) and 140 mm (EX14) form factors, which can reach fan speeds of up to 2,000 RPM.

If we ever had to name one thing that we got to see at every single Computex over the last 10 years or more, we would certainly mention immersion liquid-cooled PCs. While these systems were built by different companies and by different people, they all have one thing in common: they have never made it to the market. In fact, they were never meant to. However, it looks like Thermaltake and Enermax are serious about changing that.

Thermaltake is developing its off-the-shelf IX700 solution that comprises a tank and a massive heat exchanger (CDU, cooling distribution unit). The company originally demonstrated a prototype of its IX700 at CES earlier this year, and since then, the unit has evolved greatly, as we observed at Computex 2025. Not only has the tank gotten a display showing CPU and GPU temperatures as well as their load, but the whole device now looks more like a real product rather than a prototype, which highlights the company’s serious intention to bring it to the market. 

The CDU, which looks really massive, supports four 420-mm intake radiators and 12 140-mm exhaust fans. This gives us a basic idea about the capabilities of the device. A typical all-in-one cooler with a 420-mm radiator and three fans is typically rated for a 350W–420W thermal energy dissipation under sustained load at full fan and pump speed. In optimal conditions (low ambient temp, high airflow), peak dissipation might approach 450W, though this probably means a lot of noise unless we have very good fans. Since the heat exchanger essentially packs four of such cooling systems, we can expect it to be able to dissipate 1,400W – 1,800W, which is probably enough for a high-end workstation or an enthusiast-grade desktop. Keep in mind that this is a pre-production device, and its performance may be optimized going forward.

Perhaps the key thing about Thermaltake’s IX700 is that it is meant to be sold as a regular case, so enthusiasts will be able to build their own setups and perhaps experiment with different liquids. For now, the IX700 is not close to mass production, so it is hard to say when Thermaltake will start shipments of the system.  As for pricing, the company’s representatives at the booth said that the company was looking at a $2,000 price tag for the whole setup, though something tells us that the retail price will be higher.

Adding wood to PC cases remains a popular trend in 2025, with Thermaltake becoming the latest manufacturer to introduce wood-textured panels. The company said in a press note that several of its existing cases will be the first to receive the new design treatment, drawing inspiration from modern Nordic aesthetics. Thermaltake also mentioned plans to extend this design approach to its gaming furniture lineup.

Thermaltake has historically taken an interesting approach by offering its cases in unconventional yet visually striking color options. Pairing that with wood might not sound very appealing, but thankfully, Thermaltake isn’t going down that road just yet.

As announced by the company and listed on its Computex 2025 webpage, the Tower 600, TR100, View 380/380 XL, View 270, and View 170 cases will soon be available with either dark wood accents paired with black (navy blue in the case of the Tower 600) or light wood accents paired with a white chassis. Aside from the visual changes, the cases appear to have the same features and support as their non-wood counterparts.

While scrolling through Thermaltake’s website, we also spotted two new small form factor cases, the TR200 and TR300. Potential follow-ups to the existing TR100 small form factor case launched last year, these new cases have similar-looking design and layout but offer more height and a bit more width.

While final specifications are not official, images suggest that the TR300 will be available with a standard front panel with mesh or with wooden slats similar to the Fractal Design North and North XL. Considering the bigger size, we can also expect these new cases to fit larger micro-ATX motherboards. Both cases are, however, confirmed to include an optional 6-inch LCD screen kit, and support for up to 360mm radiators and a total of six 120mm fans.

Thermaltake is a company based in Taiwan that specializes in designing and manufacturing computer hardware components and accessories. Established in 1999, the company's product range includes thermal solutions such as CPU coolers and cases and power supply units, keyboards, and mice. Thermaltake operates globally and has a presence in multiple markets, serving a customer base that ranges from casual computer users to hardware enthusiasts. The company's products are subject to various industry certifications and standards.

Known for its diverse portfolio, ranging from cases and coolers to power supply units (PSUs), the company has a reputation for merging aesthetics with functionality. Among the lineup of their power supplies, the Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU stands as a prominent offering aimed at enthusiasts who demand a balanced mix of reliability, performance, and energy efficiency.

As PSUs are the backbone of any computing system, providing stable and efficient power is paramount. Designed to compete with the best power supplies at mid-range, Thermaltake's Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU, currently $90 in the U.S., aims to do just that while adding modularity and aesthetic appeal into the mix. It is designed to target the bulk of advanced PC builders, which means it will also have to compete against myriads of similar products for a piece of that saturated market pie. In this review, we will dissect this power supply's features, performance, and overall value proposition to determine whether it meets modern PC builds' demands.

Specifications and Design

In the Box

The Thermaltake GF A3 750W PSU arrived encased in a cardboard box of substantial thickness, with a minimalist yet elegant external aesthetic. The essential features of the power supply unit are presented clearly on the box's exterior. Inside the box, the unit is securely enveloped in high-density packaging foam, providing ample protection against potential transit damages.

The accessory bundle accompanying the Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W is basic but functional, consisting solely of the indispensable AC power cable, mounting screws, and a modest assortment of cable ties. Given the market segment this unit targets, the inclusion of the cable ties is a practical touch rather than an added luxury.

As the Toughpower GF A3 750W is a fully modular unit, a bundle of cables is supplied in a separate bag. All of the cables are black and most are made of flat, ribbon-line wires, with the exception of the 12VHPWR cable that features the traditional nylon sleeving. Note that Thermaltake declares that the maximum wattage of the 12VHPWR connector is 300 Watts for this model.

External Appearance

The external visage of the Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU is distinctly marked by its matte black finish, lending the unit a stealthy and professional appearance. The chassis features a dashed line pattern, punched on all sides, that adds a layer of aesthetic complexity. With a 140 mm depth, the chassis dimensions conform to the ATX design guidelines, ensuring compatibility with ATX-compliant cases.

Electrical specifications and certification details are displayed on a sticker located on the top side of the chassis. Decorative stickers embellish both sides of the chassis without overwhelming the design, maintaining the unit's sleek aesthetic. At the rear of the unit, in addition to the standard power cable receptacle and on/off switch, there is a zero-RPM fan switch. The connectors for the modular cables are featured at the front of the chassis. These connectors take less than half of the surface area and are situated adjacent to a printed, color-coded legend.

Internal Design

Thermaltake is using one of its own fans for the cooling needs of the Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU. The TT-1225 (or BDH12025S) fan is a 120 mm model with a fluid dynamic bearing engine. It has a maximum speed of 1500 RPM.

The OEM responsible for the creation of the Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU is Great Wall, the designs of which we frequently find inside mainstream and high-end units as of late. We have not encountered this particular platform before. Considering the 300 Watt 12VHPWR rating, it would seem that Great Wall has specifically developed it to compete in the mid-range segment of the market while providing ATX 3.0 compliance.

The filtering stage of the Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU is fair, with four Y capacitors, two X capacitors, and two filtering inductors. Two input rectifying bridges can be found with a small heatsink sandwiched in between them. Two Rubycon 420V/390μF capacitors and a fairly large filtering inductor are the passive components of the APFC circuitry. The active components of the APFC circuit, two MOSFETs and a booster diode, share the same heatsink as the primary stage switchers.

The two inversion transistors form a typical half-bridge LLC inversion topology. The two inversion transistors are WML28N65SF2 from WAYON, a manufacturer we have only recently encountered products of. Unfortunately, once again, there are no datasheets of these particular chips to be found online.

Six transistors generate the main 12V line after the secondary side of the transformer. The transistors are the 4NA1R4C-A from Jinlibo Electronics. DC-to-DC circuits generate the 3.3V and 5V lines, all of the parts of which are installed on the main board itself. This is atypical as the vast majority of the designs have the DC-to-DC circuits on a vertical daughterboard. Advanced Power Electronics Corp supplies the four main switchers (4024GEMT) that generate the 3.3V and 5V lines, with an ANPEC APW7164 controlling each. All of the secondary side capacitors, polymer and electrolytic alike, are supplied by CapXon, a highly reputable Taiwanese manufacturer.

