WHY is Everyone Buying This Power Supply?? - Thermaltake Smart 600W

[@LinusTechTips]

Corrections: 0:45 - The LTT Forum PSU tier list has the Thermaltake PSU that we tested ranked in F tier, not C tier, as we said in the video. We tested the Thermaltake Smart 80+, not the Thermaltake Smart BM2. 5:37 - The location of the 80 Plus Certification Levels that are shown on the Efficiency Sweep 115V graph actually corresponds to the 230V 80 Plus Certification numbers. Additionally, since our setup isn’t finalized, the numbers in this video should be considered in a bubble and shouldn’t be interpreted to confirm or refute 80 Plus or any other specification (Labs will get there Soon™).

[@jony4t]

Kiss me Linus ❤

[@LogicWeasel]

While you're doing corrections, might I advise removing the link below the video to "Buy a Thermaltake Smart 600W PSU" since I don't think you want to endorse viewers buying that PSU (at all lol).

[@Almbxeb7212]

you forgot also Segotep GP650G v2, it is at 50 buck range and is tier B 80+ gold :D

[@catwesker1576]

how about adding the part to the video where the psu is bad lol, that would be a good correction 🤣🤣🤣

[@ecruz2317]

technially, i would be included in that title and i a'int buying sh!t, liena5s! :)

[@pierregonzalez580]

Worth noting that the regular Thermaltake Smart you tested is in the F-tier of the PSU tier list, not in the C-tier like the Smart BM2 or 450BR, so it is at least rated properly according to its performance on that tier list.

[@techconix]

i use the 700ish watt version

[@Garcia98]

Yeah, I hate that they tried to "discredit" the PSU tier list in the intro when, in reality, the placements of all the PSUs talked about in this video are correct.

[@bdunn7037]

ive used thermal take smart psus for 4 years, never had a problem

[@thegame4027]

​@@Garcia98 He didn't "discredit" them; he pointed them out as a better option than just buying whatever has a lot of reviews on Amazon. But obviously, having professional testing equipment like this will always result in more trustworthy data because it's not just based on experience or hearsay.

[@Skiman__]

@@Garcia98funny how it’s their own forum’s tier list lol. It’s pretty good tbh, got a high quality psu and it’s working perfectly for ages

[@saladgreens912]

LTT has finally found their footing. Ever since they moved into the warehouse I’ve felt that their mission statement was kind of up in the air. They weren’t working for NCIX anymore, and this is a lot for some youtube reviews, whats the point? But this answers all that. LTT being a fully equipped independent testing house AND an entertainment media company with a large audience is a big deal. This isn’t just a couple KZbin channels anymore, this is the main topic of the next urgent executive meeting in this industry. Independent testing has existed forever, but this is different. This isn’t testing for inside industry and technical enthusiasts, it’s for the average viewer. That matters because now everyone will be able to understand and care about a lot of important things you can’t advertise on the box. I’m sure a lot of decision making up to this point has been “this small thing costs X amount to make our product Y amount better, but our specifications sheet will be the same as our competitor that’s cheaper on the shelf next to us.” Now, it’s not going to be “no one will care/notice anyways is it really worth it”, it’s going to be “wholly s@&# we need to make sure our product isn’t cutting any corners before we get flamed in front of MILLIONS of viewers!”

[@blueshky]

uh ok

[@dc8836]

@@blueshky Nah, they got a point. Sure, you've got channels like GN and HWU, but those cater primarily to gamers and enthusiasts, people who tend to already go in with a bit of know-how. LTT tends to focus on "casual" users, who may not know the finer points of selecting hardware or how to wrangle Windows problems.

[@htko89]

@I_killed_that_beard_guynice short way of saying you don’t have an attention span. Not sure why this generation is so lazy to read, yet takes the time to type out the reply. Use your time more effectively

[@htko89]

@I_killed_that_beard_guy you aren’t the first to make this kind of comment. Maybe you are productive typically, who knows. All i know is kids today have the attention span of a rat and cant focus for more than one paragraph. Maybe this fits you, maybe it doesn’t. Only you know.

