Thermaltake Toughpower 800 W (W0296RU) Power Supply Review

Conclusions

Thermaltake Toughpower 800 W uses a unique design in order to achieve high efficiency. During our tests efficiency was above 87% when we pulled between 40% and 60% of this unit labeled capacity (between 320 W and 480 W). Pulling 80% of its labeled capacity (640 W) we saw efficiency above 85%. At light load (20%, i.e., 160 W) and at full load efficiency dropped below 85%. We always like to remember that 80 Plus certification is obtained at a room temperature of only 23° C, which is impossible to be achieved inside a high-end PC and that is why we always test power supplies at a temperature of at least double this value. The higher the temperature, the lower efficiency is.

Voltage regulation was one of the highlights from Toughpower 800 W, with all voltages within 3% from their nominal values, i.e., closer to their nominal values than required, as the ATX specification allows voltages to be up to 5% from their nominal values. This includes -12 V, an output that usually doesn’t like to stay so close to its nominal value. The only exception was +3.3 V during test five, which was still inside the 5% limit.

Noise and ripple levels stayed inside the allowed range, however higher than we’d like to see. Thermaltake warned us that this would happen with the first production batch.

We were disappointed by the cable configuration from this power supply, especially on the video card cables. Not only it has two video card power connectors sharing the same cable (the recommended configuration is having each video card power connector attached to an individual cable) but two of the connectors are eight-pin models without the option to convert them into six-pin models. This makes it impossible to install two high-end video cards that require two six-pin power connectors each under SLI or CrossFire mode (e.g., GeForce GTX 260 and GeForce GTX 285) – this installation is possible only by using adapters to convert peripheral power plugs into six-pin video card power connectors.

The number of peripheral (five) and SATA (six) power connectors is also below what we would expect on a 800 W product, which is clearly targeted to users running two video cards and several hard drives.

What you really need to pay attention is pricing. Toughpower 800 W has an outrageous USD 250 suggested price. At USD 250 we simply can’t recommend this product when we have 850 W products with similar performance costing less, in particular XFX 850 W, Seasonic S12D 850 W and Seasonic M12D 850 W. Seasonic S12D 850 W, for example, costs USD 180 (USD 160 after a USD 20 mail-in rebate) and
comes with nine SATA power connectors.

While as of today Newegg.com is offering this unit at USD 250, Amazon.com is offering it at a price we think is correct for this product, USD 170 (with free shipping), making it an option if you are looking for a 800 W power supply with high efficiency.

So our Silver Award seal is only valid if you can buy this unit for USD 170 or less. Above that you are better off buying one of the other power supplies abovementioned.