When piecing together a new computer, arguably the most important component selection is the power supply. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most overlooked areas and often times an inexperienced builder is lured b tantalizing wattage claims at too-good-to-be-true pricing. Before purchasing a PSU, I highly recommend stopping by ExtremeOverclocking.com and reading Powering Your PC: Truths and Misconceptions - A Guide to Power Supplies.
When piecing together a new computer, arguably the most important component selection is the power supply. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most overlooked areas and often times an inexperienced builder is lured b tantalizing wattage claims at too-good-to-be-true pricing. Before purchasing a PSU, I highly recommend stopping by ExtremeOverclocking.com and reading Powering Your PC: Truths and Misconceptions - A Guide to Power Supplies.
The power requirements of modern PCs have become increasingly demanding, and even systems built on a budget should not skimp when it comes time to pick out a PSU. While generic units have saturated the marketplace, the big players have responded and these days it is not too difficult to find a quality, name brand power supply at just about any given price point. With more and more manufacturers stepping up to the plate, how does Thermaltake propose to compete? Their solution is to offer an overwhelming laundry list of features. Let's see how this approach pays off.
Versatility is the name of the game here, and Thermaltake knows how to play. The 600w PurePower W0083RU is loaded with features and quite frankly, I was a bit surprised not to see the kitchen sink bundled in the box. Let's have a look at what exactly is included:
Features
- SSI EPS 12V and ATX12V 2.2 compliant
- PCI Express, SLI, Crossfire, and dual-core ready
- Active PFC
- 52A spread across three +12V rails
- Quiet 120 mm ball bearing fan (TT-1225A)
- Reflective mirror casing
- Gold plated connectors
- Detachable 24-pin connector
- 4+4 pin +12V power connector
- 8 x 4-pin peripheral connectors
- 2 x 4-pin floppy connectors
- 4 x SATA connectors
- 2 x case fan only connectors
- Black cable sleeving on all cables
- Over voltage, under voltage, short circuit, over power, overload, and over temperature protection
- Safety / EMI Approvals: CB, CE, FCC, UL, CUL, TUV certification
A quick glance at the specifications reveals that this unit offers a whopping 52A spread across three +12V rails. As a rule of thumb, I like to recommend a +12V rating in the high 20s as a minimum, with the mid 30s and above for any high end rig, particularly those that will be running two video cards in SLI or Crossfire. Thermaltake provides plenty of headroom in this area ensuring longterm peace of mind.
EXTERIOR
The first thing you'll notice about this power supply is the casing itself. Sporting a reflective mirror finish, the Thermaltake 600w PurePower looks very shapr. It's almost a shame to have to mount such a nice looking unit inside a chassis, as the exterior deserves to be showed off. Accenting the outter casing, Thermaltake decided to sleeve all the cables in black mesh, save for one of the floppy connectors. This was a wise decision, as this unit is not modular and packs quite a few connectors. If left unsleeved, the sheer number of cables could potentially have been a distracting eyesore in an otherwise fine looking PSU. There are 12 strands in all, accommodating a wealth of connectors. Included is a detachable 24-pin connector, four SATA connectors, eight 4-pin molexes, two case fan connectors, two floppy connectors, and a 4+4 (8-pin) auxiliary for EPS12V compatibility. Furthermore, these connectors feature easy-release tabs an gold plating on the inside.
Cooling duties are handled by a quiet, variable speed 120 mm fan that is auto controlled based on the temperature. At its normal operating speed of 1300 RPM, the noise level is virtually silent - Thermaltake rates it 17 dBA. When cranking at full tilt, this intake fan is capable of pushing 114.1 CFM over the internal components. Noise would likely become a factor in this scenario, however during testing, the unit never became hot enough for the fan to kick into a higher speed.
The underside of this unit is reflective as well, with a large gold colored grill protecing the above mentioned fan, complete with gold colored screws. This is a nice touch for those with a top mounted PSU bay and a side window. The back of the unit is equipped with a honeycomb vent to dispel the warm air out of the power supply and out of the chassis.
