Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600W 80+ Gold Power Supply: specs explained

The Thermaltake Toughpower GX2 600W is an internal ATX power supply for desktop PCs. It converts mains electricity into the DC voltages your motherboard, graphics card and drives need, and it is rated at 80 Plus Gold efficiency. Here is what its specifications mean for a build.

What 80 Plus Gold means

80 Plus is a certification that measures how efficiently a power supply converts AC to DC at set load levels. Thermaltake says the GX2 supports Gold efficiency of up to 90%. In general, a more efficient unit wastes less energy as heat, which can mean less fan work and lower electricity use, though the difference matters most for PCs that run many hours a day. Thermaltake also says it is optimised for the C6/C7 low-power CPU states, which let modern processors idle at very low power draw.

A single 12V rail

Thermaltake describes a single +12V rail design. Modern CPUs and graphics cards draw most of their power from the 12V line, and a single rail means the full capacity is available to whichever component needs it, without the per-rail limits that multi-rail designs can have. Active power factor correction (PFC) and an input range of 100V-240V mean it is designed to work from mains power in many regions. It is also described as SLI and CrossFire ready, which refers to running more than one graphics card.

Connectors: non-modular

Non-modular means all the cables are permanently attached. The connectors listed are:

• One 24-pin main power connector
• One 4+4 pin ATX 12V (CPU) connector
• Six SATA power connectors
• Two PCI-E 6+2 pin connectors
• Three peripheral (4-pin) connectors
• One floppy connector

A non-modular unit leaves you with unused cables to tuck away, so cable management takes a little more effort than with modular designs. Two PCI-E connectors are enough for many single-GPU builds, but check what your graphics card needs.

Cooling, protections and build quality

A 120mm fan with a dynamic bearing runs at about 2000 RPM (±10%), and Thermaltake describes the operation as near silent. It also cites low ripple noise, high-quality capacitors and an MTBF of at least 100,000 hours. Protections include over power (OPP), over voltage (OVP), under voltage (UVP) and short circuit (SCP). Safety approvals named are CE, TUV SUD, CB, EAC and RCM. A five-year warranty is listed.

Size and operating conditions

The unit measures 150 x 86 x 140 mm (W x H x D), the standard ATX size, and weighs about 4.3 lb. It has no RGB lighting. The specification gives an operating temperature of 0°C to 40°C, while the description mentions continuous power at ambient temperatures up to 50°C, so check the manual for which figure applies to you.

Who it suits

It suits a mainstream desktop build, a replacement for an older unit, or an upgrade to a more efficient supply, as long as your parts fit within 600W.

What to check before you buy

• Total power need: add up the rated draw of your CPU and graphics card, and leave headroom.
• Connectors: make sure the PCI-E, SATA and CPU connectors match your parts.
• Case fit: check your case supports a standard ATX supply of this depth, and that the cables will reach.
• Cable management: with fixed cables, plan where spare leads will go.
• Installation: follow the manual, and switch off and unplug the PC before working inside.

The short version

• A 600W non-modular ATX power supply with 80 Plus Gold efficiency of up to 90%.
• Single 12V rail, active PFC and OPP, OVP, UVP and SCP protections.
• 120mm dynamic-bearing fan; no RGB.
• Two PCI-E 6+2 pin and six SATA connectors; five-year warranty.

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