Cold Test Results

Cold Test Results (25°C Ambient)

For the testing of PSUs, we are using high precision electronic loads with a maximum power draw of 2700 Watts, a Rigol DS5042M 40 MHz oscilloscope, an Extech 380803 power analyzer, two high precision UNI-T UT-325 digital thermometers, an Extech HD600 SPL meter, a self-designed hotbox and various other bits and parts.

The Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU delivers good energy conversion efficiency, with no surprises for what the company markets as an 80Plus Gold certified product. It has an average conversion efficiency of 90.4% with an input voltage of 230 VAC, which drops down to 89.4% if the input voltage drops to 115 VAC. The efficiency curves would easily allow the PSU to receive an 80Plus Gold certification for an input voltage of 115 VAC but it would not be able to receive the same certification for an input voltage of 230 VAC as it could not reach an efficiency greater than 92% at half load. We should also mention that the efficiency certification of the Toughpower GF A3 750W cannot be found published in CLEAResult’s website.

The cooling profile of the Toughpower GF A3 750W with the “Smart Zero Fan” mode enabled is relatively mild. It keeps the fan completely disabled until the load is almost 300 Watts. Once the fan starts, it maintains fairly low speeds at first but its speed quickly ramps up when the load is greater than 500 Watts, even though the internal temperatures of the unit are not high at all. It keeps increasing its speed as the load increases but it never reaches its maximum speed, not even at 100% load. The noise levels are very low while the load is lower than 500 Watts and endurable when the unit is heavily loaded.

Hot Test Results

Hot Test Results (~45°C Ambient)

The Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU is an atypical product because Thermaltake claims that its performance is rated at 45°C. Typically, PC PSUs are either rated at either 40°C for low-end and entry-level mainstream units or 50°C for quality mid-tier and high-performance products. This alone would suggest that Thermaltake is somehow trying to wedge their way in between these two worlds.

Nonetheless, the performance of every PC PSU will degrade once the ambient temperature rises, with the magnitude of the drop primarily affected by the design and quality of the unit itself. While the average energy conversion efficiency drop of the Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU is 0.75%, a relatively high figure for a quality 80Plus Gold unit, it is uniform across the entire load range, with no significant change when the unit is heavily loaded. These results suggest that the thermal stress on the active components is mild to low.

Despite the high ambient temperature, the Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU still kept its fan off while the load was low. The high temperature does force the fan to start earlier than before, with the fan constantly increasing its speed in order to keep up with the unit’s cooling demands. It reaches its maximum speed when the load is just over 500 Watts, after which point the fan cannot do anything more to help with the unit’s rising cooling demands, resulting in climbing temperatures.

We had the OTP protection kick in when the unit was operating at maximum load for about three minutes, which is both good to see that the OTP works normally and protects the unit if necessary and troubling because clearly the unit could make use of a more powerful fan. Nonetheless, the Toughpower GF A3 750W did operate without electrical issues even at maximum load, where the temperature of the secondary side went unnervingly high. The PSU is undoubtedly not designed to be stressed like this for prolonged periods of time but it is good to find out that it can withstand it for short periods if it has to.

PSU Quality and Bottom Line

Power Supply Quality

The electrical performance of the Toughpower GF A3 750W is as good as Thermaltake advertises, which is very good overall for a mainstream product. We measured a voltage ripple of 28 mV on the 12V line at maximum load, which is exceptional for a product of this class. Filtering on the 3.3V and 5V lines is very good, too, with a maximum ripple of 16 mV and 20 mV, respectively. Voltage regulation is just above average, at 1% on the major 12V line and slightly worse on the 3.3V/5V lines. What is worth mentioning here is that the voltage on all lines is a bit higher than usual but within the ATX 3.0 design guide specifications.

As part of our standard testing, we test the primary protections of all PSUs we review (Over Current, Over Voltage, Over Power, and Short Circuit). All of the Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W protections engaged as they would normally. It is worth mentioning that the OCP protection kicks in very quickly for an ATX 3.0 design, almost immediately if the 12V rail current reaches over 75A. Due to the expected power excursions, we were used to seeing much more lax settings with ATX 3.0 designs. Still, considering the 300W power limit of the 12VHPWR connector here, the sharp OCP protection will not cause any problems and is safer for both the PSU itself and the powered components.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, the Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 presents itself as a robust contender in the PC power supply market, offering a judicious blend of performance, quality, and aesthetics. The build quality is commendable, featuring a premium all-black exterior, fully modular cables, and high-grade Japanese APFC capacitors. The secondary capacitors from CapXon also maintain a high standard. However, it's worth noting that the active components from lesser-known Chinese manufacturers raise a modicum of concern due to the lack of publicly accessible datasheets.

From an electrical engineering standpoint, the power quality stands out. The unit adheres to the ATX 3.0 design guide requirements and showcases praiseworthy voltage filtering capabilities, ensuring voltage ripple values below 30 mV even under significant stress. While the voltage output is marginally high, it stays within acceptable limits. The unit ostensibly meets 80Plus Gold energy conversion efficiency requirements at an input voltage of 115VAC, although formal certification for this model remains unpublished.

Thermal performance is one area where compromises have been made, seemingly to prioritize low-noise operation. While the unit runs at high operating temperatures, there is minimal evidence of thermal stress, which attests to its well-engineered design. Noise levels remain impressively low, making the PSU a viable option for those who require a quiet working environment. However, this comes at the cost of elevated thermal readings, primarily due to the small and slow fan.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 offers a fair proposition in terms of overall value. Currently priced at $90 on Amazon, the PSU provides an attractive quality, performance, and aesthetic appeal package. It suits mid-range gaming systems and workstations well but is in a fiercely competitive market segment. Thermaltake's own advanced PSU series, which is priced only slightly higher, serves as formidable competition.

In summary, this unit is a persuasive option that offers a balanced blend of key performance attributes, making it a viable choice for those seeking a quality, efficient, and relatively quiet power supply unit. A slightly lower retail price would tremendously help the Toughpower GF A3 find its rightful place in the market.

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Thermaltake has published a list of coolers it currently markets for Intel LGA1700 chips, which are also compatible with the upcoming LGA1851 Arrow Lake chips. The list includes 17 air coolers, 49 all-in-one (AIO) liquid coolers, and five water blocks, so if you’re upgrading your Alder Lake, Raptor Lake, or Raptor Lake Refresh chip to one of Intel’s latest CPUs, here is official reassurance that you can carry over your Thermaltake cooling solution to your new processor and motherboard.

We’ve been quite sure for almost a year now that LGA1700 coolers are compatible with Intel’s Arrow Lake CPUs despite the socket sporting 151 more pins. However, it’s still nice to receive confirmation from Thermaltake stating that a wide range of its recent products are going to be compatible with the LGA1851 socket.

Thermaltake isn’t the first cooling brand to confirm the compatibility of its LGA1700 solutions with the upcoming LGA1851. Noctua was the first to do so, perhaps by accident, and it was soon followed by Azza. Arctic has also confirmed the compatibility of its Freezer 36 coolers with Intel Arrow Lake CPUs.

But aside from cross-compatibility between LGA1700 and LGA1851, Thermaltake also confirmed that the Ryzen 7000-series versions of the listed coolers are also compatible with AMD’s just-launched Ryzen 9000 processors. Not a big surprise, as they share Socket AM5. This compatibility is a boon for PC builders who like staying on the bleeding edge of technology, as it will allow them to reuse their existing coolers when upgrading their PCs.

Savings on cooling might seem minuscule in the greater scheme of things, especially when we consider air coolers, but a dollar saved here and there can soon turn into real money. However, there are some rumors that Intel's Arrow Lake chips might run quite hot, so cooler quality could be more important than ever. Hopefully, more Arrow Lake info will be available soon to definitively answer questions about thermals, and if currently available coolers will easily cope.

