Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1200W ATX v3.0 Power Supply Review

The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1200W tops our performance charts.

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Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1200W ATX v3.0
(Image: © Thermaltake)

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The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1200 uses a solid platform by Channel Well Technology, which offers high performance in almost all areas. While in load regulation, the PSU cannot follow the tough competitors, in every other section it scores high. The unit's transient response, among the critical performance factors, is top and the same goes for ripple suppression. If only the fan speed profile were less aggressive, but the lack of heat sinks on the 12V board, and the extended warranty probably pushed CWT to tune the fan speed profile.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The GF3 1200W's main competitor is the Cooler Master MWE Gold 1250 V2, which is not ATX v3.0 ready and doesn't have a 12VHPWR connector. Nonetheless, this Cooler Master unit is currently sold at a very good price, close to $180 dollars, while the GF3 1200W is notably more expensive at $230. The price difference is quite significant to justify ATX v3.0 and PCIe 5.0 compatibility, but if you want to be as future-proof as possible, you will have to pay it. It would be best if you kept in mind that the current generation GPUs operates properly with non-ATX v3.0 ready PSUs and with 12VHPWR adapters, but nobody can know the requirements of the future GPU generations. 

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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.

Aris Mpitziopoulos
Aris Mpitziopoulos
Contributing Editor

Aris Mpitziopoulos is a contributing editor at Tom's Hardware, covering PSUs.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • hexxum
    Didn’t the Toughpower gf3 1200w fail ATX 3.0 certification through Cybenetics? Here is a quote with links from Dogzilla09 from Overclockers:


    Here check the results (for Thermaltake Toughpower GF3) on the second page, under Results paragraph, there's no row with ATX 3.0 Ready/PCIE 5.0 ready (previous designation) written:
    https://www.cybenetics.com/d/cybenetics_TLu.pdfHere's how it should look like on the 1000W GF3 model:
    https://www.cybenetics.com/d/cybenetics_1GW.pdfNow here's the MSI Ai1300P (it has different wording, but it's also passed testing).
    https://www.cybenetics.com/d/cybenetics_jWP.pdf
    Reply
  • vashtanerada
    It definitely says that it passed ATX 3.0. Unless something changed since you posted this.
    Reply
  • hexxum
    I contacted Cybenetics about this and the SilverStone Hela 1200r since both failed. They both failed a transient load test. Thermaltake was already sending them a new test unit, which has since passed and Cybenetics has updated their data sheet. Also contacted SilverStone. They said had sent Cybenetics a preproduction unit and that they’d be in contact with them to get it resolved. I haven’t seen any updates for the Hela 1200r yet.
    Reply
  • Parallax1
    I have startup noise problem with this. Im definetly sure its not the fan, i tried to stop it from exterior and still noise happens. I guess high inrush current causing this for 1 second, but is that harmful for psu or pc?

    Here is the noise :

    https://youtube.com/shorts/An8ypTL-JaU?feature=share
    Reply
  • hexxum
    Parallax1 said:
    I have startup noise problem with this. Im definetly sure its not the fan, i tried to stop it from exterior and still noise happens. I guess high inrush current causing this for 1 second, but is that harmful for psu or pc?

    Here is the noise :

    https://youtube.com/shorts/An8ypTL-JaU?feature=share

    I had a Hela 1200r for a hot minute and it made a similar noise. I use a smart plug with my computer to fully cut off power after shut down. In a way it’s like flipping the switch on the psu to fully cut power. I noticed the psu would make this noise when I turned the computer back on. Didn’t seem to happen if I would shutdown the computer and turn it back on without fully cutting the power at the plug, which leads me to believe the noise is from some component in the psu when it first gets loaded with electricity. I ended up returning the Hela 1200r due to it failing atx 3.0 certification. I now have a msi ai1300p and I’ve never heard it make that noise. The Hela 1200r operated fine though so I don’t think this sound is something to worry about.

    Also to anyone else following earlier posts of mine in this thread. The Hela 1200r sent a new production unit to Cybenetics and it has now passed atx 3.0 certification. Apparently they had sent a pre production unit first and that’s why it failed one of the transient load tests.
    Reply
  • Parallax1
    hexxum said:
    I had a Hela 1200r for a hot minute and it made a similar noise. I use a smart plug with my computer to fully cut off power after shut down. In a way it’s like flipping the switch on the psu to fully cut power. I noticed the psu would make this noise when I turned the computer back on. Didn’t seem to happen if I would shutdown the computer and turn it back on without fully cutting the power at the plug, which leads me to believe the noise is from some component in the psu when it first gets loaded with electricity. I ended up returning the Hela 1200r due to it failing atx 3.0 certification. I now have a msi ai1300p and I’ve never heard it make that noise. The Hela 1200r operated fine though so I don’t think this sound is something to worry about.

    Also to anyone else following earlier posts of mine in this thread. The Hela 1200r sent a new production unit to Cybenetics and it has now passed atx 3.0 certification. Apparently they had sent a pre production unit first and that’s why it failed one of the transient load tests.
    Probably both use the same PCB, both are CWT production. I couldn't trust it and then returned it because I was going to use it as a rendering and workstation.
    Probably youre right. Mine has cutoff mechanism inside, i can barely hear that something cutting off the power, but you cant control it.
    I have ordered FSP Hydro PTM Pro 1200w atx 3.0 now, I know that FSP keeps the product controls tight, I hope I will be satisfied.
    Reply