[@abadenoughdude300]

@I_killed_that_beard_guy While they may have overreacted, on first glance your comment was too similar too the "duh too long not reading lmao" type replies that are pretty prevalent these days so it got reacted to maybe a bit too harshly. Sometimes what we say isn't taken as we hope it will be.

[@0ctavoid]

i really appreciate the direction this channel is going in. from chill review vids to epic real time tests of equipments to verify what companies usually say and mark on their products, LMG is on the right track!

[@Inuitman]

You´re wrong, it turns out that linus made some mistakes.

[@0ctavoid]

@@Inuitman damn shit turned fr

[@clappeddd]

This aged well..

[@plopolip01]

so what? it happens , they are still doing well despite all@@Inuitman

[@Inuitman]

@@plopolip01 wrong

[@sephondranzer]

I should note - LTT forums are filled with some of the most useful cool people on earth. Moderator there helped me diagnose my 7900 XTX having a vapor chamber issue. They also helped me get a X670E-Pro to post. Legit awesome forums

[@Notorious544d]

It's a shame the website STILL shows a mobile view on my PC

[@svgPhoenix]

​@Notorious544d what extensions do you use?

[@williamowens2063]

@@Notorious544dSounds like a problem on your end - possibly an extension.

[@yobson]

@@Notorious544d sort it out mate

[@flaxe3223]

i can also attest to this. ive had this problem with my pc where it would freeze 3-5 times daily for exactly 1 minute each freeze. it took years to fix but it was all thanks to the forum :)

[@elrobert2858]

I had the exact same psu in an older build I had(FX8350+RX570+16gb ram) and had no complaints. Sold it to a friend and hes still using it today with no issue.

[@chrisspellman5952]

Considering just how much influence LTT has on shoppers, I have a real feeling we're about to see a lot of brands really up their PSU game.

[@iHasCaek]

@@petermuller608 the "consumer" market is a pretty large segment especially nowadays

[@onlyeyeno]

​@@petermuller608 Do You know the actual "fractions" of "OEMs vs Consumers", or is this just Your assumption ? Best regards

[@yumri4]

I am just hoping that the apparent power numbers also listed as VA on UPS units for the PSUs. The why is to get the correct UPS unit instead of assuming that the PSU used and everything else has a power factor of 1. Nothing has a power factor of 1 in the real world.

[@skytree3993]

@@petermuller608 While that is true, the OEM design and how much to spend is a lot of times decided by the brand. So the brand could just tell the OEM manufacturer to use more solid components. Ofc this might get more expensive, but hopefully we get what we pay for

[@Tixbomber]

@@iHasCaek Yes, more consumers have exponentially been buying pc's the past 20yrs. It's a completely irrelevant and obvious point. We live in the digital age. Not exactly gonna be using a typewriter or word processor "nowadays".... 90% of ALL pc's sold today, are still pre-built's, probably like 98% of those are most likely using bottom of the barrel psu's. What they really meant to convey (obviously) was the "enthusiast" market, and that's not even the remaining 10% of the market. So really, it's like 1-5% of the total pc market, is considering building their own pc. Or in greater context, just about nobody is looking at individual pc components. Let alone picking out a specific psu. "Hanging out" with groups of like minded people on the internet, will ALWAYS make said group seem WAAAAY "bigger" than what they actually are.

[@Just_a_commenter]

Glad to see you're equipped to evaluate PSUs now. It's something so critical, yet so hard to objectively compare beyond wattage and efficiency. I've heard horror stories about PSU failures and its hard to discern what is a fluke and what is a result of poor quality

[@JackPorter]

also hard drives, we're basically just working off of community driven counts of personal experience. it's all very prone to all types of statistical bias.

[@kaimojepaslt]

@@JackPorter what about them? hard drives set on fire?

