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Thermaltake TWV480 Purepower

The powersupply is probably the most overlooked component in the PC for the average user and the consequences from this oversight can be disastrous. This past year alone, we have had two powersupplies blow up out of nowhere here in the office taking out with it every single component in the box. When I make computer recommendations to friends, I always push for a quality power supply as the ones in ultra cheap cases will be the ones that will blow up and destroy your components.

In enthusiast circles, the powersupply world is dominated by very few players, notably Antec and Enermax. We have seen examples of some other quality powersupplies, notably SilenX's iXtrema PSU where the focus is on reducing noise. Other trends in the industry include ports on the powersupply unit to attach the needed power cables to avoid dealing with unnecessary cabling. Thermaltake is usually known for their cases and cooling products but they have also ventured into the powersupply market and today we will be taking a look at the TWV480 Purepower, a 480W powersupply with a few unique features of its own.

Specifications

P/N	W0044		Fan	Dual Fan: 8025mm, Two Ball Bearing, Temp. Auto Control 1300 rpm at 25°C ~ 4800 rpm at 90°C 8015mm, Ball Bearing, 2400rpm
Maximum Power	480 Watts		Noise	17 dBA at 1300 rpm
Switches	ATX Logic on-off additional power rocker switch		P. G. Signal	100-500ms
PFC (Power Factor Correction)	N/A		Over Voltage Protection recycle AC to reset	+5V trip point < +6.8V +3.3V trip point < +4.5V +12V trip point <+15.6V
Color	Black		Input
Dimension			Input Voltage	115 VAC / 230 VAC
Unit Size	15cm(L)x14cm(W)x8.6cm(H)		Input Frequency Range	47-63 Hz
			Input Current	10.0A / 5.0A
Net Weight	2.4 kg		Hold-up Time	16ms
			Efficiency	> 65%

There is another model of the TWV480 series; the W0043. The W0043 is nearly identical except that it offers Active PFC. Active PFC is a nice feature to have because it sets the input voltage manually meaning that it can also filter variations in the current. One of the telling signs of a junk powersupply is its weight. Thankfully, the Thermaltake is quite a hefty unit - at 2.4kg it is slightly heavier than comparable 480W units from Antec.