Thermaltake TR2 QFan Series

by Christoph Katzer on 11/19/2008 3:00 AM EST
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  • D3v - Monday, November 24, 2008 - link

    It's nice to see a PSU review that clears up the fact that you don't need an 800-1000w PSU to run a Q6600 with a 4850 or a 9800. After I ran an 1900xtx512 setup with 'only' a 550W PSU (those cards eat power!), I just couldn't understand why anyone needed anything more.

    I hope they come out soon; they look fantastic, and are a step back to reality, for most of us.

    Great review on a promising product. I didn't see the plus-80 stickers anywhere though.. did I miss something?
  • JohnMD1022 - Friday, November 21, 2008 - link

    1. More reviews of 500w and under, of course.

    2. A push for more modular units at all levels.

    3. A corresponding push for standardization of the plugs on the modular PSUs.

    Number 3 is especially important... because...

    If the connectors at the PSU end were standard, the cable manufacturers would make cables of varying lengths, colors, etc., just as they make USB cables, SATA, cables, etc.

    It's so nice to buy 8, 10 and 12 inch SATA cables with 90 degree connectors.

    Wouldn't it be great if we could get proper lengths for our PSU cables?
  • RagingDragon - Thursday, November 20, 2008 - link

    Nice to see a review of small/moderate sized PSU's, and better yet to see you plan more of them in the future.

    The secondary heatsink temperature of these units look scary though, especially considering 80 degrees is very close to the 85 degree max heat rating of most inexpensive capacitors. I think I'll avoid these units for fear of exploding secondary capacitors... I'd like to see comparable results for the Seasonic 380W and 430W, the Corsair 450W and 550W units, and others in this power range - currently I'm using a Seasonic 430 and a Corsair 550, so I'd like to see how they perform relative to the competition.
  • Operandi - Thursday, November 20, 2008 - link

    SamXon are actually very high quality caps, they rate right up and sometimes surpass the best from Japan. I wouldn't be worried about them failing.
  • yehuda - Friday, November 21, 2008 - link

    How do they compare with the secondary OST caps that Seasonic puts in its cheaper lines nowadays? I've seen them in the EarthWatt series, the CX400W [1] and the Seasonic branded OEM SS-400ET [2]. I wonder if the two Taiwanese companies are equally decent or if one has a better track record than the other.

    [1] http://www.pc-experience.de/wbb2/thread.php?thread...">http://www.pc-experience.de/wbb2/thread.php?thread...
    [2] http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/viewtopic.php...">http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/viewtopic.php...
  • Operandi - Saturday, November 22, 2008 - link

    SamXon specs out with some of the best. There was some long term testing done with also at badcaps.net and they passed that test as well with flying colors.

    As far as OST; I've seen them fail when placed in critical locations such as CPU VRM but they seem to fine in secondary locations and probably fine for PSU use. I know Seasonic uses (or used) them in their OEM units and they are still used in the lower wattage PCP&C Silencers which is OEM'd by Seasonic and I've never seen a failed Seasonic or PCP&C unit (I've personally used both).
  • yehuda - Sunday, November 23, 2008 - link

    Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

    Do you happen to have a link to the badcaps test? I occasionally visit their forum but I don't think I've come across it.
  • Operandi - Sunday, November 23, 2008 - link

    The test is still going. Looks like it started in 2006, and all the caps are still holding their original ESR readings, except for the Samsung board that got killed by lighting. No surprise for the Rubycon and Panasonic but as you see the Samxon are right up there with them.

    I don't know how long they plan to run the test... if the Samxon are really as good as the Rubycon and Panasonics it could take awhile...

    http://forums.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2...">http://forums.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2...
  • Kibbles - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    I'm curious how these picoPSU fair.
    http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-120-power-kit?sc=8...">http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-120-power-kit?sc=8...
    They seem to be just DC-DC converters but the 12v source is rated at 5amp. I don't see how they can call it a 120w kit. Still, this thing seems extremely enticing should you only need 100w for maybe a small HTPC.
    They also have a 200w version on there, but the 12v source question comes into play again. If I'm calculating this right, for 200w at 100% eff, you would need 16.7amp from a 12v source.
  • JonnyDough - Thursday, November 20, 2008 - link

