Thermaltake ToughPower 550W Review

	Thermaltake ToughPower 550W	0
	by W1zzard, on Jan 12th 2006, in Power Supplies. Manufacturer: Thermaltake

Fan Noise

	The Thermaltake ToughPower goes for around $160, this is not cheap, but a fair price given the stability and features.
	Extremely stable lines Two PCI-E video card connectors Low ripple voltage Works on 20 pin and 24 pin motherboards All cables are sleeved
	Low efficiency Expensive Not very quiet
9.0	When I first saw the almost flat voltage lines of the stability test I thought my testing is flawed. I retested and the numbers were indeed correct. The ToughPower 550W offers the most stable lines of all our PSU reviews so far. Especially the 12V line where most components draw power from is exceptionally stable. Having two SLI connectors emphasizes that this PSU is built with overclockers and enthusiasts in mind. All cables are good in length. The cables with the 5.25" connectors on them are very long which helps in big cases. This powerhouse PSU has a small drawback though, it is not the quietest. But if you are planning to run two video cards, you are expecting some extra noise, anyway. Same goes for the price, if you need to have the best, you will have to pay for it. Another "price factor" you have to consider is that the overall efficiency is a bit low with just 71%.