| Thermaltake Toughpower W0133RU 1200W Modular PSU |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Power | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Olin Coles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tuesday, 03 July 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thermaltake W0113RU PSUIt's difficult to justify the need for a 1200W power supply unit, since every appliance in my entire house would need to be combined just to consume this much electricity. However, if you are trying to build a better Death Star, or just simply trying to play Star Wars on your super-computer, the future of high-output PSU's is here. Channel Well Technology designed the Toughpower W0133RU 1200W power supply for Thermaltake, and it provides enough juice to sustain a small village, but Benchmark Reviews will test voltage regulation and power ripple before we give our praise. 
Like everything else that's happening in the computer hardware industry these days, power supply units have been caught in a trend. Benchmark Reviews has seen some major changes within the power supply industry over the past year. Even in such a limited purpose industry, somehow fads manage to come into existence. At one point, the number of rails a PSU offered was key to media hype. At another point, you could see everyone pushing for the highest watts in their new product. I can't forget how modular power supplies, with the assortment of cables and interfaces, also shared some time in the limelight. The latest trend seemed to be 80-Plus efficiency, but now that most PSU's operate at this efficient level the 80-Plus label has lost meaning. And then without any warning, it was as if every company manufacturing power supply units suddenly decided that they could win the battle for industry dominance by combining all of the above features, and add a nice paint job or mirror finish for good measure. Welcome the Thermaltake Toughpower W0133RU 1200W Modular power supply unit. Let's go through the marketing hype checklist:
It has been said before in our reviews: the power supply unit is the single most important part of any computer. Regardless of the system or purpose there is a given rule: whether it is a simple workstation with integrated components or an advanced gaming system with newest technology available, everything requires power to operate. As anyone who has suffered the failure of a low-end power supply will tell you, not all power supply units (PSU's) are created equal, and looks often don't mean a thing. About the company: ThermaltakeFounded in 1999, Thermaltake Technology is the world leader in the supply of thermal management cooling solutions, high-end power supply and chassis for desktop PC and industrial application systems. Building on the strength of its people, products and extensive expertise in Thermal Management, Thermaltake raised the level of excellence on its Award Winning Purepower branded power supply as well as Xaser line of chassis. While mission-critical applications for Enterprises and ultimate video gaming experiences available for gaming enthusiasts all rely on today's cutting-edge PCs to deliver, high-end PC makers relies on Thermaltake to provide the most reliable power supply, the most thermally efficient chassis and cooling solutions.
Thermaltake Technology Co., Ltd. started its core business based on our extensive knowledge of PC thermal management during the era where the area of performance CPU cooling was only exclusive for "overclockers" or PC enthusiasts. With the company's initial launch of Orb coolers, it created waves of shocks and appraisals throughout the gaming and overclocking communities. Thermaltake quickly became the name gamers turn to when they need high-end and reliable thermal solutions. With company's core business of CPU cooling still growing at a vast rate, Thermaltake made another grand entry to the PC chassis industry. To date, Thermaltake has always been considered as the pioneering company that revolutionized the PC chassis industry with Xaser series enclosures. The typical and traditional beige and plastic front panel design was outdone by Xaser series chassis's atypical gaming red and aluminum front panel. It was also the first enclosure available to public with Hardcano unit which provided users full control over computer's thermal management system. As a leader in Thermal Management, Thermaltake is the trusted supplier to many computer manufacturers providing Intel Validated and AMD Approved CPU coolers for today's high frequency and mainstream CPUs. At the pace of current technological advancement in multimedia application and multi-core processor, Thermal Management will become an evermore challenging task requiring innovative product design and reliable manufacturing process; a task that has made what Thermaltake is now and future. In the year 2002, Thermaltake announced Purepower line of power supply unit for the ever-growing power-hungry PCs. Purepower series PSU quickly gained recognition with its extensive warranty and high-reliability guaranty. Today, Thermaltake has grown into a world-class company with state-of-the-art testing and R&D facility based in Taiwan along with 60+ engineers and ID team covering each application segment such as Liquid Cooling, Air Cooling, PC Enclosure and Power Supply for main-stream users, high-end solutions, system integrators and industrial applications; thus achieve Thermaltake 's company motto, " COOLall YOUR LIFE "! W0113RU Features & SpecificationsYou cannot manufacture a product which shatters realistic needs and expectations without proper documentation. This section will be for those of you who live by the numbers, because thanks to Thermaltake everything about the Toughpower W0133RU 1200W Modular PSU has been measured and recorded. 
