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HOME  PSUs #674 - Thermaltake ToughPower 550W PSU
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#674 - Thermaltake ToughPower 550W PSU |
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Written by Rodney Reynolds
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Thursday, 18 May 2006 |
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Page 3 of 6
Specifications:
The
ToughPower series includes a number of different models ranging in power from
550 watts to 750 watts. This particular product is the 550 model;
CWT-550A2L
(Part No.: W0097RU).
This power supply has a continuous wattage of 550 which is adequate power for
today's computer systems.
Now how is this wattage determined? Well to understand this, you need to know
what rails are. Rails are basically well regulated transformers which convert
domestic current into the voltages that your computer system can use. There are
essentially two different rails: the +3.3/+5v rail and the +12v rail. In this
particular case the approximate maximum peak output of the +3.3/+5v rail is 110
watts and the +12v is 430 watts, which is essentially how the wattage of this
power supply is determined.
The 3.3/5v rail is responsible for the motherboard, memory, PCI cards, AGP card
and so on. The 12v rail is responsible for the HDD�s, DVD, CD-ROM, fans, etc.
Ok, let's get into the details and specifications!
Here are the peak amps on each rail. The +3.3V is 32A, and the +5V is 40A.
Unlike most power supplies with only one +12V rail, this product has two. The
+12V1 is 19A, and the +12V2 is 19A. Also, the AC input specs are: 115V/12A, 230V/6A,
60/50Hz.
This power supply meets the older
ATX
12V v2.01 specification. The newer specification is SSI EPS
ATX 12V v2.1/2.2 specification. For additional information on form factors
please visit Form Factor website. The
v2.01 specification basically means that a power supply must be able to sustain
full load in 50� C (122� F) ambient conditions. Take into consideration that power output on all
models will decrease ~1� C starting at an ambient temperature of 40� C. Having
the ATX 12V v2.01 specification is important because some power supplies tend to
overheat and shut down the system under max load. The efficiency is within
specification and is 80% efficient. Higher end power supplies float in the ~85% range. Note that the more efficient a power supply is, the less heat is generated,
and therefore won't require excessive cooling.
This power supply (W0097) doesn't have Active Power Factor Correction (PFC) but
the W0096 model does. Active PFC is preferred over Passive PFC because it
provides a more efficient power frequency. This reduces total harmonics,
corrects input voltage, and it allows for a full input voltage range. The
disadvantage is that it increases the cost of the power supply. The W0096 model
has a 0.99 Active Power Factor value.
Additionally, this product is 100% Hi-pot,
Chroma, ATE (Automatic Test Equipment)
& Burn-in function tested. So what the heck does all that mean? Well, production
Hi-pot testing ensures insulation integrity. Chroma is a world recognized leader
in power supply testing equipment which includes automated power supply test
systems, electronic loads, programmable AC power supplies and related equipment
to support the power conversion industry. Finally, Burn-in is really a stress
test and means it was tested at full load and still meets specs.
A power supply also needs to be fail-safe. This unit has Over Voltage Protection
(OVP), Under Voltage Protection (OVP), Under Circuit Protection (UCP), Short Circuit Protection (SCP), Over Load
Protection (OLP), and Over Temperature Protection (OTP).
Also, it's Safety/EMI Approved: CE, CB, TUV, FCC, UL, and CUL certifications.
Ever wonder who actually makes a particular PSU? Most companies like Tt do not
make the Power Supplies in house. Rather, they are made by an original equipment
manufacturer (OEM) which are probably unknown to most of us. So, how does one go
about finding out who actually made it? Well, that's very simple. Just get the
number which is below the UL logo. In this case it's E161451.
Now visit this
UL Database site and enter the number.
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