[@abd5139]

@@kaimojepaslti mean loosing your precious data is also horrible

[@ThePiprian]

I have personally lost 2 graphics cards to a dead PSU...

[@ironphilly2366]

TF is your pfp

[@jubies6286]

It's actually incredible what Linus and his team have been accomplishing with the labs. I don't know that tech journalism has ever seen anything quite like this, and they could have a pretty big impact on hardware manufacturers taking accountability for their products as they move forward.

[@mephiplays4637]

I would love to see the noise level of the power supplies at specific loads as well. I bought a Seasonic 1300W and ended up with a be quiet because the seasonic was the loudest component in my computer.

[@Lxcx311]

I agree! Even expensive PSUs can be loud af even if they cost 100 bucks and i even had one for 200 bucks that was louder than any of my other components.

[@carpelunam]

dude I upgraded from the only psu I ever had and I didnt realize I had a super quiet one the whole time..this new one sounds like an xbox 360 playing gta 4

[@chaos.corner]

I've bought "silent" PSUs that sounded exactly the same as the generics they replaced.

[@UnrealApprentice]

Same with my EVGA 1600w

[@tylersanders2388]

This is a really good point. It is actually really difficult to make a quiet power supply and it is a relevant measurement for enthusiasts

[@jtadevich]

It's awful nice to have you folks performing third party tests who are committed to quality. This info is invaluable. Thanks a lot.

[@shlev13]

Yeah man cool

[@blad...]

It got me to subscribe.

[@fynkozari9271]

I have been trying to find Corsair rm 550 watt everywhere. Ryzen dont need 650 watt.

[@cgi2002]

Only thing that still concerns me is they may not be doing redundant testing. By that i mean running the same PSU but from say 3 different sources to see if the results differ. It's entirely possible to get a bad one which could skew the results, and without redundant testing you'd never know. Would also go a long way to ensuring they have similar build quality across the series.

[@SangheiliSpecOp]

oof

[@jamescompo]

Man, Linus really is trying to bring EVGA back from the brink of death, and I love it

[@griffin1366]

For what purpose? EVGA CEO cashed out and left.

[@ireallyreallyreallylikethisimg]

​@@griffin1366buyout/investment

[@griffin1366]

@@ilovefunnyamv2nd I don't know who Logan Paul is but EVGA CEO cashed out. 10 years of sales within a year of the crypto boom.

[@xDamage69]

@@griffin1366 really? thats sad to hear, i have always trusted EVGA even tho i havent bought anything in a long time

[@griffin1366]

@@xDamage69 Just a reminder then that companies aren't your friend :)

[@Sam-934]

Holy crap, what an eye opener to the power of the labs. Linus and team delivering a major W for consumers

[@skak3000]

Game changer...

[@ryanschenk2946]

I'm pretty Amped

[@wingcommanderbob8268]

Not really anything Cybenetics wasn't already doing

[@superslash7254]

JonnyGuru was doing this a decade ago before going to work for Corsair (big part of why they're now basically one of the only trustworthy names in PSUs).

[@ZieClaw]

@@superslash7254 Good joke, even Corsair had trash PSUs while he was working there. There is no "trustworthy brand" when it comes to PSUs

[@daleglass7349]

A PSU test I'd like to see: UPS switchover handling. Most affordable UPSes are line interactive -- the computer is fed from AC, and only at power failure a relay switches to the battery. This means there is a time during which the computer is without any power, but this is expected to work due to the PSU's capacitors providing power during the interruption. I've had in the past a computer that would often reboot when the power failed and the UPS switched to battery. It would be interesting to see how PSUs for current high end computers with power hungry video cards fare in this scenario.

[@niter43]

That's part of ATX PSU spec, called hold-up time (minimum of 17ms at full load after complete power loss is required), so they more than likely to test test already.