Toughpower Features:
Of the many features integrated into the Toughpower W0133RU, the most unique are the new 8-pin PCI-E connectors and 87% efficiency. Although the need for 8-pin PCI-E connections into next-generation video cards has not yet been realized, it will be a short matter of time before the twin 6-pin connections familiar to the GeForce 8800 Ultra and GTX will soon be replaced with this interface thanks to new PCI-SIG specifications. Additionally, a power supply offering 87% efficiency is extraordinary, and although very much a rarity it should become more common as the technology gets better.
W0113RU Specifications:
So by now if you have really read through all these numbers your head is probably spinning. Suffice it to say that Thermaltake has designed the Toughpower 1200W PSU with enough features to satisfy even the most demanding enthusiast, and enough power to handle more equipment than you will ever dream of connecting. There are two very important specifications which set this power supply apart from the competition: 600 watts of power dedicated to PCI-E graphics, and the total power output of 1200 watts is a continuous rating, and not a peak output. Closer Look: Toughpower 1200WAt first glance, the retail package holds back nothing and keeps no secrets. Thermaltake has done a great job of dressing up the packaging for the Toughpower W0133RU 1200W, which is a nice separation from the average boring scene found on other retail boxes. 
The contents of the retail packaging are safely packaged for transportation with today's (abusive) carriers. Contained in closed-cell foam is the Toughpower W0133RU 1200W unit, nestled beside it are the large array of modular cables with twist-ties on each group, and a small white box containing an ordinary power cord. Thermaltake has also thoughtfully included a silicon rubber dampening pad which fits between the power supply and the adjoining case. 
The large 140mm cooling fan is best seen in the image below, through the stamped steel grill. Truth be told, I am a fan of any power supply chassis which does not use a standoff grill or some other protective cover which might protrude past the surface level. Removing the Mushkin HP-580AP from the Lian Li PC-B20A was a real pain thanks to a raised button label and grill, and I'm thankful the experience won't be repeated. 
The honeycomb stamped steel grill on the back end of the power supply chassis is one of the more attractive finishes available. Unfortunately, the hideously ugly (and abnormally large) rocker switch takes away a few points from appearance, especially after the illumination glows like the orange switches on older power strips. 
The first extended chassis PSU I reviewed was the Hiper HPU-4M730-SS Type M, which could barely fit into the Antec P182 Performance One ATX Case we were testing at the time. Well, the same would hold true for the Toughpower 1200W power supply, which measures 7.87 inches long. It's my opinion that if you spend the money on a premium product like the Toughpower W0133RU PSU, you might not want to skimp and purchase a "B" level case like the P182. Something more upscale, more refined and accommodating, like the Lian Li PC-B20A ATX Case. Either way, make sure your enclosure will support the extended length of this power supply. W0113RU Cables and ConnectorsThermaltake has done an impressive job thus far, convincing me that the Toughpower W0133RU 1200W Modular PSU is a top-notch product. A view from the backside of the retail box offers the other side of the story, just as we now offer the other half of this review. 
Like the idea or not, modular power supplies are the future. You can quote me on this later when it becomes true: any manufacturer who fails to adopt a detachable modular cable management system for their power supplies will soon find themselves out of business. As computer equipment demands more power and multiple connections (like the GeForce 8800 Ultra and GTX), any power supply without modular cable groups will quickly turn the inside of a computer into a bowl of spaghetti.
Based off of the original Channel Well Technology part (PUC1200V-A01), the Toughpower W0133RU offers all of the same great features (and a few flaws). Given a new more attractive finish by Thermaltake, and more colorful labels, the original PUC1200V-A01 is handily improved in the W0133RU part. 
Notice that the Toughpower offers a fully documented rail interface to the cable groups. Also notice that there is no grommet protecting the primary cable group wires from rubbing (and possibly causing short circuit) against the chassis opening. Thankfully, the opening is stamped open, with a rolled edge, which makes the chance of cutting through the wires very minimal.