Thermaltake hops on the hidden power connector bandwagon with its new CTE E550 TG and Ceres 350 MX cases. Unveiled at Computex 2024, both chassis are new mid-tower models featuring support for motherboards that come equipped with power connectors on the back to improve cabling aesthetics.

The Ceres 350 MX takes on the classic recipe of a traditional ATX mid-tower with a PSU shroud and spices it up with several unique traits to differentiate itself in the sea of mid-tower cases on the market today. The case supports both traditional ATX motherboards and the latest generation of ATX boards with backside power delivery. It includes enough width behind the motherboard tray to comfortably connect 24-pin and 8-pin EPS cables without any issues.

Instead of providing just one front panel, Thermaltake has given the Ceres 350 MX two front panels out of the box, one with tempered glass and the other a mesh design. The tempered glass option prioritizes aesthetics while the mesh panel is geared for performance by improving airflow.

The case comes in several unique colors, featuring Hydrangea Blue, Matcha Green (similar to Matcha Tea), Bumblebee (yellow), Bubble Pink, and white. Thermaltake also provides the Ceres 350 MX with a 2.1-inch LCD "circle screen kit" that allows users to display real-time information, time, and climate, or upload images and GIFs to the screen through its RGB plus software.

Radiator compatibility includes up to 360mm support at the front, and 280mm at the top. Additionally, the case comes with two CT140 ARGB fans in the front and one in the rear.

The CTE E550 TG is a more exotic mid-tower counterpart, sporting tempered glass on the rear, side, and front of the chassis, similar to the Lian Li O11 Dynamic, which popularized the look. But unlike the O11 Dynamic, the CTE E550 TG comes with a tempered glass panel at the rear, providing a good look into the system's internals from the back.

Like the Ceres case, the CTE E550 TG can support motherboards with backside power delivery. This is arguably a more attractive offering since it's oriented far more around visuals than the Ceres case. Again, backside power delivery allows all of the motherboard power delivery to be hooked up behind the motherboard tray and away from prying eyes, giving the front components a more pleasing appearance.

The case also supports a variety of different GPU mounting solutions. One is what Thermaltake dubs the "floating GPU," which locates the GPU in the middle of the chassis with an enclosed GPU bracket and a sold-separately PCIe 4.0 riser cable. Another mounting solution uses a vertical placement with the GPU fans pointed toward the left side panel for better visibility of the GPU itself. Finally there's an "up right forward" placement that puts the GPU in the front of the case on rotational PCIe slots.

Cooling options are plenty with this new chassis, including up to 420mm radiator support. Nine fans can be installed in total, three on the bottom, three on the side, and three on top. The power supply is mounted in a secondary chamber behind the motherboard. Similar to the Ceres 350 MX, the CTE E550 TG comes in several unique colors: Match Green, Gravel Sand, Snow, and Black.

Cases, cooling, power, and accessories brand Thermaltake has launched a new M.2 SSD cooler with an active fan, heatpipe, and heatsink for cooling. The new MS-1 M.2 2280 SSD Cooler is claimed to outclass an original passive heatsink, and third-party actively cooled rivals, to deliver noticeably better performance and the smoothest gaming experience (see video of tests, below).

In its testing, Thermaltake used a Crucial T700 PCIe Gen5 SSD, and data regarding SSD performance and temperatures were shown via the on-screen UIs of CrystalDiskMark and HWInfo, respectively.

In Thermaltake's results, you can see the MS-1 does noticeably better than the T700's passive solution, as expected. It also outclasses an unnamed third-party active cooler with far better-mixed data transfer results, and the chart shows consistently lower temperatures. A little digging revealed the unnamed third-party active cooler was probably this model from Ineo, which retails on Amazon for $14.99.

Of course, we should take Thermaltake's testing with a pinch of salt; as with any company, there is an interest in making the product look as good as possible. Conspicuous from its absence in the 'lab test' was any noise measurement. The MS-1 would be a noisier solution than a passive cooler, but that would be expected. Pitting the Thermaltake cooler's 8,000 rpm fan noise profile against the 10,000 rpm Ineos would have been interesting.

Though it isn't mentioned in the spec sheet, or on the product page, exploded diagrams show that the MS-1 comes with two thermal pads to sandwich your bare M.2 SSD between.

Thermaltake hasn't provided pricing and availability details, however, we note that the MS-1 M.2 2280 SSD Cooler can be seen in retail listings all over Europe for prices ranging from 20 to 35 Euros and beyond. With the aforementioned competitor at $15, we hope Thermaltake will aim for a fair price below $20 in the U.S.

Gaming companies are leaning in pretty hard when it comes to racing/flight simulator games at CES 2024 — we saw several companies with dedicated controllers (wheels, pedals, flight sticks, etc.) and racing/flight sim cockpits for those so dedicated to immersion that they need a full setup. 

Cooler Master showed off its Dyn X cockpit, which features a heavy-duty steel frame and a fiberglass racing seat that can be adjusted to fit 14 different driving positions for different racing styles (including Formula, GT, NASCAR, and Trophy Truck). The Dyn X is just the frame, but it has pre-drilled mounting points for a racing wheel/flight controller and pedals, as well as for a shifter mount and a monitor mount.

It's also compatible with Cooler Master's Dyn X Motion System, which lets you mount the Dyn X frame to a motorized rig — which costs an additional several thousand dollars. Cooler Master says the Dyn X Motion System is compatible with "most actuators on the market," including Sigma Integrale, D-BOX, and Qubic System. Pricing isn't final, but Cooler Master said the Dyn X alone will cost "around a couple thousand" when it launches.

Of course, that price only includes the frame and the seat. Everything else — controllers, monitor mount, monitors, motion system and actuators, and, of course, PC, you'll need to purchase or provide yourself. According to Cooler Master, the full setup we saw at CES cost upwards of $25,000. 

Thermaltake's take is more affordable — but, again, this is just the frame and chair. The GR500 racing simulator cockpit is smaller and lighter than the Dyn X, with an aluminum and steel frame and a fiberglass bucket seat that moves backwards, forwards, and reclines. It's not as adjustable as the Dyn X, but it does have an adjustable pedal mount and pre-drilled mounting points for your racing wheel/flight stick, shifter, and pedals. It doesn't have mounting points for a monitor mount; instead, Thermaltake is selling a Triple Racing Monitor Stand separately. 

Like the Dyn X, the GR500's pricing isn't final, but Thermaltake said it would likely cost around $799 — which is still pretty expensive, but not too much more than some of the higher-end racing wheels and flight sticks we've seen. Again, that's only for the frame and the chair. All accessories, screens, and PCs are sold separately. 

It's kind of difficult for me to imagine a world in which anyone has room for a full-size racing simulator cockpit at home, but I live in Los Angeles. My colleagues who live in places like Kansas and Colorado assured me they have plenty of room for something like this in their basements. Naturally, I've taken this to mean they're volunteering to review the Dyn X and GR500 when they launch later this year. 

The Thermaltake G700 gaming desk is ready for multi-monitor setups with the ability to lift 286 pounds, but what really drew our attention was the way you control the standing legs: with mechanical switches and keycaps boasting RGB lighting.

You can swap those keycaps out, just like a keyboard, letting you give your desk a bit of flare. Considering how often some of us change keycaps, it just seems like a natural extension of any switches within reach. We didn't get a straight answer, however, on what kind of switches are being used.

The systems is large enough for a multi-monitor setup and uses two motors to adjust the height for standing or sitting position. The G700's adjustable height has a minimum of 23.6 inches and a maximum of 49.2 inches.

Based on the images, there is a gap likely for routing cables through and maybe providing access to install desk clamps for monitor setups. There is an integrated cable management and moveable monitor side rail. Furthermore, it allows two programmable height settings for quick on-the-fly adjustment, lighting control and an anti-collision sensor.

