Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 Gold 1050W Power Supply Review
Thermaltake is a well-established name in the industry, known for delivering an impressive range of hardware for just about every part of the market. From affordable PC builds to the deep pocketed enthusiast, their range of PC case, coolers, power supplies, gaming chairs, racing rigs, cycle sims, fans, desks, lighting… actually they just make a lot of things, seems there’s nothing Thermaltake can’t do these days. While the new Toughpower GF A3 Gold 1050W is a high-capacity power supply designed to meet the demands of modern gaming rigs and workstations, it’s far from their most extreme model. However, a little over 1000W with 80 Plus Gold is a bit of a sweet spot for high-end PC builds. As the industry moves toward power-intensive components, it provides a reliable foundation for users running high-end processors and the latest graphics cards, without having to spend more than they need to; given the cost of certain other products, I’ll take the savings where I can.
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 Gold 1050W
The Toughpower GF A3 Gold may not be the most extreme or even most expensive PSU, but don’t think you’re cheaping out. It’s designed to be a future-proof solution for enthusiasts, featuring full compatibility with ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 technologies. This standard ensures the unit can handle significant power excursions, which is vital for maintaining stability during intense gaming or heavy rendering tasks. A standout feature is the native PCIe Gen 5.1 12V-2×6 connector, which allows for a single-cable connection to modern GPUs, delivering up to 600W of power directly. The inclusion of a 120mm fluid dynamic bearing fan ensures quiet operation, backed up by a Smart Zero Fan mode that keeps the PSU completed silent until it reaches a 30% load threshold, meaning daily workloads will be completely silent (from the PSU at least).
Key Features
- Fully compatible with Intel ATX 3.1 standards.
- Native PCIe Gen 5.1 12V-2×6 connector capable of 600W delivery.
- 80 PLUS Gold efficiency certification for reduced energy waste.
- Cybenetics Platinum efficiency and Cybenetics A- noise certifications.
- Smart Zero Fan technology for silent operation at low loads.
- 120mm fluid dynamic bearing fan for improved airflow and longevity.
- Fully modular design with low-profile flat black cables.
- High-quality Japanese main electrolytic capacitor.
- High amperage single +12V rail with LLC and DC to DC circuit design.
With a total output of 1050W, a strange number I know, but it is what it is. It comes with a comprehensive suite of industrial-grade protections, such as over-current and over-temperature safeguards, to prevent damage to connected components. Its compact 140mm depth makes it one of the smaller ATX power supplies in its class, although I have noticed a general trend of larger wattage units coming in shorter form factors, it’s certainly not just a Thermaltake thing. However, this does ensure it fits comfortably into a wide range of cases, which is certainly a good thing.
Technical Specifications
- Wattage: 1050W
- Form Factor: ATX 3.1
- Efficiency: 80 PLUS Gold / Cybenetics Platinum
- Fan Size: 120mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB)
- Dimensions: 150mm (W) x 86mm (H) x 140mm (D)
- Modular: Fully Modular
- Capacitors: Japanese Main Electrolytic
- Protection: OCP, OVP, UVP, OPP, SCP, OTP
- MTBF: 100,000 hours minimum
- Hold Up Time: > 17ms
- Connectors: 1x 24-pin Main, 2x 4+4-pin ATX 12V, 1x 12+4-pin PCIe (600W), 5x 6+2-pin PCIe, 12x SATA, 4x Peripheral, 1x FDD Adapter
- Warranty: 10 Years
For more details check out the official product page here. Of course, you can keep reading the rest of this review too!