[@koijoijoe]

I second the focus on this. My UPS makes me feel grateful all the time, lots of surges and dropouts and weirdness where I live, as well as outages a few times a year. Maybe there is some testing to be done on various UPS themselves too?

[@tiger.98]

Also they should revisit the myth that only pure sinewave UPSes should be uses with modern PSUs due to active PFC

[@alexandruilea915]

They would probably die instantly as the power requirement is huge while gaming with a high end setup.

[@LukeBroadhurstfilm]

I would love to see this research too! I recently purchased a in-line ups and had a power cut. Pc didn’t reboot , but what was interesting is that my monitor seemed to have a very slight flicker.

[@piers2225]

It makes me happy to see actual genuine testing that can make people confident in purchasing. Hopefully it means manufacturers step up their game too. Thank you!

[@Inuitman]

it wasn´t a genuine test.

[@arantes6]

Would love to see consistency tests : testing different units of the same models, to check if they all test the same or if there is a lot of variation

[@dbagdi1998]

That probably won’t happen, that one factor would literally x3-x5 the budget for each PSU

[@dbagdi1998]

@@Malc180s But when your testing every PSU on the market, it’s not cheap anymore. Most half good PSUs are like £150. So testing that PSU would cost £750 then with the 100s of PSUs on the market. You looking at about 100k for just PSUs when it could have cost you 20k

[@kutlaykizil]

​@@dbagdi1998 True, though they can make the consistency tests to some of the select PSUs after creating the database

[@zsomborszarka2616]

Oh my god this is probably the most important test for budget powersupplies.

[@Seeedking001]

Exactly my thoughts, i would even go as far as to say they should get them from different regions. Like America & EU atleast which may lead to more different batches. What i really do not want to see is them testing only 1 power supply they got sent from the manufacturer or shortly after the release, getting good results and after that the manufacturer decides to lower the components quality.

[@wasir3703]

Just came here to watch this video after seeing Linus talk about how EVGA PSUs are out of stock as they might be winding down their business. 😅😅

[@Deadboy90]

Pardon? I literally just bought one.

[@bdbdkdfotbrveiw]

@@Deadboy90return that bad boy 😂 sorry for your loss, this is just speculation though

[@TheBlueBunnyKen]

Speculation says EVGA will be gone in 2026

[@TheCompyshop]

@@Deadboy90You’re fine, enjoy your power supply. Everyone is just speculating that EVGA is slowly winding down over the next few years. Doesn’t mean anything for you, your warranty is still valid. Everything everyone is saying is just speculation, not fact. EVGA hasn’t said they are shutting down or doing anything

[@DaniPlaysTechy]

@@TheCompyshopSHUSH BROKEY, NOBODY WANTS TO TALK WITH YOU

[@Godigentil97]

This is incredible! I am excited to no end by these precise technical overviews of stats THAT ACTUALLY MATTER in everyday use. While manufacturers will make a product page look good, you prove to us that a product is good, or bad. Can't wait for more content like this.

[@memadmax69]

You know what really makes that power supply testing rig REALLY worth it? It could potentially save lives. And thats worth it.

[@davidphillips5677]

@@inqizzo lol

[@Guardian_Arias]

in more way than you imagine, a reliable PSU would be worth millions in military and medical applications where 12v stability is a must. If an off the shelf PSU proves to be more reliable than a 25k usd custom made in a dudes garage with an NSN sticker, guess who just saved hours of work and who is now paying 40k because the old one is discontinued with no chance of the contract being renewed.

[@dangingerich2559]

Had a cheap power supply melt the solder, short circuit the 12V rail into the 5V rail, and fry every single other component in my nephew's system. I will never buy a cheap power supply again. This stuff will help.

[@thunderfire741]

Problem that most that watch this are probably aware to some extend to avoid death

[@julkkis666]

​@@thunderfire741tbh not all. When linus makes his list, we'll be able to reffer to that. Otherwise i personally have just known about the 80 bronze etc stuff and the wattage rating. How else to know what you're looking at? Now we'll know.