'Gaming desks' from many companies are based in aesthetics, but they're ultimately just desks. Thermaltake's G700 looks like a purpose-built table. it also has single and dual monitor arms with RGB lighting and peg boards that can be mounted on any desk since it uses C-clamps. 

But Thermaltake isn't the first gaming peripheral maker to make these. Corsair took a shot it at a couple of months ago with its standing desk whose MSRP was $1,399 with a ten-year warranty and table measuring 72 x 30 inches. We don't have official pricing or a release date for the G700, though we expect it will arrive sometime this year.

Thermaltake’s ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5-5600 C36 memory kit may not look like much on paper, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a shot to take on the best RAM. DDR5 is progressing nicely, as both Intel and AMD platforms now use the new memory standard. Unlike when DDR5 was in diapers, memory kits nowadays arrive with improved timings, and we even have access to high-end memory kits hitting DDR5-8000. That doesn't mean there isn't a place for lower-tier memory kits — not everyone chases the highest performance possible. Some still prefer the more straightforward options or a memory kit that sticks to their processor’s official supported data rate, such as DDR5-5600 for Intel’s 13th-Gen Raptor Lake chips.

Thermaltake 'cheated' with the ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5 kit, recycling the same design as the DDR4 equivalent. You can only tell the difference between the two because the brand added the "D5" marking on the ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5's heat spreader to indicate its DDR5 memory. The aluminum heat spreader retains the same aesthetics, including the two plates in an interlocked layout with a chrome strip in the middle.

Checking in with a height of 48.35mm (1.9 inches), the ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5 is far from a low-profile design. Therefore, we recommend you check the clearance space for your CPU air cooler before pulling the trigger on Thermaltake's memory kit. The RGB illumination didn't change, either: The memory modules still have 16 high-lumen addressable LEDs. Thermaltake provides the proprietary NeonMaker and TT RGB Plus software for control and customization. Or, if you prefer your motherboard's software, the memory modules support Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion 2.0, MSI Mystic Light Sync, and ASRock Polychrome RGB.

The memory modules arrive with a single-rank design on a 10-layer PCB with two-ounce copper inner layers and 10μ gold fingers. We found eight SK hynix H5CG48MEBDX014 (M-die) integrated circuits (ICs) under the heat spreader. The ICs have a capacity of 2GB, totaling 16GB on each memory module. Renesas provided the P8911-YZ001GR-2208DK power management IC (PMIC) for the memory modules.

The ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5 defaulted to DDR5-4800 with 40-40-40-77 timings when you take it for its first run. There's one XMP 3.0 profile for DDR5-5600 that will help you set the timings to 36-36-36-76 and the required DRAM voltage to 1.25V. See our PC Memory 101 feature and How to Shop for RAM story for more timings and frequency considerations.

Comparison Hardware

Our Intel test system runs the Core i9-13900K on the MSI MEG Z690 Unify-X with the 7D28vAA firmware. In contrast, our AMD system pairs the Ryzen 7 7700X with the MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi changed to the 7D70v176 firmware. The Corsair CUE H100i Elite LCD liquid cooler keeps our Raptor Lake and Zen 4 processor operating temperatures under check.

The MSI GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Gaming X Trio tackles the more graphics-intensive workloads, ensuring that there isn't a graphics bottleneck in our gaming RAM benchmarks. The Windows 11 installation, benchmarking software, and games reside on Crucial's MX500 SSDs. Meanwhile, the Corsair RM1000x Shift ATX 3.0 power supply provides our systems with clean and abundant power, directly feeding the GeForce RTX 4080 with a native 16-pin (12VHPWR) power cable. Lastly, the Streacom BC1 open-air test bench is vital to organizing our hardware.

Intel Performance

The ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5-5600 C36 has tighter timings than the Xpower Zenith RGB DDR5-5600 C40, giving the memory kit an edge in application and gaming benchmarks. The former was generally faster, with a few exceptions where it lost to the slower memory kits.

AMD Performance

Unsurprisingly, Thermaltake's memory kit outperformed the AMD platform's Silicon Power memory kit. The ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5's out-of-the-box performance in applications and gaming is good for a DDR5-5600 memory kit.

Overclocking and Latency Tuning

The ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5 is another of the few DDR5-5600 memory kits that wield SK hynix M-die ICs. Like its Xpower Zenith RGB rival, we got excellent overclocking results from the ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5. DDR5-6800 was doable on 1.4V, with timings tweaked to 34-45-45-76.

Lowest Stable Timings

Nobody buys memory kits based on M-die to run at the advertised speed with tight timings. The ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5 memory kit has 36-36-36-76 timings by default compared to the 40-40-40-76 timings on the Xpower Zenith RGB memory kit. Nonetheless, both memory kits can operate smoothly at DDR5-5600 with 28-34-34-76 timings and a 1.4V DRAM voltage.

Bottom Line

The ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5-5600 C36 is a sound option if you're looking for DDR5-5600 memory that's almost plug-and-play on modern platforms. It's faster than the Xpower Zenith RGB DDR5-5600 C40 from the get-go and has similar overclocking potential. Nonetheless, the typical disclaimer that your mileage may vary applies here too.

Thermaltake's DDR5-5600 memory kit is one of the hardest to find in the U.S. market. The last known price for the ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5-5600 C36 is $193.19, putting it in an awful position. Retailing close to $200 puts the memory kit into DDR5-7000 territory. The price tag might be okay if we were still in the early days of DDR5, but curiously, Thermaltake hasn't updated the pricing on the ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5-5600 C36. It doesn't look attractive beside the Xpower Zenith RGB DDR5-5600 C40 when the latter is a bit slower but has the same overclocking prowess selling with a price tag of a little over one-third of the ToughRAM XG RGB DDR5-5600 C36.

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Thermaltake has an expansive display at Computex, and as you might expect it is laden with cases, cooling products, and more. Our staff at the show thought the firm's selection of matcha green products were particularly appealing. Another highlight was the new CTE line, with CTE short for 'Centralized Thermal Efficiency'.

As Thermaltake celebrates 24 years in the PC industry, it has decided to expand its colorway options with matcha green. Quite a wide range of products are going to be available in this finish, with Thermaltake showcasing the following:

• The Ceres 300 TG ARGB Mid Tower Chassis,
• The Tower 200 Mini Chassis,
• The TH280 V2 ARGB Sync All-In-One Liquid Cooler,
• The SWAFAN EX12/14,
• The ARGENT E700 Real Leather Gaming Chair,
• And more.

Matcha is a finely ground powder tea, but for some reason the characteristic green color is increasingly amongst tech product livery. We have previously seen matcha green keyboards from Ducky, and matcha keycaps from the likes of Epomaker, but Thermaltake is admirably bold in introducing matcha colorways to so many PC products.

Moving on to ponder over the new CTE products, and we looked closely at the CTE C700 TG ARGB Snow edition. This is a large case suitable for flagship component builds, aided by the dual chamber design and support for AiOs up to 420mm front and back.

Demonstrating its rather capable capacity, the model pictured was fitted with a Raptor Lake CPU and RTX 4090, both cooled by a stunning Pacific liquid cooling system.

Last but not least we were grasped by the Pacific FT3 LCS Dashboard. This is a 3-in-1 monitor for coolant pressure and temperature, plus chassis temperature. It can be fitted at any 120mm fan mounting point and works alongside TT RGB Plus 2.0 backlight controls.

Also at the Thermaltake Computex booth were areas to showcase various coolers, PSUs, and PC peripherals. Thermaltake has a dedicated Computex 2023 page available for those who wish to dig deeper.

