Epilogue
It is not the best thing to have a PSU line and silently replace it with the platform of another OEM. The honest way to do that is to change the series name. Thermaltake uses the 80 PLUS badge on this PSU to make matters worse, while the HKC version is certified and not the CE-Link model. This is a false advertisement, to say the least. It is very easy to fool the 80 PLUS system, and Thermaltake took advantage of it since it didn’t want to pay the high fee to re-certify this unit. However, this is wrong in any case, and future buyers of the GF A3 750W CE-Link version should know that. Some low-end brands use fake certification badges, but I didn’t expect this from a large brand.
In the protection features section, although the first sample survived heavy abuse during the over-current and over-power protection features evaluations (I even tried <100V input at 45C), it died in the plain short circuit evaluation in the 3.3V shorted with Earth test. Since I had a second sample, I tried that specific test again without any issues this time. Given the limited samples that I tried, though, I cannot be sure whether the protection features on this unit operate normally or if there is a problem. I need a larger sample pool to find out. In any case, having one of the two samples dying is worrisome.
The Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W is priced decently for the category’s standards. It passes all ATX v3.1 tests, but given the “fake” certification badge and the messy protection feature settings, I would stay away from it. Moreover, its overall performance is low, and the fan spinning at high speeds for short periods at light loads will annoy most users. It is better to disable the fan’s passive operation in this model.
Before investing in a new power supply, read my Best ATX v3.x PSUs article to check all alternative PSU offerings. 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.
- Delivered full power at 46°C
- High overall efficiency (meeting the Cybenetics Platinum Level)
- ATX v3.1 and PCIe 5.1 ready
- Good enough 12V performance (ATX v3.1 transient response tests)
- Not high overall noise output (still, it can be annoying at light loads)
- Good ripple suppression at 12V
- Long hold-up time
- Relatively low inrush currents
- Low vampire power at 115V
- Alternative Low Power Mode (ALPM) compatible
- Fully modular
- 12+4 pin PCIe connector (300W)
- Compact dimensions (140mm depth)
- Ideal distance between the peripheral connectors (150mm)
- Silent platform change to a lower-performance and less reliable one
- Fake 80 PLUS Badge
- The review sample died during the protection features evaluation
- Protection feature settings are wrong
- Low overall performance
- Loose load regulation
- Mediocre transient response
- Increased ripple at 5V
- Both EPS on the same cable can cause trouble
- Lower than 70% efficiency with a 2% load
- APFC converter needs tuning for higher PF readings
- Low 5VSB efficiency at 230V
- Above 0.1W standby power at 230V
—“… a brand changes OEMs without changing the product’s name or providing some information on the box to help buyers distinguish the different versions.”
Aris, is there at least some info on the outside of the unit when it’s not on the box?
If not, that’s pretty rude 😈
only the “Made in Vietnam” can help an educated user spot this unit from the HKC one.
thanks for the clarification 😉
Totally blasted the Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W ATX v3.1, but that’s fair enough.
Failure to style by TT.