Taking a closer look at the cable groups, both native and modular, the Toughpower W0133RU seems to be cutting corners in regards to sleeve coverage. While I am sure the argument for the extended portion of the un-sleeved cable group is that it allows for greater flexibility, it seems excessive. If Thermaltake (actually Channel Well Technology) had taken the sleeves to the native cable group all the way back into the chassis (like most other PSU's), there would be little reason to fear rubbing the wires raw.
The power cord is the standard 16AWGX3C component, found with most power supply units being sold today. Other manufacturers have taken to providing an improved power cord with the unit, such as in the nicely finished Mushkin HP-580AP power cord. PSU Load TestingPower supplies are not like most other computer components, where it is a simple matter of comparing the item to others in the same category. Power supply's are comprised of several different variables, such as maximum output, voltage regulation, and current ripple. Each of these variables must be analyzed with unique tools, which makes it a difficult product to properly review. I am well aware of what the more knowledgeable readers think about these power supply reviews: impractical and often useless. That's about to change. In the past, Benchmark Reviews has been guilty of the same thing nearly all of the other sites are guilty of: testing with a digital multimeter alone. This is why we are taking a corrected approach to testing PSU's and hope to offer the best analysis possible. Benchmark Reviews has researched the equipment necessary to complete the most thorough power supply unit review possible. We spent the time learning what it takes because the best possible PSU tests are what we want to give to our readers. But after discovering the prices on a programmable output DC power supply system, variable range load testing units, and a DC power analyzer (Oscilloscope), we felt that more than ten-thousand dollars worth of equipment would be far too cost prohibitive for testing a hundred-dollar power supply. So without compromising too much, we made a slightly less-expensive investment into a good quality Oscilloscope in order to test DC voltage regulation and AC power ripple. Together, the Oscilloscope and digital multimeter will offer readers the best measurement of power stability any review site could reasonably offer. Test System
Test Equipment
Test MethodologyOur testing process is comprised of measuring the AC current ripple, and the DC voltage regulation. There are several key steps, all of which allow us to measure and record our readings using the identical methods for every test we perform. Consistent testing methods are key to obtaining comparable results. At the start of every test, the Velleman PCSU-1000 Oscilloscope is calibrated to the PC-Lab2000SE software. After calibration is complete, the voltage on the 12V rails are measured and recorded with the Extech 450 digital multimeter to ensure comparable margin across all rails. Once the Velleman 60MHz probe has been grounded and attached to the 12V lead, our test system is powered on and left at the Windows logon screen for ten minutes. Once this lightly-loaded idle warm up period is complete, the Velleman PCSU-1000 Oscilloscope was allowed to run for one minute measuring the AC power ripple. Then once ripple is recorded, the 12V DC voltage regulation is recorded after another minute. After the results have been recorded from the light idle load, our test system then receives heavy load by utilizing the following tools: two console versions of the Folding @ Home client operate and task each CPU core to 100%, hard disks are stressed by benchmarking each with HD Tach RW, system memory (RAM) is given a stress test with Lavalys EVEREST, and ATITool scans for artifacts which forced the video card into high-power 3D mode. After ten minutes of heavy load the power supply is again measured, and the AC power ripple and 12V DC voltage regulation results are recorded. Voltage Regulation & Ripple Test ResultsIn the test results below, it will be necessary to explain what you are viewing. In each image the AC power ripple is represented by the yellow trace line making up the waveform. While every personal computer power supply unit available to the retail market has some degree of measurable AC power ripple, it is most important that measurable AC ripple is very minor and does not create a large peak to peak voltage (Vpp) distortion. Stable, well-regulated power is critical to system stability and hardware longevity. AC Ripple at Light Idle Load
The waveform image above shows the AC power ripple under light idle load, which measures 11.28 mV. Note that there are several minor ripples above and below the baseline, and no major ripples, all of which occur inside of a 1ms recording frame. The waveform data recorded during the light idle load measurement is displayed in the chart below: AC Ripple Waveform Data at Light Idle Load
