Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1350W ATX v3.0 Power Supply Review

The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1350W is a high-performance power supply.

Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1350W ATX v3.0
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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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.

Thermaltake GF3 1350W

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

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.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
10%9.383A1.986A1.962A0.993A134.98887.68%0<6.044.5°C0.982
Row 2 - Cell 0 12.084V5.036V3.364V5.037V153.939Row 2 - Cell 6 Row 2 - Cell 7 Row 2 - Cell 8 40.28°C115.15V
20%19.804A2.982A2.945A1.195A269.99491.18%0<6.045.49°C0.993
Row 4 - Cell 0 12.073V5.031V3.362V5.022V296.045Row 4 - Cell 6 Row 4 - Cell 7 Row 4 - Cell 8 40.79°C115.12V
30%30.623A3.485A3.441A1.398A405.03191.526%109836.541.32°C0.995
Row 6 - Cell 0 12.049V5.022V3.357V5.009V442.554Row 6 - Cell 6 Row 6 - Cell 7 Row 6 - Cell 8 46.39°C115.07V
40%41.435A3.988A3.935A1.602A539.82491.752%110136.541.37°C0.996
Row 8 - Cell 0 12.034V5.016V3.355V4.995V588.474Row 8 - Cell 6 Row 8 - Cell 7 Row 8 - Cell 8 46.88°C115.04V
50%51.914A4.99A4.921A1.808A674.78991.225%110536.642.16°C0.997
Row 10 - Cell 0 12.025V5.011V3.353V4.979V739.743Row 10 - Cell 6 Row 10 - Cell 7 Row 10 - Cell 8 48.24°C115V
60%62.411A5.995A5.91A2.001A809.66190.877%124239.542.7°C0.998
Row 12 - Cell 0 12.016V5.006V3.351V4.963V890.951Row 12 - Cell 6 Row 12 - Cell 7 Row 12 - Cell 8 49.24°C114.96V
70%72.935A7.003A6.899A2.224A944.64490.384%124539.643.54°C0.998
Row 14 - Cell 0 12.005V5V3.349V4.947V1045.11Row 14 - Cell 6 Row 14 - Cell 7 Row 14 - Cell 8 50.69°C114.93V
80%83.532A8.003A7.889A2.332A1079.83789.716%156745.344.49°C0.998
Row 16 - Cell 0 11.995V4.994V3.347V4.933V1203.657Row 16 - Cell 6 Row 16 - Cell 7 Row 16 - Cell 8 52.6°C114.88V
90%94.493A8.52A8.371A2.439A1214.88189.168%176948.645.25°C0.998
Row 18 - Cell 0 11.984V4.989V3.345V4.921V1362.521Row 18 - Cell 6 Row 18 - Cell 7 Row 18 - Cell 8 54.32°C114.85V
100%105.320A9.037A8.89A3.065A1350.19288.198%223854.346.41°C0.998
Row 20 - Cell 0 11.968V4.981V3.341V4.895V1530.871Row 20 - Cell 6 Row 20 - Cell 7 Row 20 - Cell 8 56.47°C114.8V
110%115.968A10.05A9.972A3.073A1485.20987.388%223454.247.04°C0.998
Row 22 - Cell 0 11.959V4.976V3.339V4.883V1699.574Row 22 - Cell 6 Row 22 - Cell 7 Row 22 - Cell 8 57.88°C114.75V
CL10.118A14.378A14.211A0A121.3280.414%115737.742.5°C0.982
Row 24 - Cell 0 12.072V5.022V3.356V5.046V150.864Row 24 - Cell 6 Row 24 - Cell 7 Row 24 - Cell 8 48.01°C115.15V
CL20.116A23.915A0A0A121.40378.689%111536.843.66°C0.983
Row 26 - Cell 0 12.066V5.018V3.354V5.06V154.299Row 26 - Cell 6 Row 26 - Cell 7 Row 26 - Cell 8 50.69°C115.15V
CL30.116A0A23.535A0A80.59773.938%109236.444.35°C0.971
Row 28 - Cell 0 12.070V5.038V3.365V5.043V109.055Row 28 - Cell 6 Row 28 - Cell 7 Row 28 - Cell 8 52.43°C115.16V
CL4112.596A0A0A0A1349.76488.985%124539.645.96°C0.998
Row 30 - Cell 0 11.988V5V3.351V4.982V1517.01Row 30 - Cell 6 Row 30 - Cell 7 Row 30 - Cell 8 55.93°C114.81V

