Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 650W PSU Review

Epilogue

There are not many ATX v3.0 compatible PSUs with 650W capacity. The only ones in my database are the Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 650W, which I reviewed today, and the XPG Core Reactor II 650. The latter achieves a notably higher overall performance and has the same MSRP, creating huge issues for TT’s offering. Nonetheless, the GF A3 650W takes revenge in noise output, achieving a notably lower average noise output. Moreover, during the review, someone could buy the GF A3 650W at $79, a notable difference from XPG’s unit price. At $79, the GF A3 650W is a very good choice!

I am unsure whether there is a market for 650W ATX v3.0 PSUs; from the moment, with 10-20 dollars more, you can get their 750W versions, which are more suitable for nowadays power-hungry GPUs and CPUs. I would invest in a stronger than 650W unit to be future-proof. That said, during the protection features evaluation testing, I realized that the GF A3 650 is way more capable than its nominal output to not have any shutdown issues, even with stronger GPUs and CPUs.

Lastly, I want to stress something I noted in the GF A3 750W review. A pair of EPS connectors on the same cable can be dangerous, especially when the typical 18AWG gauges are used up to the first connector. These connectors can easily draw more than 250W each, meaning >500W. The single 8-pin socket won’t be able to handle such power levels, and the same applies to the 18AWG gauges, which will probably go first. HKC and Thermaltake should take care of this as soon as possible.

To check all alternative PSU offerings, read my Best ATX v3.0 PSUs article before investing in a new power supply. You help me a lot by using my affiliate links, which don’t increase the product’s price. I get a commission from Amazon every time you do it, which can make a difference for me, especially now that I am on my own, working exclusively for my media and not for someone else.