Thermaltake ToughPower 550w PSU

Manufacturer: Thermaltake Technology
Supplied by: Thermaltake Technology
Street Price: TBA

By Dean Barker (1/10/2006)

 

Introduction

Thermaltake has been producing power supply units for several years now.  We have seen these with features to include multiple fans, no fans, sheathed and modular lines, color shifting LEDs and wattage monitors to name but a few.  Thermaltake's newest unit, the ToughPower, is about getting back to basics.  The Thermaltake ToughPower 550 watt power supply focuses on function over flash.  The trendy extras are limited by what is truly needed by the enthusiast.  You will figure out pretty quickly what I'm talking about.  Let's take a closer look at this newest high end power supply from Thermaltake.

Specifications

• Power: ATX 550 watts

• Dimensions: 150 x 140 x 85mm

• Weight: 2.1 kg

• Construction: Steel

• Color: Mirror black finish

• Fan(s): 120mm bottom mounted cooling fan

• Fan speed: 2200 RPM

• Fan Air Flow: 77 CFM

• Active PFC: No

• Features: SATA x 4; PCI-E x 2; SLI/Crossfire Ready; Dual Core Support

• All cables sleeved

What you get

As you can see below, I wasn't kidding about back to basics.  Thermaltake has historically packaged their power supplies with loads of extras.  While an extra case fan and fan controller are nice, those extras cost and not everyone likes a 5.25" rheostat panel in their case.  The Tt ToughPower gets away from this and comes with the 550 watt power supply unit itself, a power cord, instruction/spec sheet and four case screws.  That's what I call lean and mean.

Painted with a high gloss black mirror finish, the Thermaltake ToughPower's lines are very clean and simple.  Cooling is handled by a 120mm fan on the ToughPower's belly.  120mm fans move more air and do so with less racket than do their 80mm counterparts.  Covering the fan is a gloss black finger guard complementing the paint job.  The rear wall is basically a mesh grilling to allow air pulled in by the lower intake fan to move freely over the interior of the unit and out with as little restriction as possible.

  

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