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Thortech Thunderbolt 1200 Watt PSU Preview

Cases & PSU/Power Supplies by petervandamned @ 2012-08-02

Thortech ??? Like most of the Memory companies, GeIL is also making Power Supplies under the brand name Thortech.

The Thunderbolt 1200 is a high end powerfull 80+ gold, semi modular PSU. Only 160mm in length. So it's sounds like a real contender for all the well known high end powerful PSU's. Let's bring on the [M] testbench set-up and compare what the thunder god has to offer.

A Really Close Look

Inside for PSU cooling a Globefan fan. looking at the outside:

And from the inside:

We spot the power outlet and the Power on/off button:

This side give us the information about the model, S/N number and all kind of official certifications required for import and electrical rules.

And the AC input / DC outputs on most PSUs are nicely listed:

And:

But we go to the most important section of the PSU, the connector side.

Semi modular:

On the back of the PSU box:

Plenty to connect with already integrated cables but you can add in the cables you really need.

But more interesting is the PCB housing all the main electrical components:

Hello city called Thortech 1200 watt: a small bus tour brings us among some CM chokes, Y & X caps, a MOV, thermistor with heatsink, electromagnetic relays, bridge heatsinked rectifiers, mosfets and more unknown buildings. The streets are really nice, made of solder points and nicely clean. If you don't have any clue about those previously mentioned parts, just retain their names and look for a more detailed scope in the upcoming High end PSU Roundup article. Sorry, I always copy this part as all PSU's have simular bus lanes, some better some worse just like real life.

Let explain the cables ->

Comment from Teemto @ 2012/08/02

Tsss child labor has been banned!

Comment from Lesaonar @ 2012/08/02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan Mileschin

Thortech ??? Like most of the Memory companies, GeIL is also making Power Supplies under the brand name Thortech.

The Thunderbolt 1200 is a high end powerfull 80+ gold, semi modular PSU. Only 160mm in length. So it's sounds like a real contender for all the well known high end powerful PSU's. Let's bring on the [M] testbench set-up and compare what the thunder god has to offer.

The actual testing methodology is laughable. Have you considered actually investing in a load testing unit? OC3D certainly has (just search for the Thortech Thunderbolt 1200 on youtube) and this PSU is one of the worst PSU's they've ever tested. It actually shuts itself down before it gets anywhere close to it's rated wattage. You do your readers no favours by using such shoddy testing methodology, especially when you end up recommending a PSU that can cause damage, due to the ripple issues, to the system it's used in.

Comment from Teemto @ 2012/08/02

Although a big shrimpy fan myself, having watched the video, I have to agree with Lesaonar.
I'm in the energy branch myself and like stated in the video, you don't test a PSU with a multimeter. You don't need a fancy adjustable load bench either. A couple of fixed loads - at the output rating you want to test - is enough. Most important will be the scope, even an old analog one will suffice (provided it's been properly calibrated).

Comment from Stefan Mileschin @ 2012/08/02

As far as I know, Peter will also test the PSUs at a separate location where they have professional testing tools.

Comment from Lesaonar @ 2012/08/02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan Mileschin

As far as I know, Peter will also test the PSUs at a separate location where they have professional testing tools.

Which obviously should be done before a review is posted, let alone one that recommends a product that can damage someone's system. This was sloppy testing/reviewing and something I'd expect from someone with limited technical knowledge.

Comment from Stefan Mileschin @ 2012/08/03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lesaonar

The product award has been currently removed and will be reinstated if the tests from the lab will be good.

Comment from Lesaonar @ 2012/08/03

The entire review should be taken down until the unit's been tested properly. The review should never have been posted until the unit was tested properly. It's common knowledge that you cannot properly test a PSU for reliability without knowing how it performs under load, putting a supposed 1200w PSU under 426w load is not putting it under any serious load, as well as knowing what the ripple is on the various rails.

I reiterate, this was sloppy testing/reviewing and is completely misleading in it's findings.

Comment from petervandamned @ 2012/08/03

As we don't have a many K euro test unit here, we have to take them to a test lab. But we called this a Preview not a Review.

In the home situation what has been set up like a normal PC, I had no problems at all. Not sure why yours did.

Later the PSU will be tested at full max and then we add the articel from a pre to a re view.

Comment from jmke @ 2012/08/06

we know Lesaonar, reason why you don't see a lot of PSU reviews from the last few years, http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/category/15 we don't have the required load testing gear in-house

Comment from Lesaonar @ 2012/12/03

"Maybe we will get some other results here but for now it's a fine PSU and I am sure it will not make you unhappy."

Yes the ripple on this PSU will make your hardware incredibly happy. So much so it might even die from sheer happiness. Months later and no further testing has occurred, as suggested by Stefan. To staffers that attempted to make this not seem like a review. When your reviewer, and I use that term loosely, calls this a "fine" unit that "will not make you unhappy", that is a recommendation, which is exactly what people look for in a review (is it good or is it bad). You've outright failed as a hardware review site and if this is indicative of your testing regimen, then every other review you've done can be questioned.

It's obvious that you're more interested in evaluation sponsorship than actually testing of the product and providing a true picture of what an end user can expect. You've done nothing with this article than stroke the ego of an undeserving manufacturer.

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