The ASUS TUF Gaming 550W Bronze is a budget-oriented PSU that manages to achieve high-performance thanks to the modern platform that it uses. Nevertheless, the competition is rough. Although units like the XPG Pylon 550, Corsair CX650M, and Thermaltake Smart BM2 550 use less-advanced platforms, they still take the lead in overall performance, leaving no room for the TUF Gaming 550 to earn a place in our best PSUs article. 

The TUF-Gaming series consists of four PSU models with capacities ranging from 450W to 750W. The model we are evaluating here has 550W max power, ideal for a a small home PC with a mid-end GPU or a business-oriented PC with an embedded GPU. To keep the production cost low, ASUS used a non-modular but modern design provided by Great Wall. This is the same platform found in the Corsair CX line, which has been replaced by the CX-M line that might utilize a semi-modular design but also uses a less advanced platform than CX. 

The TUF 550 is 80 PLUS Bronze, and Cybenetics Silver certified in efficiency. In noise, it received a Cybenetics Standard++ rating, which is not so flattering for a low-capacity PSU, especially one using a modern platform. Its dimensions are standard, with 150mm depth, allowing the installation of a 135mm fan. 

Specifications of Asus TUF Gaming 550W

Power Specifications: Asus TUF Gaming 550W Bronze

Cables & Connectors for Asus TUF Gaming 550W

Given its capacity, the PSU has enough cables and connectors. On top of that, the cables are long, especially the EPS, which reaches 810mm! Lastly, the distance between the 4-pin Molex connectors is adequate at 150mm. 

Component Analysis of Asus TUF Gaming 550W

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

The platform is modern. Typically lower efficiency units use older platforms, with the only modern touch being the DC-DC converters on the secondary side. In this case, though, GW used a half-bridge topology and an LLC resonant converter, a design that we meet in higher efficiency platforms. Moreover, a synchronous design regulates the 12V rail on the secondary side.

The significant compromises that had to be made to keep the cost low were the low-quality bulk and filtering caps and the fixed cables. We don't mind much about the latter, but we do mind the Lelon caps.

The transient/EMI filter has all require parts and it does an almost perfect job. 

The single bridge rectifier can handle up to 15A at 100°C.

The APFC converter uses two FETs and a single boost diode. The bulk cap is rated at 450V and 105°C, but its capacity is low, and to make things even worse, it is by Lelon, which is not among the good capacitors brands. 

The primary switching FETs are two STMicroelectronics installed in a half-bridge topology. An LLC resonant converter is also used for increased efficiency. 

Four FETs regulate the 12V rail and a pair of DC-DC converters handle the minor rails. 

The filtering caps are mostly by Lelon and Teapo. The Lelon caps have good specs. Nonetheless, we would prefer if all caps were by Teapo. 

The standby PWM controller is a TNY278PN IC. The rectifier on the secondary side of this circuit is an SBR. 

The main supervisor IC is an IN1S429I - DCG. 

Soldering quality is good.

The cooling fan uses a double ball-bearing. We didn't expect to find a quality DBB fan in this PSU. 

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To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. 

Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

Load regulation is decent at 12V and tight on the other rails. The fixed cables help in load regulation because they don't have the increased resistance of the modular ones. 

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is too short. Asus had to use a low-capacity bulk cap to keep the cost low. 

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU, right as it is turned on, the better.

Inrush currents are high. 

Leakage Current

In layman's terms, leakage current is the unwanted transfer of energy from one circuit to another. In power supplies, it is the current flowing from the primary side to the ground or the chassis, which in the majority of cases is connected to the ground. For measuring leakage current, we use a GW Instek GPT-9904 electrical safety tester instrument.

The leakage current test is conducted at 110% of the DUT's rated voltage input (so for a 230-240V device, we should conduct the test with 253-264V input). The maximum acceptable limit of a leakage current is 3.5 mA and it is defined by the IEC-60950-1 regulation, ensuring that the current is low and will not harm any person coming in contact with the power supply's chassis.

Leakage current is far below the 3.5 mA limit. 

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

The PSU doesn't have a problem delivering full load and even more at high operating temperatures. Efficiency gets a big hit, though. 

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

The fan doesn't spin at light loads. 

2% or 10W Load Test

From July 2020, the ATX spec requires 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units, we dial 2% of their max-rated capacity.

The 60% mark is passed with a 2 % load. 

Efficiency & Power Factor

Next, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills. The same goes for Power Factor.

The platform is efficient, especially with 230V input, which is why it has a Silver rating in the Cybenetics scheme. 

5VSB Efficiency

The 5VSB rail achieves decent efficiency. 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Vampire power is low with 115V input, but we would like to see below 0.1W with 230V input. 

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fan speed profile doesn't seem aggressive at harsh conditions. 

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

At normal operating temperatures, close to 30 degrees Celsius, the PSU's semi-passive operation doesn't last long if you push hard the minor rails. There is also a region where the fan spins, even with a minimal load on the minor rails. With more than 160W, noise exceeds 25 dBA, and with more than 300W, the 30 dBA mark is passed. Lastly, with higher than 360W noise is within the 35-40 dBA region. 

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Protection Features

Check out our PSUs 101 article to learn more about PSU protection features.

The OCP triggering points are set high on all rails, especially the minor ones. Great Wall ignored setting up the minor rails properly. Who needs so many amps on them? On the contrary, the over power protection is set correctly.

DC Power Sequencing

According to Intel’s most recent Power Supply Design Guide (revision 1.4), the +12V and 5V outputs must be equal to or greater than the 3.3V rail at all times. Unfortunately, Intel doesn't mention why it is so important to always keep the 3.3V rail's voltage lower than the levels of the other two outputs.

No problems here since the 3.3V rail is always lower than the other two. 

Cross Load Tests

To generate the following charts, we set our loaders to auto mode through custom-made software before trying more than 25,000 possible load combinations with the +12V, 5V, and 3.3V rails. The deviations in each of the charts below are calculated by taking the nominal values of the rails (12V, 5V, and 3.3V) as point zero. The ambient temperature during testing was between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Load Regulation Charts

Efficiency Graph

Ripple Graphs

The lower the power supply's ripple, the more stable the system will be and less stress will also be applied to its components.

Infrared Images

We apply a half-load for 10 minutes with the PSU's top cover and cooling fan removed before taking photos with a modified Fluke Ti480 PRO camera able to deliver an IR resolution of 640x480 (307,200 pixels).

We didn't notice any high temperature spots inside the PSU, during this test session. 

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Advanced Transient Response Tests

For details about our transient response testing, please click here.

In the real world, power supplies are always working with loads that change. It's of immense importance, then, for the PSU to keep its rails within the ATX specification's defined ranges. The smaller the deviations, the more stable your PC will be with less stress applied to its components. 

We should note that the ATX spec requires capacitive loading during the transient rests, but in our methodology, we also choose to apply a worst case scenario with no additional capacitance on the rails. 

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 1ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 1ms

Transient response is mediocre on all rails but 5VSB, where it doesn't matter so much. 

Turn-On Transient Tests

In the next set of tests, we measure the PSU's response in simpler transient load scenarios—during its power-on phase. Ideally, we don't want to see any voltage overshoots or spikes since those put a lot of stress on the DC-DC converters of installed components.

There is a huge voltage drop in the "PSU OFF To Full 12V" test, showing that something is off with the resonant controller's programming. 

Power Supply Timing Tests

There are several signals generated by the power supply, which need to be within specified, by the ATX spec, ranges. If they are not, there can be compatibility issues with other system parts, especially mainboards. From year 2020, the PSU's Power-on time (T1) has to be lower than 150ms and the PWR_OK delay (T3) from 100 to 150ms, to be compatible with the Alternative Sleep Mode.

The PWR_OK delay is within the 100-150ms region, so the PSU supports the alternative sleep mode recommended by the ATX spec.

Ripple Measurements

Ripple represents the AC fluctuations (periodic) and noise (random) found in the PSU's DC rails. This phenomenon significantly decreases the capacitors' lifespan because it causes them to run hotter. A 10-degree Celsius increase can cut into a cap's useful life by 50%. Ripple also plays an important role in overall system stability, especially when overclocking is involved.

