How Much Does it Cost?
At the time of this review, we were unable to confirm any exact retail prices for the ASUS ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II. However, based on what can be determined from the original ‘Thor’ series, we would expect this 1000 watt variant to cost something in the region of $299.99. – So, in terms of power supplies, this certainly isn’t cheap.
You do, however, have to consider that this is not a ‘generic’ power supply and shouldn’t be compared to others that are. This is a premium-level product, designed for overclocking and gaming enthusiasts. With this in mind, therefore, this, unfortunately, carries a price tag that ultimately tends to reflect that particular market. – On the plus side, however, this does come with a pretty huge 10-year warranty, so if you plan to really put this PSU through its paces, you can perhaps afford to think of this as an investment rather than a purchase!
Performance
For as absolutely fantastic as the ASUS ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II looks (both internally and externally) the only mild disappointment I had was that the performance figures provided in our testing were so, for want of a better word, mundane. Yes, admittedly, that requires a little explanation.
What I’m trying to say is that for as aesthetically pleasing as the ASUS ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II is, and for the clearly exceptionally high level of quality control that has gone into it, I did expect (or rather hope) that the performance it provided would’ve equally blown my mind. The reality, however, is that it did not. It did everything it was supposed to and did it competently and quietly. Sure, the ASUS ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II sets the bar high with its Platinum efficiency rating. I just can’t help but feel though that while still an excellent power supply in a practical sense, the aesthetics perhaps write a metaphorical cheque that the performance doesn’t quite match.
Practicality & Functionality
The practicality of the ASUS ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II is predominantly covered by its fully modular cable design. Not only does this allow you to only insert the cables your components need, but the strong, long, and flexible braided coating should make cable management an absolute dream.
Offering a huge 1000 watts of power output as well, this model should easily cover even the most elaborate of gaming setups while still offering plenty of overhead for the enthusiast and/or overclocking user!
Should I Buy One?
Tricky question. The ASUS ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II is undoubtedly both tailored and marketed towards a very specific user. While ASUS themselves are clearly angling this PSU towards gamers, I honestly don’t think that this is the key demographic for this. I personally view the ASUS ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II as a premium-level power supply, both in terms of aesthetics and performance. With this in mind, therefore, and given its rather hefty price tag, this isn’t going to be the best option for, quite frankly, the vast majority of more generic PC gamers.
The ASUS ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II is, without a doubt, an absolute dream for extreme/enthusiast gaming systems, and perhaps more notably, overclockers who love to squeeze every ounce of performance out of their components.
So, in conclusion, the ASUS ROG Thor 1000W Platinum II is not for everyone. If you are, however, looking for an exceptionally strong power supply that offers high levels of performance and a level of aesthetics rarely seen in this particular aspect of PC components, then this is definitely an excellent choice to make!