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.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
20W1.236A0.496A0.49A0.197A20.00770.579%0<6.039.81°C0.82
Row 2 - Cell 0 12.017V5.041V3.365V5.066V28.228Row 2 - Cell 6 Row 2 - Cell 7 Row 2 - Cell 8 36.67°C115.17V
40W2.723A0.695A0.687A0.296A40.00478.608%0<6.040.98°C0.919
Row 4 - Cell 0 12.007V5.04V3.365V5.062V50.864Row 4 - Cell 6 Row 4 - Cell 7 Row 4 - Cell 8 37.67°C115.17V
60W4.212A0.893A0.883A0.396A60.00380.803%0<6.042.39°C0.951
Row 6 - Cell 0 11.996V5.039V3.364V5.058V74.322Row 6 - Cell 6 Row 6 - Cell 7 Row 6 - Cell 8 38.64°C115.17V
80W5.648A1.092A1.079A0.495A79.96882.878%0<6.044.09°C0.966
Row 8 - Cell 0 12.100V5.039V3.364V5.054V96.463Row 8 - Cell 6 Row 8 - Cell 7 Row 8 - Cell 8 40.12°C115.16V

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.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
12V5V3.3V5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyFan Speed (RPM)PSU Noise (dB[A])Temps (In/Out)PF/AC Volts
2.048A0.263A0.263A0.055A27.05775.344%0<6.026.46°C0.863
Row 2 - Cell 0 11.995V5.036V3.362V5.071V35.9Row 2 - Cell 6 Row 2 - Cell 7 25.27°C115.15V

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

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Test #5VSBDC/AC (Watts)EfficiencyPF/AC Volts
10.1A0.507W70.84%0.071
Row 2 - Cell 0 5.071V0.716WRow 2 - Cell 3 115.17V
20.25A1.268W76.564%0.154
Row 4 - Cell 0 5.068V1.656WRow 4 - Cell 3 115.17V
30.55A2.784W78.709%0.27
Row 6 - Cell 0 5.061V3.537WRow 6 - Cell 3 115.17V
41A5.051W79.183%0.366
Row 8 - Cell 0 5.05V6.379WRow 8 - Cell 3 115.16V
51.5A7.559W79.527%0.414
Row 10 - Cell 0 5.038V9.503WRow 10 - Cell 3 115.17V
63A15.002W78.636%0.481
Row 12 - Cell 0 5V19.078WRow 12 - Cell 3 115.16V

The 5VSB rail is not so efficient. 

Power Consumption In Idle And Standby

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mode12V5V3.3V5VSBWattsPF/AC Volts
Idle12.013V5.034V3.36V5.076V0.0140.001
Row 2 - Cell 0 Row 2 - Cell 1 Row 2 - Cell 2 Row 2 - Cell 3 Row 2 - Cell 4 Row 2 - Cell 5 115.15V
StandbyRow 3 - Cell 1 Row 3 - Cell 2 Row 3 - Cell 3 Row 3 - Cell 4 0.0840.008
Row 4 - Cell 0 Row 4 - Cell 1 Row 4 - Cell 2 Row 4 - Cell 3 Row 4 - Cell 4 Row 4 - Cell 5 115.15V

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).

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

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.       

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

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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Aris Mpitziopoulos
Contributing Editor

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