The ripple limits, according to the ATX specification, are 120mV (+12V) and 50mV (5V, 3.3V, and 5VSB).

Ripple suppression is good on all major rails. The 5VSB needs a better filtering cap. 

Ripple At Full Load

Ripple At 110% Load

Ripple At Cross-Load 1

Ripple At Cross-Load 4

EMC Pre-Compliance Testing – Average & Quasi-Peak EMI Detector Results

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the ability of a device to operate properly in its environment without disrupting the proper operation of other nearby devices.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) stands for the electromagnetic energy a device emits, and it can cause problems in other nearby devices if too high. For example, it can cause increased static noise in your headphones or/and speakers.

΅We use TekBox's EMCview to conduct our EMC pre-compliance testing.

A single spur exceeds the limits of the average and peak EMI detectors. Conducted EMI is low in all other frequencies. 

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Performance Rating

The TUF 550 achieves high performance, but despite its modern platform, is cannot take the lead from the Corsair, XPG, and Thermaltake units that use less advanced platforms, all provided by Channel Well Technology. 

Noise Rating

The graph below depicts the cooling fan's average noise over the PSU's operating range, with an ambient temperature between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Under normal operating temperatures, the average noise output is low for the standards of this category, but the CX550M puts it to shame, along with all other similar spec PSUs. 

Efficiency Rating

The following graph shows the PSU's average efficiency throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius.

We expected that this platform would achieve first place in this chart. The CX550M is not far behind, though. 

Power Factor Rating

The following graphs show the PSU's average power factor reading throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius and 115V/230V voltage input. 

The APFC converter does a decent job with 115V but needs tuning for higher PF readings with 230V. 

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Corsair decided to withdraw its popular CX line because it was expensive to make while it addressed budget-oriented users. ASUS saw an opportunity there, grabbed the CX platform from Great Wall, and used it in its TUF Gaming PSUs. 

The problem is that they were forced to use inferior components compared to the CX units to keep the cost down, which affected performance. The cost of electronic parts has hugely increased in the last years, primarily because of the pandemic, so it is not easy to use quality parts in budget PSUs. 

The TUF 550 achieves good overall performance, which could be even higher with more tuning and changes in its design. Great Wall has to proceed with some changes at some point if it wants to keep up with the competition. Although this is the most modern platform in the low-cost category, it still cannot surpass, in overall performance, the less advanced CWT CSB platform used in the XPG Pylon 550, the Corsair CX550M, and the Thermaltake Smart BM2 550. 

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Disclaimer: Aris Mpitziopoulos is Tom's Hardware's PSU reviewer. He is also the Chief Testing Engineer of Cybenetics and developed the Cybenetics certification methodologies apart from his role on Tom's Hardware. Neither Tom's Hardware nor its parent company, Future PLC, are financially involved with Cybenetics. Aris does not perform the actual certifications for Cybenetics.

The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1350W achieves high overall performance, making it one of the best PSUs you can buy. On top of that, this PSU is ATX v3.0 and PCIe 5.0 ready, so it comes with a 12VHPWR connector out of the box, supporting NVIDIA's newest GPUs without the need for adapters. 

Thermaltake released many new PSUs recently, including the GF3 line, which covers the mid and higher Wattage ratings, from 750W to 1650W. The strongest GF3 models, with 1350W and 1650W, are by High Power, while all others are made by Channel Well Technology (CWT). We will look at the 1350W model in this review and stress it to the max during the new transient response tests that the ATX v3.0 spec requires, including a 2700W load test. 

The GF3 1350 is certified as 80 PLUS Gold, but in the Cybenetics scheme, it scored a Platinum rating. It also has a Cybenetics Standard noise rating, which shows that this is not a quiet PSU. 

Because of its modest 160mm depth and 1350W maximum power, we didn't expect it to be quiet, but an over 40 dBA average noise output is too high. Thermaltake should go with a larger PCB, allowing for better airflow; thus, the cooling fan wouldn't have to work over hours at high speeds to handle the heat load. 

Specifications of Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1350W

Power Specifications of Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1350W

Cables & Connectors for Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1350W

There are plenty of connectors installed on long cables. Besides the 600W 12VHPWR, we also find six PCIe 6+2 on three cables. The number of peripheral connectors is also high. Finally, the PSU uses a heavy-duty power cord. 

Component Analysis of Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1350W

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

The PCB is small for a 1350W monster, so it is over-populated with parts, and the heat sinks are small. With a larger PCB, there would be more space between parts, allowing for better airflow, and there wouldn't be a tight limitation on the footprint of the heat sinks. The build quality is high, with Japanese caps used everywhere, along with good FETs. Moreover, the soldering quality is good. 

The transient/EMI filter has all the required parts. There is also a discharge IC to restrict energy losses on the resistor bleeder, used to drain the X caps once the PSU is shut down. We find an MOV and an NTC thermistor and bypass relay combo for surge and inrush protection. 

The pair of bridge rectifiers can handle up to 100A in total. This is insane!

The APFC converter uses two Infineon FETs and a single Toshiba boost diode. There are two bulk caps with 1360uF combined capacity, which is enough for this PSU's needs. The APFC controller is an Infineon ICE3PCS01G IC. 

The main Infineon FETs are installed in a half-bridge topology. We usually find a full-bridge topology in high-capacity units because it can handle high power levels without excess energy losses. 

Eight Infineon FETs regulate the 12V rail. They are installed on the PCB's solder side. Lastly, two DC-DC converters generate the minor rails.  

All filtering caps are by Japanese manufacturers and belong to good lines. Lots of polymer caps are also used. 

The standby PWM controller is a Si-Trend SI8016HSP8. On the primary side of the 5VSB circuit, we find a FET, and on the secondary side, an SBR.

The modular hosts polymer and electrolytic caps, for ripple filtering. 

The main supervisor IC is a Weltrend WT7527RA.

Soldering quality is high. 

The cooling fan is powerful and uses a hydraulic bearing for increased reliability.

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To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. 

Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

Load regulation is average on all rails but 3.3V. 

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is long and the power ok signal is accurate. 

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

Inrush current is low with 115V and at normal levels, for a 1350W PSU, with 230V input. 

Leakage Current

In layman's terms, leakage current is the unwanted transfer of energy from one circuit to another. In power supplies, it is the current flowing from the primary side to the ground or the chassis, which in the majority of cases is connected to the ground. For measuring leakage current, we use a GW Instek GPT-9904 electrical safety tester instrument.

The leakage current test is conducted at 110% of the DUT's rated voltage input (so for a 230-240V device, we should conduct the test with 253-264V input). The maximum acceptable limit of a leakage current is 3.5 mA and it is defined by the IEC-60950-1 regulation, ensuring that the current is low and will not harm any person coming in contact with the power supply's chassis.

Leakage current is low. 

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

If you load the PSU up to 1485W at 47 degrees Celsius, you will be treated with over 54 dBA noise. This is too loud! 

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

Thankfully, the unit's fan doesn't spin at light loads, even at high operating temperatures. 

2% or 10W Load Test

From July 2020, the ATX spec requires 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units, we dial 2% of their max-rated capacity.

The PSU easily breaks the 70% efficiency mark, with a 2% load. 

Efficiency & Power Factor

Next, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills. The same goes for Power Factor.

Efficiency is at Platinum levels, and not Gold ones, in all load ranges. 

5VSB Efficiency

The 5VSB rail is not so efficient. 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Vampire power is low with both voltage inputs we tried, 115V and 230V. 

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fan speed profile is aggressive. Moreover, the fan goes from zero RPM to over 1000 into a single step. 