    I second (third actually) the request for pico PSU reviews. We need a standard size PSU that can fit into iTX and mATX cases. I hope someone will create a standard size soon.
  • CEO Ballmer - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    I like this, I'll have to try a few hundred!

    http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com">http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
  • JonnyDough - Thursday, November 20, 2008 - link

    Can you ban this user's IP please? He keeps spamming over at Tom's Hardware also.
  • strikeback03 - Friday, November 21, 2008 - link

    If they want to keep spamming, they can just get a new IP.
  • phreax9802 - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Only one 6-pin PEG connector? Come on..this is 2008! My old Enermax FMA II 460W has two of them..
  • fic2 - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    You measured that the secondary heat sink temp reached 80 degrees. How hard would it be for a user to replace the secondary with a larger heat sink? How hard would it be to find an appropriate heat sink for this? I looked on the internals pictures but couldn't find anything that I thought looked like a heat sink except maybe what looked like separator walls.
  • ggathagan - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Regardless of how hard or easy it is, replacing the heatsink would void the warranty.
    It also misses the point: The manufacturer should be supplying the appropriate heatsink in a properly designed PSU. If they don't, why should I buy it?
  • sam187 - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Hallo Christoph,

    danke fuer deine ausfuehrlichen Reviews auch mal aus der Heimat ;-)

    First, it would be nice to see a comparison in the 300-500W range. Next to that, please take a look at things like the picoPSU. Are they that much more efficient than normal psus and do they meet the demands for current htpc platforms (g45/780g/nv9300 with a small cpu)?

    Sascha
    Hamburg, Germany
  • haplo602 - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Thanks for the review. I'd like to see some more 350W and 450W PSUs.
  • xaris106 - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    I also think its great to review "low" wattage models. It's the biggest portion of the market, as you say in your articles, an I aggree. So thanks for reviewing this and i also hope you continue with this range of wattages. We all know that buying a high end high power model from a good brand, we will propably get a quality psu. But not so in the 300-500W range.

    What I would like to see is:
    1) Step load tests: I would like to see how each psu handles load changes (eg a sudden 1A change). The voltage overshoots, settling times can give a lot more information about the quality of a psu.
    In other words..transient response tests.

    2)A review, maybe as reference of an as cheap as it gets no name psu, to see what we get more with our money spent on brand name psu.

    Thanks.
  • Boushh - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    What I would like to see is good quality sub 400 Watt modulair power supply's. These are (almost ?) impossible to find.

    It's a miss calculation from the manufactures that people will not pay more for these units. Many people who employ sub 400 watt units do this because they don't need more, and because it will have to fit into a smaller case. Then all those cables are just in the way, because they will not be used.

    Further more (as suggested in to article) using high quality design and materials will give better power supply's. Sure they will cost more, but I'll gladly pay that if some manufacturer would build them.

    And I don't think I'm alone in this. So please manufactures, start listning to your customers !!!!!
  • strikeback03 - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Do all the fans follow that exact curve? Or does the 300W hit 30+dB near max output?

    Also, don't tip vortices flow off the tips of blades? Making a fan unlikely to suck air in from open sides?
  • cweinheimer - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Please include the thermaltake tr2 430 watt unit for midrange budget psu comparison. In the 400-500 watt category on newegg, it appears to be the highest selling unit with 1946 reviews, and highest rating. I have a few and have been happy with them for midrange game rigs.
  • 7Enigma - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Apparently I'll be the first post so let me say for many of us readers THANK YOU. I/we have been waiting for a review like this for the 90% of us that will benefit from these lower power supplies. I will be building a mid-range (single gpu, moderately OC'd quad) in the next 2 months and will likely be selecting from PSU's in this range. Can you give us an idea on other budget/midrange PSU lineups you might be reviewing in the near future?

    Once again, thanks from the little guy...
  • Clauzii - Thursday, November 20, 2008 - link

    Thank You also from me. Was about time with normal PSU's, for which >most< (>95%) setups will run fine.

    Do You have NorthQ PSUs in the states?? I have a 4001 running on it's 5th year or so. Seems like they also make stable products.
  • Slomo4shO - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Agreed!

    I as well would like to thank the writers for addressing the needs of the average user.
  • Christoph Katzer - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Thanks ;)

    I've got quite some ~500W units coming up. But just tell me what YOU want to see here and I'll make sure to get those.
  • Ptaltaica - Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - link

    I just wanted to second what everyone else has said and add a couple points.

