The Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU Review: Mid-Range 750W PSU With 12VHPWR

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. For a thorough explanation of our testing methodology and more details on our equipment, please refer to our How We Test PSUs – 2014 Pipeline post.

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 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. Still, 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 online via 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 relatively 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.

The Toughpower GF A3 750W PSU is atypical because Thermaltake claims its performance is rated at 45°C. Typically, PC PSUs are 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 its 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 it 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 managed to keep its fan off while the load was low. The high temperature forces the fan to start earlier than before, with the fan constantly increasing its speed 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 good to see that the OTP works normally and protects the unit if necessary. It’s troubling because, clearly, the unit could use 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, but it is good to find out that it can withstand it for short periods if it has to.

As part of our testing, we also check output parameters are within specifications, as well as voltage ripple and line noise.

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 and with a so high operating temperature. 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.

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. Priced at $91 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.