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

At normal operating temperatures, close to 30 degrees Celsius, the PSU is silent with up to 300W loads, but with anything higher, you will probably need ear plugs. The ultra-noisy mode is with 1250W and above, where the PSU's noise exceeds 50 dBA. 

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Protection Features

Check out our PSUs 101 article to learn more about PSU protection features.

The 12V rail has high OCP triggering points, and the same goes for OPP. The good thing is that the PSU shuts down at a notably lower load under hot conditions. There is also a difference between OCP and OPP triggering points, and this is because, during OPP, we increase the load on all rails simultaneously, while during OCP, we increase the load on a single rail while the load on the other rails remains stable. 

DC Power Sequencing

According to Intel’s most recent Power Supply Design Guide (revision 1.4), the +12V and 5V outputs must be equal to or greater than the 3.3V rail at all times. Unfortunately, Intel doesn't mention why it is so important to always keep the 3.3V rail's voltage lower than the levels of the other two outputs.

No problems here since the 3.3V rail is always lower than the other two. 

Cross Load Tests

To generate the following charts, we set our loaders to auto mode through custom-made software before trying more than 25,000 possible load combinations with the +12V, 5V, and 3.3V rails. 

The deviations in each of the charts below are calculated by taking the nominal values of the rails (12V, 5V, and 3.3V) as point zero. The ambient temperature during testing was between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Load Regulation Charts

Efficiency Graph

Ripple Graphs

The lower the power supply's ripple, the more stable the system will be and less stress will also be applied to its components.

Infrared Images

We apply a half-load for 10 minutes with the PSU's top cover and cooling fan removed before taking photos with a modified Fluke Ti480 PRO camera able to deliver an IR resolution of 640x480 (307,200 pixels).

A small ceramic cap right next to one of the bulk caps looks to get quite hot. The temperatures on the rest parts are kept in control. 

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Advanced Transient Response Tests

For details about our transient response testing, please click here.

In the real world, power supplies are always working with loads that change. It's of immense importance, then, for the PSU to keep its rails within the ATX specification's defined ranges. The smaller the deviations, the more stable your PC will be with less stress applied to its components. 

We should note that the ATX spec requires capacitive loading during the transient rests, but in our methodology, we also choose to apply a worst case scenario with no additional capacitance on the rails. 

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 1ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 1ms

Transient response is satisfactory at 12V, but we would like a lower than 1% deviation on this rail. The minor rails, 5V and 3.3V, have a mediocre transient response. 

ATX 3.0 Transient Response Tests

The following table shows the load that we applied. 

The PSU successfully passed all ATX 3.0 transient response tests for units equipped with 12VHPWR connectors. However, we would like to see a lower voltage drop at 12V in the 200% load test. 

Turn-On Transient Tests

In the next set of tests, we measure the PSU's response in simpler transient load scenarios—during its power-on phase. Ideally, we don't want to see any voltage overshoots or spikes since those put a lot of stress on the DC-DC converters of installed components.

The turn-on transient response is satisfactory. 

Power Supply Timing Tests

There are several signals generated by the power supply, which need to be within specified, by the ATX spec, ranges. If they are not, there can be compatibility issues with other system parts, especially mainboards. 

From year 2020, the PSU's Power-on time (T1) has to be lower than 150ms and the PWR_OK delay (T3) from 100 to 150ms, to be compatible with the Alternative Sleep Mode.

The PWR_OK delay is within the 100-150ms region, so the PSU supports the alternative sleep mode recommended by the ATX spec.

Ripple Measurements

Ripple represents the AC fluctuations (periodic) and noise (random) found in the PSU's DC rails. This phenomenon significantly decreases the capacitors' lifespan because it causes them to run hotter. A 10-degree Celsius increase can cut into a cap's useful life by 50%. Ripple also plays an important role in overall system stability, especially when overclocking is involved.

The ripple limits, according to the ATX specification, are 120mV (+12V) and 50mV (5V, 3.3V, and 5VSB).

Ripple suppression is excellent! 

Ripple At Full Load

Ripple At 110% Load

Ripple At Cross-Load 1

Ripple At Cross-Load 4

EMC Pre-Compliance Testing – Average & Quasi-Peak EMI Detector Results

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is the ability of a device to operate properly in its environment without disrupting the proper operation of other nearby devices.

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) stands for the electromagnetic energy a device emits, and it can cause problems in other nearby devices if too high. For example, it can cause increased static noise in your headphones or/and speakers.

΅We use TekBox's EMCview to conduct our EMC pre-compliance testing.

The conducted EMI emissions are low. 

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Performance Rating

The GF3 1350W takes the lead from all other similar spec PSUs that I used for comparison purposes. 

Noise Rating

The graph below depicts the cooling fan's average noise over the PSU's operating range, with an ambient temperature between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The average noise output is high, even under normal operating temperatures. 

Efficiency Rating

The following graph shows the PSU's average efficiency throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius.

The GF3 1350 uses an efficient platform, which can meet Platinum platinum platforms, eye-to-eye. 

Power Factor Rating

The following graphs show the PSU's average power factor reading throughout its operating range with an ambient temperature close to 30 degrees Celsius and 115V/230V voltage input. 

The APFC converter does a great job!

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The Thermaltake GF3 1350W achieves high performance, and it could be even better, with a tighter load regulation at 12V and 5V and better transient response on the minor rails. 

Despite the high performance, some users will be troubled by the increased noise output, especially at moderate and high loads. This is not the ideal PSU for a silent system. The compact footprint for a 1350W PSU doesn't allow for a larger PCB which would help airflow. There could be a notable difference in noise output with a 180mm chassis instead of 160mm. 

The competing offerings that feature a 12VHPWR connector are limited to the SilverStone HELA 1300R Platinum, which is close enough to the overall performance with the GF3 1350, and the MSI MEG AI1300P PCIe5. 

So far, most brands haven't released high-capacity ATX v3.0 and PCIe 5.0-ready PSUs, but this will soon change. Using native connectors instead of adapters is always preferred in high-power applications. 

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Disclaimer: Aris Mpitziopoulos is Tom's Hardware's PSU reviewer. He is also the Chief Testing Engineer of Cybenetics and developed the Cybenetics certification methodologies apart from his role on Tom's Hardware. Neither Tom's Hardware nor its parent company, Future PLC, are financially involved with Cybenetics. Aris does not perform the actual certifications for Cybenetics.

The FSP Hydro G Pro 1000W is among the few Gold PSUs in this capacity category featuring ATX v3.0 and PCIe 5.0 compatibility. Its performance is decent, but it isn't high enough to allow it to earn a place in our best PSUs article. Competitors like the Corsair RM1000x and the EVGA 1000 G7 achieve notably higher overall performance scores.

The Hydro G Pro with 1000W max power belongs to the new generation of PSUs, featuring ATX v3.0 and PCIe 5.0 compatibility. There aren't many choices with native 12VHPWR connectors in the 1000W Gold category, and FSP was among the first to introduce a related product. 

Significant players, including Corsair, EVGA, and Seasonic, haven't released something on the market, yet. Thermaltake, with the Toughpower GF3 1000W, and Silverstone, with the DA1000R Gold, are two other choices in this category, meeting the ATX v3.0 spec for PSUs with 12VHPWR connectors.

With 150mm depth, the Hydro G Pro 1000 has compact dimensions. Nonetheless, FSP has the smallest, in dimensions, 1000W Gold platform, which is used in the EVGA 1000 G7, with only 130mm depth! Compact PSUs are easier to install, especially in smaller chassis, but the over-populated PCBs don't help airflow, hence noise output is usually increased. 

Moreover, it is not possible to install large enough cooling fans, with 135mm or 140mm diameter, in small PSUs, and smaller fans have to spin at higher speeds to offer the same airflow, producing more noise. The Hydro G Pro uses a 120mm, high-quality, fan, featuring a fluid dynamic bearing. 