The waveform information above describes the actual measurements at light idle load. The maximum peak-to-peak AC ripple was a mere 129.7 mV, which is the best we have recorded to date. Here are the average AC RMS ripple measurements under light idle load for power supplies we have recently tested:
The waveform image below shows the AC power ripple under heavy load, which measured 12.70 mV. Note that there are several minor ripples above and below the baseline, and only a few major ripples, all of which occur inside of a 1ms recording frame. Now let's see how this power supply performs under heavy load: AC Ripple at Heavy Load
Under heavy load, the Toughpower W0133RU measured an average AC RMS ripple of 28.76 mV, which is moderately low. For more specific readings, see the waveform data table below. AC Ripple Waveform Data at Heavy Load
The Toughpower 1200W recorded great results in the idle readings, and they were still very good under heavy load. Here are the average AC RMS ripple measurements under heavy load for other power supplies we have recently tested:
The power dropped down to no less than 11.88V, which means that even under heavy load there is very little chance that system stability will be affected. Under light idle load conditions the DC regulation averaged 0.38 Vpp, and the deviation increased to .50 Vpp under heavy load. The DC regulation data recorded at light and heavy load is displayed in the chart below: DC Voltage Regulation Waveform Data at Light Idle and Heavy Load
Many of the power supplies we test here at Benchmark Reviews have DC voltage regulation measuring above the 12V baseline more often than below. For obvious reasons, the diversion from the 12V baseline with increased voltage is more preferred than below it since dropping too far under 12V will cause a system to power off or recycle. Plainly put, no power supply is ever perfectly centered at 12V DC; instead they most often maintain a DC mean voltage higher than they are regulated at. Final ThoughtsAt this moment, only those computer enthusiasts and gamers with highly overclocked CPU's and either GeForce 8800 GTX/Ultra video cards in SLi, or Radeon HD 2900 XT video cards in CrossFire will begin to tax this power supply unit. Even with the highest demanding CPU and GPU combination available today, the total power consumption is still under 1000 watts. Of course, this is the kind of item which would hopefully future proof a long-term computer investment. At least, that's what we hope. There were very few design flaws discovered, but the biggest among them is the exposed wire glaring at you from the image below. Certainly the terms "could have" and "should have" apply here, but with rolled edges on the grommet-less chasses opening it seems unlikely that this will become a problem. Unsightly yes, dangerous no.
What we have discovered in the Toughpower W0133RU is a very high-output power supply unit, with everything you would consider necessary for future-proofing your computer for lets say, ten years. There are no irritating LED lights shining in every direction to keep you up at night. There is only one large 140mm cooling fan, which operates nice and quietly, so you won't be annoyed by power supply fan noise. And there is no lack of cables, with room for expansion into the 8-pin PCI-E interface. ConclusionThermaltake has done an excellent job of taking the retail package and turning it into an active advertisement for the product contained inside. Both front and back of the retail packaging are colorful and informative, which is always the right combination for someone looking at this product on a shelf. Even after you unpack the Toughpower 1200 from the box, the finish and features are enough to keep you happy. While the short-sleeved cable groups are not a personal favorite, the chassis finish and modular plug interface are very appealing. Thermaltake could have improved the appearance with full-length sleeves and a more refined chassis. The sleeves have already been noted, just as the missing chasses grommet for the native cable groups, so there are very few issues involving the construction outside of these. The chassis is very well made, and the interface is also high quality. The 140mm cooling fan will undoubtedly outlast your needs, and the silicon mounting gasket will absorb an ample amount of vibration. 1200 watts is a whole lot of power; too much for most people. To nobody's surprise, this power supply performed very well without a single function problem. Both the voltage regulation and power ripple were among the best ever recorded, and the 8-pin PCI-E 2.0 connectors will allow for future integration with hardware. Available right now at NewEgg.com for $399.99, the Thermaltake Toughpower W0133RU 1200W Modular PSU is priced directly at the center of the index. I was very impressed with the overall performance of the Toughpower W0133RU by Thermaltake, and would surely recommend this 1200W Modular PSU to anyone with unusually high power needs or a unit with room for growth. Attractive price and style along with effective voltage regulation and low power ripple mean that you can't go wrong with the Toughpower W0133RU. Pros:
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