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Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W power supply unit (PSU) is a high-performance and dependable alternative for demanding PC enthusiasts and gamers looking for a strong power supply. This PSU guarantees efficiency, reliability, and enough power to handle even the most power-hungry components, thanks to its 80 Plus Gold certification and a maximum power output of 1200W. In this review, we will look at the Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W’s essential features, performance, build quality, and overall value.

Thermaltake, the top brand for PC DIY enthusiasts, is pleased to introduce the Toughpower GF A3 Gold series, the latest addition to its inventory. This series adheres to the Intel ATX 3.0 standard, has a native PCIe Gen 5.0 12+4pin modular interface, and is 80 PLUS Gold certified. The GF A3 has small dimensions of 150mm(W)x86mm(H)x140mm(D) and comes in five wattage options: 1200W, 1050W, 850W, 750W, and 650W, making it perfect for next-generation hardware.

Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W Design & Overview

The Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W features a matte black finish and a huge 140mm fan with an optimized thermal arrangement. The build quality is outstanding, with premium-grade components utilized throughout the power supply. The sturdy construction offers long-term dependability and effective cooling, making it perfect for high-performance systems that require constant power supply.

The Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W series is built to fulfill Intel voltage regulation requirements, which ensures improved power stability and dependability. Its Intel ATX 3.0 design provides for a 200% power excursion and a 60% low load efficiency, ensuring that your GPU receives consistent power.

With a single connection, the native PCIe Gen 5.0 12VHPWR connector can power the newest high-end graphics cards. Furthermore, the Toughpower GF A3 Gold series has excellent Japanese 105°C/221°F primary electrolytic capacitors, a high amperage single +12V rail, and a DC to DC architecture, all of which contribute to longevity, stability, and compatibility.

To reduce unwanted noise, the GF A3 Gold series’ Smart Zero Fan is equipped with an extraordinarily quiet 120mm fluid bearing fan that only spins until the load hits a set percentage of the power supply. This function, in conjunction with its physical switch, allows users to turn it on and off as needed. 

The Toughpower GF A3 Gold series is compliant with Intel ATX 3.0 standards, Intel voltage regulation standards, and 80 PLUS Gold certification. It is also 80 PLUS Gold certified. It is intended to accommodate next-generation graphics cards and is limited by the size of your chassis.

The Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W accreditation attests to its energy efficiency. It has an efficiency of at least 87% at 20% load, 90% at 50% load, and 87% at 100% load, making it an energy-efficient solution for power-hungry settings. This decreases not just power usage but also operating temperatures, resulting in a quieter and more reliable operation.

The wires are lengthy, and there is enough space between the peripheral connectors. It would be wonderful to have three EPS cables and connections, however there is no room on the modular PCB for additional sockets. The number of vintage PCIe connectors is limited, but as long as you have a 12VHPWR (600W) connector, you’ll be good. Finally, no in-cable caps are used, and all cables are thick, 16AWG gauges for reduced voltage dips at heavy loads. 

Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W Performance 

With a maximum power output of 1200W, this PSU is more than capable of powering high-end components like as numerous GPUs, high-core-count CPUs, and storage devices. Under severe loads, the TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W delivers a steady and reliable power supply by maintaining constant voltages and eliminating voltage ripple. This ensures that the system runs smoothly and protects precious hardware from power-related concerns.

A 140mm fluid dynamic bearing fan provides silent and efficient cooling. During low to moderate loads, the fan runs silently, improving the overall user experience by lowering noise levels. The fan only turns on under high-demand workloads, and even then, it has a low noise profile.

With increasing load on the minor rails, the PSU’s passive mode does not last long at typical operating temperatures, close to 30 degrees Celsius. Despite this, noise production of up to 660W stays below 20 dBA. With more over 750W, noise surpasses 30 dBA, and with more than 890W, noise exceeds 40 dBA. Finally, at 1,090W and larger loads, noise levels will exceed 50 dBA.

Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W Specifications

P/N	PS-TPD-1200FNFAGx-H
WATTS	1200W
MODEL	TTP-1200AH2FKG
MAX. OUTPUT CAPACITY	1200W
COLOR	Black
DIMENSION (W/H/D)	150mm(W)x86mm(H)x140mm(D)
PFC (POWER FACTOR CORRECTION)	Active PFC
POWER GOOD SIGNAL	100-250 msec
HOLD UP TIME	> 17msec
INPUT CURRENT	15A Max.
INPUT FREQUENCY RANGE	50Hz – 60Hz
INPUT VOLTAGE	100 – 240Vac
OPERATING TEMPERATURE	0°C to + 45°C
OPERATING HUMIDITY	5% to 85%, non-condensing
STORAGE TEMPERATURE	-40°C to + 70°C
STORAGE HUMIDITY	5% to 95%, non-condensing
COOLING SYSTEM	12cm FDB Fan
EFFICIENCY	Meet 80 PLUS® Gold at 115Vac input.
MTBF	100,000 hrs minimum
SAFETY APPROVAL	CE/FCC/UKCA/ICES/LVD/TUV/cTUVus/CB/CCC/BSMI
PCI-E 6+2PIN	5
PCIE 12+4PIN	1(600W)

Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W Conclusion

Thermaltake TOUGHPOWER GF A3 Gold 1200W power supply stands out for its excellent build quality, 80 Plus Gold efficiency certification, and dependable performance. It has the power to handle even the most demanding components while maintaining stability and energy economy. The modular cabling system and silent operation add to its attractiveness, making it a fantastic choice for gamers and workstation builders looking for a high-quality, high-performance power supply.

Thermaltake’s power supply engineers work hard to provide high-quality, high-performance solutions, and their collaboration with manufacturers such as CWT is critical to this. The ToughPower GF3 1200 is built on the tried-and-true CSZ platform and has high-quality components. With 115V input, this unit topped my charts, while the PSU came in second with 230V input.

The majority of the PSUs I utilized for comparison are Platinum, with one being Titanium (be silent! Dark Power Pro 12), demonstrating that I chose especially robust opponents for the GF3 1200. I had two choices because there aren’t many Gold 1200W units available: I either choose Gold units with lower capacities or Platinum units with similar capacities, which is what I did.