Specifications of FSP Hydro G Pro 1000W

Power Specifications of FSP Hydro G Pro 1000W

Cables & Connectors of FSP Hydro G Pro 1000W

The cables are long, and the amount of connectors is satisfactory. The single 12VHPWR connector can deliver up to 600W. According to Intel's test plan, a 1000W ATX v3.0 PSU should be equipped with a 450W 12VHPWR connector, but most brands don't pay attention to this and use 600W connectors to make sure that the NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics cards can go all the way up to 600W. Not all 4090s have such high maximum power limits, though. 

Component Analysis of FSP Hydro G Pro 1000W

We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we're about to discuss.

The small PCB is equipped with equally small heat sinks. Except for the transient filter, the other circuits have enough space between electronic parts to allow for decent airflow. It is good to see the filtering caps on the secondary side being on the clear, without anything blocking airflow to them. 

Typically, for an FSP platform, we find some potentiometers on a vertical PCB, which might look tempting to adjust, but you should not do it! The build quality is high, and all parts that FSP used are of high quality, too. FSP is among the few OEMs using bulk caps rated for 3,000h @ 105°C. All other brands use 2,000h @ 105°C bulk caps. 

The transient/EMI filter...

The pair of bridge rectifiers can handle up to 50A. 

The APFC converter has two Infineon FETs and a single CREE boost diode. The PFC controller is an Infineon ICE2PCS02G IC. 

The main FETs are by Magnachip and arranged into a half-bridge topology. An LLC resonant converter is also used to boost efficiency. The resonant controller is a Champion CM6901T2X. 

Six Infineon FETs regulate the 12V rail. The same rail feeds two DC-DC converters, which generate the minor rails (5V and 3.3V). 

The filtering caps are provided by Japanese brands and are of good quality. Besides electrolytic caps

The standby PWM controller is an 97CL2N13 IC. 

Many filtering caps are installed on the modular board. 

The main supervisor IC is a Weltrend WT7527RA. 

Soldering quality is good. 

The cooling fan is a Protechnic Electric MGA12012XF-O25. 

MORE: Best Power Supplies

MORE: How We Test Power Supplies

MORE: All Power Supply Content

To learn more about our PSU tests and methodology, please check out How We Test Power Supply Units. 

Primary Rails And 5VSB Load Regulation

The following charts show the main rails' voltage values recorded between a range of 40W up to the PSU's maximum specified load, along with the deviation (in percent). Tight regulation is an important consideration every time we review a power supply because it facilitates constant voltage levels despite varying loads. 

Tight load regulation also, among other factors, improves the system’s stability, especially under overclocked conditions and, at the same time, it applies less stress to the DC-DC converters that many system components utilize.

Load regulation is not so tight. We want to see it within 1% at 12V and ideally below 0.8%. 

Hold-Up Time

Put simply; hold-up time is the amount of time that the system can continue to run without shutting down or rebooting during a power interruption.

The hold-up time is long and the power ok signal is accurate. 

Inrush Current

Inrush current, or switch-on surge, refers to the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when it is first turned on. A large enough inrush current can cause circuit breakers and fuses to trip. It can also damage switches, relays, and bridge rectifiers. As a result, the lower the inrush current of a PSU right as it is turned on, the better.

Inrush current is high with voltage inputs we tried, 115V and 230V. A larger (higher resistance) NTC thermistor would help here. 

Leakage Current

In layman's terms, leakage current is the unwanted transfer of energy from one circuit to another. In power supplies, it is the current flowing from the primary side to the ground or the chassis, which in the majority of cases is connected to the ground. For measuring leakage current, we use a GW Instek GPT-9904 electrical safety tester instrument.

The leakage current test is conducted at 110% of the DUT's rated voltage input (so for a 230-240V device, we should conduct the test with 253-264V input). The maximum acceptable limit of a leakage current is 3.5 mA and it is defined by the IEC-60950-1 regulation, ensuring that the current is low and will not harm any person coming in contact with the power supply's chassis.

Leakage current is low. 

10-110% Load Tests

These tests reveal the PSU's load regulation and efficiency levels under high ambient temperatures. They also show how the fan speed profile behaves under increased operating temperatures.

The PSU delivers full and 110% load without any issues at high temperatures, but the  fan's noise goes through the roof. 

20-80W Load Tests

In the following tests, we measure the PSU's efficiency at loads significantly lower than 10% of its maximum capacity (the lowest load the 80 PLUS standard measures). This is important for representing when a PC is idle with power-saving features turned on.

The fan doesn't spin at low lower than 80W loads, even at high operating temperatures. 

2% or 10W Load Test

From July 2020, the ATX spec requires 70% and higher efficiency with 115V input. The applied load is only 10W for PSUs with 500W and lower capacities, while for stronger units, we dial 2% of their max-rated capacity.

Ideally we want to see above 70% efficiency in this test. 

Efficiency & Power Factor

Next, we plotted a chart showing the PSU's efficiency at low loads and loads from 10 to 110% of its maximum rated capacity. The higher a PSU’s efficiency, the less energy goes wasted, leading to a reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills. The same goes for Power Factor.

Efficiency is good with normal loads, but pretty low at light loads. 

5VSB Efficiency

The 5VSB rail is efficient. 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Vampire power is low with 115V but much higher than 0.1W with 230V input. 

Fan RPM, Delta Temperature, And Output Noise

All results are obtained between an ambient temperature of 37 to 47 degrees Celsius (98.6 to 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fan's speed increases linearly to the load and it allows the fan to spin at high speeds, at high operating temperatures, to cope with the thermal loads. 

The following results were obtained at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) ambient temperature.       

The PSU's passive mode lasts long enough at normal operating temperatures, close to 30 degrees Celsius. Noise exceeds 30 dBA with more than 770W loads and over 35 dBA with 840W and higher loads. In no case the output noise exceeds 40 dBA under normal operating temperatures. Hence the overall noise output remains low. 

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Protection Features

Check out our PSUs 101 article to learn more about PSU protection features.

The OCP triggering points are correctly set on all rails, and the same goes for OPP. The remaining protection features are present and work well. 

DC Power Sequencing

According to Intel’s most recent Power Supply Design Guide (revision 1.4), the +12V and 5V outputs must be equal to or greater than the 3.3V rail at all times. Unfortunately, Intel doesn't mention why it is so important to always keep the 3.3V rail's voltage lower than the levels of the other two outputs.

No problems here since the 3.3V rail is always lower than the other two. 

Cross Load Tests

To generate the following charts, we set our loaders to auto mode through custom-made software before trying more than 25,000 possible load combinations with the +12V, 5V, and 3.3V rails. The deviations in each of the charts below are calculated by taking the nominal values of the rails (12V, 5V, and 3.3V) as point zero. The ambient temperature during testing was between 30 to 32 degrees Celsius (86 to 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Load Regulation Charts

Efficiency Graph

Ripple Graphs

The lower the power supply's ripple, the more stable the system will be and less stress will also be applied to its components.

Infrared Images

We apply a half-load for 10 minutes with the PSU's top cover and cooling fan removed before taking photos with a modified Fluke Ti480 PRO camera able to deliver an IR resolution of 640x480 (307,200 pixels).

The temperatures inside the PSU are low, with the filtering caps on the secondary side being among the coolest parts, which is highly beneficiary for their health. 

MORE: Best Power Supplies

MORE: How We Test Power Supplies

MORE: All Power Supply Content

Advanced Transient Response Tests

For details about our transient response testing, please click here.

In the real world, power supplies are always working with loads that change. It's of immense importance, then, for the PSU to keep its rails within the ATX specification's defined ranges. The smaller the deviations, the more stable your PC will be with less stress applied to its components. 

We should note that the ATX spec requires capacitive loading during the transient rests, but in our methodology, we also choose to apply a worst case scenario with no additional capacitance on the rails. 

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 20% – 1ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 20ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 10ms

Advanced Transient Response at 50% – 1ms