Epilogue
Despite the loose load regulation and the mediocre transient response, the Toughpower SFX 850W achieves a high overall score thanks to its good ripple suppression, the long hold-up time, the high build quality, the low vampire power, and the sky-high efficiency levels that it achieves in almost all load ranges, especially the light ones. There are some issues, though, which need to be resolved. Both my samples died during the protection features evaluation tests under stressful conditions. Indeed, I pushed the PSUs a lot to break them, but this is why the protection features are there, to protect the PSU, and clearly, they didn’t achieve that. Thermaltake should ask HKC to tune the protection features of this platform accordingly to protect the PSU effectively. This is a $200 product, deserving better protection features against possible abuse.
The Toughpower SFX 850W achieves a Platinum rating in the Cybenetics scheme, taking the lead in the average efficiency chart among several SFX models with similar capacity. If only the 5VSB rail were up to speed, the same goes for the APFC converter’s performance, which is not at the expected levels. Besides high efficiency, manufacturers have to realize that a good performing APFC converter is of high importance as well, not allowing energy to return to the grid, going wasted.
At 200 dollars, the Thermaltake Toughpower SFX 850W is not affordable, but PCIe 5.0 compatibility doesn’t come cheap. Still, Thermaltake should consider lowering the price since units like the Cooler Master V850 SFX, the Lian Li SP850, the EVGA SuperNOVA 850 GM, and the FAP Dagger Pro 850 are priced lower.
- Full power at 47°C
- ATX v3.0 and PCie 5.0 ready
- 12VHPWR connector (600W)
- Good overall performance
- Highly efficient platform
- Good ripple suppression
- Long hold-up time
- High build quality
- Low vampire power
- ALPM support
- Fully modular
- Adequate distance (145-150mm) between peripheral connectors
- Quality, FDB fan
- 7-year warranty
- Major protection features are not properly set (OPP, OCP, and OTP)
- Mediocre transient response
- Loose load regulation
- Low PF readings
- High inrush currents
- Noisy at high loads (>600W)
- Not efficient 5VSB rail
Mine has a horrid whine when the fan can’t decide wether it wants to spin or not. This doesn’t seem to be an uncommon issue either which is annoying. So far warranty support has been unhelpful.
I am sorry to hear this. Will try to contact TT and learn more about this.
Great review with alot of detail thanks guys, I’ve read alot of forums and seen videos of numerous people complaining about the Thermaltake SFX850 having loud coil wine at lighter loads (about where the fan just about starts spinning due to load). Was this noticed during the testing of your unit?
we didn’t notice something, else we would have wrote about it, but it can happen yes, with different production batches. By testing 1-2 PSUs only, you can’t have a complete picture about the whole production, sorry.
Exactly the same thing happens to me, the screeching noise that this source emits is unbearable, with the money it is worth and this huge failure.
I have the same problem with the fan 🙁
I also bought myself a Thermaltake Toughpower SFX 850W Gold PSU for my Fractal Terra build. I had this Corsair SF850L 850W from a previous build, but I thought I would go smaller, so as to put a 120 mm fan. Boy do I regret. The Thermaltake sounds like it has a canary locked inside, making a chirping noise, almos continuous, you can hear 7 meters away. Considering the price, this is outrageous. Thinking about going back to my Corsair, who’s fas was anyway idle most of the time…
How you install it? With the fan facing downwards? Also, Cybenetics Standard+ rating is not what I call silent. The average noise output of 35-40 dBA is notable.