INTERNAL AND TESTING
A good initial indicator of quality is the weight and the Thermaltake 600w PurePower packs a considerable amount of heft. What's most surprising about this is the small footprint Thermaltake packed all these features into. At 15cm(L) x 14cm(W) x 8.6cm(H), the size of this power supply should work well with many of the SFF cases out there, provided you could find room for all the connectors. Add another notch to the versatility belt.
So what accounts for this heft? Let's have a peek inside. Before proceeding however, let me take this moment to remind you that not only does opening up a power supply immediately void the warranty, but it can be extremely dangerous as well. Even when unplugged, there can be enough electricity stored to create a Don King hairstyle. With that disclaimer out of the way, let's have a look inside:
So far everything is looking good. The exterior is an eye catcher, the generous assortment of cables are sleeved, the interior looks up to par, the 120 mm cooling fan is an adequate inclusion, and the technical specifications are high end. When all is said and done however, good looks and an attractive spec sheet mean nothing if the performance is not there. Let's see how the Thermaltake 600w PurePower fared:
Testbed
Results
| Rails |
Min |
Max |
| +3.3V |
3.28 |
3.33 |
| +5V |
4.92 |
4.98 |
| +12V |
11.84 |
12.00 |
Comments
My original intent was to post four separate graphs, two dipicting the idle and load performance at 2.2GHz and two depicting the idle and load performance at 2.6GHz with an increased vCore (1.52V). When I did this however, all three rails remained exactly the same at each speed grade and stress level, including the increased voltage demands. It further needs to be mentioned that all three rails were rock solid and exhibited very little fluctuation, each of which is well within the +/- 5% tolerance set out by the ATX specification. The +3.3V and +5V rails showed a nominal deviation of .06 in the minimum and maximum values recorded, and while the +12V showed a somewhat larger .16 discrepency, keep in mind that those were for the entire testing period. More often than not, the +12V rail hovered right around 11.90. The performance displayed here is very impressive.
OUR RECOMMENDATION
Warranty and Support
Thermaltake does not have an official support forum, though their online support system does contain a handful of other options at your disposal including an FAQ section, techinical support form, and an RMA form, among others. The 600w PurePower is backed by a 3 year warranty.
Our Recommendation
Thermaltake is no stranger to the power supply business and has been quietly releasing quality units at affordable prices. My first experience with a Thermaltake PSU was a 420w PurePower purchased about three years ago. In that tme, it powered my 2.4C Northwood overclocked to 3.4GHz, was later moved to a Barton 2500+ system overclocked to 3200+ speeds (2.2GHz), and most recently has found a home in a 3.2C Northwood system. With this background, my expectations were high and today's review sample did not disappoint.
Looking at the 600w PurePower, there's a lot to like and very little criticize. The reflective mirror finish simply looks fantastic, the cables are neatly sleeved in black mesh, there are enough gold plated easy release molex connectors to keep the upgrade options open, and the variable speed 120 mm auto adjustable fan is virtually silent during normal operation. From a performance standpoint, my test sample handled both overclocking and voltage adjustments without so much as breaking a sweat. Rated at 600 watts with a generous 52A spread across the +12 rails, the 600w PurePower can not only accomodate today's systems, but has enough headroom to address the needs of tomorrow's components as well. In fact, the only minor complaint I can come up with is the lack of user adjustable rails, which is almost a moot point considering the rock solid operation displayed during testing - the rails just would not budge, which is a sign of a well designed power supply. Thermaltake has a real winner on their hands in the 600w PurePower and any enthusiast looking for a high end solution would do well to put this on their short list of power supplies.
Pros:
- Sleeved cables
- Lots of easy-release molex connectors
- Quiet operation
- Rock solid rails (52A spread across three +12V rails)
- Gorgeous reflective mirror finish
- Active PFC
- Small footprint
- EPS12V and ATX12V 2.2 compliant
- PCI Express, SLI, Crossfire, and dual-core ready
Cons:
- No user adjustable rails
- Not modular (if that's your preference)
