Thermaltake SMART PRO RGB 850W Bronze Review
We are back with another RGB PSU review. This time we are reviewing the Thermaltake SMART PRO RGB 850W Bronze power supply unit. As we have already reviewed the Thermaltake Toughpower Grand RGB 850W Gold PSU , we thought that this SMART PRO RGB 850W Bronze PSU would be just a lower grade component version of the Toughpower Grand RGB 850W Gold PSU as many manufacturers do. But we were shocked to see that this SMART PRO RGB 850W Bronze PSU is all together a different topology and circuit layout PSU.
Very pleased to see that Thermaltake have not taken the easiest path of increasing its product line, but rather have designed all separate bottom to up products for different segment of customers in mind.
Now let's see what this Thermaltake SMART PRO RGB 850W Bronze has for us.
Features
One Button to Your Desired Color
By pressing the RGB lighting button, the fan color can be switched among a 256 Color RGB Cycle with variants including Solid Red, Green, Blue, White, and a LED Off mode. The fan is also constructed with a built-in memory function, saving the color applied and insuring the same color selection every time you boot your PC.
Power Supply Fan Face-Up Placement for Better Cooling
With the face-up placement of the fan, users can freely gaze upon their patented circular 256 multi-colored RGB fan and at the same time obtaining additional performance by using the fan as a additional exhaust mechanism, repelling unwanted heat from your chassis.
As the thermal image testing shown, the temperature of PSU and computer system will decrease around 3°C (5.4 °F) by placing PSU face-up.
Riing 14 RGB Fan with Concentrated Compression Fan Blade
Riing 14 RGB fan blade is designed for high static pressure requirements of demanding applications; the concentrated compression blade is engineered to focus the weaker, inner circle of air outward, allowing the outer section to pressurize the air. The fan blades are optimized to enhance static pressure for an impressive cooling performance. Hydraulic bearings for silent operation guarantee ultra-low noise, and the anti-vibration mounting system strengthens the product's stability during operation. Moreover, In-mold injection anti-vibration rubber pads provide hassle-free usage for 80% protection coverage, including all four corners.
Ultra Quiet Smart Zero Fan
Smart Zero Fan ensures zero noise when the fan operates below 10% working load to minimize audible noise.
The fan will operate when the power supply working load over 10%. A switch is provided for those who prefer the fan to spin constantly.
< 50 mV Low Ripple Noise
All ripples are lower than 50mV for high stability on +12V, +5V, or +3.3V from 0% to 100% load to ensure a high quality power supply. Low ripple noise will keep your performance-critical components, such as high-end graphics cards, to operate reliably for longer.
Strict Voltage Regulation < ±3%
The voltage regulation of the PSU is set to no more than ±3% for major rails to meet the highest performance. The strict voltage regulation of the Smart PRORGB series is better than Intel's standard ±5% for major rails and ±10% for -12V.
High Quality Japanese 105°C/221°F Main Capacitors
High quality 105 °C (221 ° F) Japanese main capacitors which greatly improve the durability and offer the highest stability and reliability.
High Amperage Single +12V Rail & DC to DC Design
Smart PRO RGB 850W Bronze is equipped with a powerful single +12V rail, eliminating the limitations caused by voltage distributions, delivering the power your CPU and VGA demand in any situations. Besides, with DC to DC design, the unit optimizes maximum energy harvest for computer systems, providing the best compatibility, conversion efficiency and stable voltage output.
Fully Modular Low-Profile Flat Cable
Smart PRO RGB 850W Bronze offers cable selection for users while powering the system at an advantageous voltage. Low-profile flat black cable can make cable management easier, reduce clutter and increase airflow inside the chassis.
80 PLUS Bronze Certified and Kaby Lake Ready
Deliver up to 85% efficiency under real world load conditions to promise lowest power losses. Additionally, Smart Pro RGB 850W Bronze has been optimized to work with Intel's latest, Seventh-generation Kaby Lake processors to achieve maximum energy saving.