    Reviews of lower priced ($30-50), lower capacity (250-500w-ish) units would be great. But how about some reviews of non-ATX power supplies? There are more than a few machines out there that use TFX or SFX power supplies, and while the market isn't nearly as big, most of the replacement power supplies that I've found-even from normally reputable manufacturers-are suspiciously cheap and suspiciously light. Enough so that I won't buy or use (both at home and work) systems that won't take standard ATX power supplies because I don't trust a lot of the other ones.
  • Concillian - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Personally, I'd like to see several 300-500W reviews.

    Not only are these the sizes that normal people use, these are the sizes most likely to suffer from sub-par component selection impacting important performance parameters and manufacturers find the right corners to cut to compete in this midrange segment that basically accomodates everyone but the Sli / Crossfire users.

    I mean if Kill-a-Watt meters can be believed, I see the most power consumption in Furmark at 250W from the wall with an overclocked e7200 and overclocked HD4850. With TDP on a GTX280 at ~240W (130W above my HD4850), a 500W supply can basically accomodate anyone not using a dual card platform.

    That's a HUGE segment that would see benefit from a series of reviews in the 350-500W range.

    It used to be that you needed to go overboard on the PSU, because computers were mainly using 12v, but supplies were still made with significant output consideration on 3.3 and 5v rails older computers needed. You had to oversize in order to guarantee enough 12v. Modern supplies don't need this, there is less need to "go nuts" on PSU than ever before.

    Also, the axis on the 12v output graph has some incorrect labeling.
  • JonnyDough - Thursday, November 20, 2008 - link

    While I have to agree that a slightly lower wattage would be nice due to better efficiency and possible lower cost of the unit, I do like to have headroom. What if you don't OC and you want to someday? What if you upgrade decide to add a second card? I don't know that there's much difference between a 300w PSU and a 400w PSU. They likely cost about the same, and the 400w is bound to have a few better components inside. Anyway, I think what readers really want are a short list of the top 5 cheapest PSUs that will provide ample power for a minimum cost. PSUs are still one of those things that most people don't care about much - as long as it provides good power, isn't overly costly to purchase, and lasts. I honestly don't care what mine look like, as long as it has the leads I need - I don't even care if the cords are wrapped. Over.
  • JonnyDough - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    1. Go to NewEgg or whatever local online store that is most popular where you live.
    2. Find the cheapest PSUs rated 400w-600w (Estimated. A bit higher is fine, like Enermax's 620w PSUs - nothing below 400w).
    3. Find the most efficient longest lasting ones with little ripple and flux both 450-500w, and 600w.
    4. Recommend them.
  • Slomo4shO - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Would it be possible to include CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX, PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS420X, OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ400MXSP, and OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP in your upcoming write-up?
  • Christoph Katzer - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Yep, have them already here.
  • Havor - Thursday, November 20, 2008 - link

    Hi Christoph nice review

    But if you really be cool if you would put all the tested PSU's in a database.
    ware you can select a power rating (like say 400~450W) and see on a graf how all the PSUs performs in that W-rating
    http://img03.picoodle.com/img/img03/3/11/20/f_PSUg...">http://img03.picoodle.com/img/img03/3/11/20/f_PSUg...

    A other thing that would be nice would be if you would give all PSU a grade from 0~100 ware 100 would be a PSU perfect PSU <15db/100% eff./DC output perfect flat/temp <30c/PFC = 1/build quality perfect

    And then turn it in a graf. and cross it whit personal most important part for HTPC builders that would be db, for people building a server it would be high % efficacy
  • Mr Perfect - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    It would be interesting to know what Seasonic is up to these days. Their old S12 line was quite impressive in it's day.

    Oh, and anything that has more then just one 6pin PEG connector. Someone with a reasonably powered system might still want to hook in a 4870 or GTX260, seeing how games are generally GPU limited today.
  • Netcraazzy - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    I'd love to see a head-to-head comparison between these PSUs and similar units from Antec, OCZ, Seasonic, Sparkle and others. I'm especially interested in the 400w-500w range.
  • Amart - Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - link

    Opinion seconded, well done with the review. I especially appreciate the attention to quality and ripple graphs, as these are of prime concern when recommending a PSU.

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