WHY is Everyone Buying This Power Supply?? - Thermaltake Smart 600W
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Checkout iFixit's toolkits at: ifixit.com The Thermaltake Smart 600W is the most popular power supply on Amazon... but that doesn't mean it is good. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Buy an EVGA 450 BR PSU: geni.us Buy a Seasonic Prime GX-1000 PSU: geni.us Buy a Thermaltake Smart 600W PSU: geni.us Buy a Corsair SF450 PSU: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► LTX 2023 TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW: lmg.gg ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg ► EQUIPMENT WE USE TO FILM LTT: lmg.gg ► OUR WAN PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg FOLLOW US --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - Intro 1:04 - iFixIt! 1:09 - PSU Tester Update 3:46 - What we can learn from the box 5:27 - Efficency Test 5:57 - Short Circuit Test 7:00 - Over Current and Over Power Protections 9:10 - Power Factor Correction 11:55 - What else we can test 13:45 - iFixIt! 14:29 - Outro
The video begins by challenging the assumption that the most popular power supply on the market is automatically the best choice. The host explains that evaluating power supplies properly requires expensive equipment and extensive testing, which is why their team paused such reviews for years. They outline a plan to test a baseline set of budget models and compare them against a reference unit from a reputable brand, with the aim of delivering data that can be easily interpreted by the community. The discussion introduces the concept that online tier lists, while useful, can be misleading when not grounded in rigorous testing. The team emphasizes that the numbers shown in this video are meant for internal comparison and community feedback as they refine their lab setup. They also acknowledge that the physical wiring and test environment can influence results, so the data should be read with those caveats in mind. The segment then previews the contenders and the testing approach, highlighting the importance of safety tests such as short circuit, overcurrent, and power factor tests as part of understanding real world reliability. The broader takeaway is that budget power supplies can vary significantly in performance and safety, and consumer decisions should be guided by actual measured data rather than popularity alone.
Topics · technology · hardware · consumer electronics · safety testing · electricity and power · product reviews
Questions answered
- What is the main goal of the LTT power supply testing effort?
- To evaluate budget and mid range power supplies with rigorous lab tests and present data that helps consumers make informed choices, going beyond popularity or box specs.
- Why is short circuit testing important for PSU safety?
- Short circuit testing shows whether a PSU shuts down correctly to prevent fires when wires touch, which indicates real world safety during a fault condition.
- What issue did the video identify with the Thermaltake Smart 600W?
- The unit can only deliver about 500 watts on the 12 volt rail, relying on other rails to make up the rest, which is not ideal for modern systems relying on a strong single 12V rail.