RGB Lighting Provides Best Aesthetics for All Chassis
Smart PRO RGB 850W Series is the best idea for users to go with when they are looking for an RGB PSU which permits remarkable functionality and aesthetics in all cases, especially Open Frame or Tower cases.
Specifications
Package
Thermaltake SMART PRORGB 850W PSU comes in a securely packaged box with PSU graphics, Model name and features highlights on front and the back of the box.
Inside the box
Box contains securely foam packed Thermaltake SMART PRORGB 850W PSU. Modular cables comes within a pouch along with Power cable, cable-ties, Mounting screws and User manual
Modular cables length and available connectors are
This time we tried to see inside of the supplied modular cables. Especially the PCI-e power cable as they carry most of the current from the PSU to the graphics card.
Each inside copper wire is a proper coated bunch, forming approx thickness of 18AWG. To give a general thickness perspective I have pictured a 3.5mm audio male jack along with bare wire.
Looks
Thermaltake SMART PRORGB 850W PSU features a 140mm RGB Riing fan with solid build quality. With air vents on side of PSU which are not just to improve the air flow but also to maintain air pressure resulting in lowering the fan noise giving quieter computing experience for uses having PC on top of their desks.
Inside
The OEM for Thermaltake SMART PRORGB 850W power supply board is Sirfa Electronics Co. Ltd. known for manufacturing High Power related products and also provides OEM service to other brands like Enermax, PC Power & Cooling, SilverStone and others.
The build quality is actually very high with uses Rubycon Japanese capacitors in the primary and Teapo Caps in secondary stage.
Thermaltake uses their Riing RGB 140mm (TT-1425) fan inside this PSU with a 12 V and 0.3 A rating.
PSU have all the requisite components for Input transient filter stage along with two 8 amp bridge rectifiers(GBU805) and a Rubycon 680uf/400V 105C rating main capacitor.
APFC circuit consists of a diode and two Infineon 2N60C3 TO247 MOSFETs rated at 650V and with 40A of current handling.
Main MOSFETs are two Infineon IPP50R140CP CoolMOS Power Transistor with 23A of continuous drain current. And a SiTI PS224 IC, a 4-channel secondary monitoring chip is used for Over-Voltage/Under-Voltage Protection (OVP/UVP), Over Current Protection (OCP) and additional Over Temperature Protection (OTP) with three temperature sensors installed.
Secondary is single 12v rail used 4 x IRF87437 MOSFETs for rectification along with Teapo Caps rating at 105C. 12v rail is used for DC-DC conversion for 5v and 3.3V output with solid caps. Even the modular connection board is also having few solid caps close to each output for great ripple management.
A small PCB is also mounted on the secondary heatsink for controlling RBG Riing Fan.
Load Test
To test the PSU on my Active load test, I have manually increased the load in Amps on 12v first rail, 12v second rail, 5v and 3.3v rail to simulate 100%, 80% 50% and 20% load. Since this PSU is having only single 12v rail, so divided the load in half on both 12v loads on my tester.
5V stand-by and -12V supply was left at a constant 0.5amp load throughout the test run.
Maximum theoretical load handling capacity of my tester is somewhat around 1500W, but due to MOSFETs safe operating area (SOA) characteristics and thermal load handling capacity of the heatsink, this tester can handle Max 1300W.. For safety reasons I have also installed a thermal controller which turn OFF the attached PSU if temperature exceeds SOA specifications.
Over Load Run
During this test we try to pull more than specified power of the PSU. So at certain point PSU should turn OFF by itself showing proper working of Overload protection or should die showing absence of any protection.
924W as max power we were able to pull from this PSU and at this point the PSU safely turned itself OFF.
Voltage Ripple
We measured range of ripple using oscilloscope at maximum rating of the PSU for 12v, 5v and 3.3v supply output in Pk-Pk(mv).
ATX specification for Ripple Pk-Pk(mv) for +12v is 120mv and for +5v and +3.3V it is 50mv. And following are our findings for this Thermaltake PSU