[@DoctorTrueheart]

I would be interested in seeing LTT test multiple of each model of Power Supply to quantify the deviation you can expect between your unit and what is being advertised!

[@stephm0]

This. The EVGA 400 N1 unit might have been defective causing the low power factor. Who knows what criteria the QC procedure of a manufacturer does and not include? An independent test should look at least several units from different production batches.

[@DoctorTrueheart]

@@Noah-lj2sg Nah, I get what youre saying, but not all QC is the same for every manufacturer, much less every product line, and knowing the tolerances of each model can be very informative when trying to diagnose an issue with your unit that might be slightly underperforming. Of course, I also want a wider breadth of tests :)

[@PenPeng]

I agree. I hope that once they have automated everything, they could re-buy all products every 6-12 months and re-test everything. Would be really interesting I think. Not just to test for QC or variance, but manufacturers have massively changed products without notice in the past. (See SSDs where they changed both the controller and the flash.)

[@GalaxyXYZ888]

Yeah I was thinking about that, buying and testing like 3 psu from each model from each brand would be very expensive tho but I hope they do it !!?

[@PenPeng]

@@GalaxyXYZ888 would it even be *that* expensive compared to the cost of the testing equipment? xD

[@balesjo]

After years of trying different recommended power supplies, I've settled on Seasonic as my 'go-to' brand. It may be more expensive than some of the others, but they are solid and dependable. Many other brands with a good reputation are produced by Seasonic as well. Currently using a Seasonic Prime 650W Platinum

[@carl5381]

just stay away from their bronze. it lasts two years. that's it.

[@Lesani]

It is AMAZING that you provide not only North American voltage tests, but also European voltages. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

[@mobbel78]

As a measurement engineer I love how you’re pushing in the field of test design and hardware ❤

[@skydivenext]

People should not trust engineers after all sone of the "best engineers" endangered many lives

[@ubacow7109]

What does a measurement engineer do?

[@hiddendrifts]

@@skydivenext what are you referring to?...

[@squidikka]

@@ubacow7109 Measurement engineers measure engineers.

[@jtadevich]

@@skydivenext we should never trust any other person blindly. People either make honest mistakes, all the way to the opposite side of the spectrum and make stuff knowing some consumers will die. Thus third party testing. Gotta love honest folks trying to do the right thing.

[@arriagaadrian91]

I’m glad I saw this video. I recently put together a build for my son‘s birthday and decided to opt for the more expensive EVGA power supply because I had issues with a thermal take the power supply on my own personal build years ago. I wanted to make sure that I built a system that would last for my son and I’m glad that I went with the EVGA PSU

[@SharkWipf]

I'm pretty excited to see the lab coming into action, hope it'll pay off the investment. As for stuff to test, I'm sure you've already thought of this, but I'd be pretty interested in seeing how older, well-used power supplies compare to new, unused ones. I.e. degradation over time.

[@rovex_]

Would be awesome to eventually get a list of reccomended PSUs for different scenarios. Like best budget, best high end pc, best for NAS (stable 5V rail), best for efficiency etc

[@sstier48]

Psu cultist list

[@Twitch_Moderator]

I'm rocking a Thermaltake Tough Power 750w from 2015. It started with a i7 4790K and 980 Ti and now it is powering a 7800X3D and 3080.

[@Gamingandblaming2023]

I have the 700w Thermaltake Smart one in my build. It works fine, and I got it on Newegg for a steal from a 3rd-party seller for ~$28. Been working excellently ever since I got it, no complaints from me.

[@Gamingandblaming2023]

Mind you that my system has decent power draw with a R5 5600g and 1070 ti combo (may upgrade gpu soon).

[@KingSteven77]

@@Gamingandblaming2023 Same. I got the 600w one for ~$25 after shipping and tax. It's running a R5 5600X and RX 5700 XT.

[@leekiee]

@@Gamingandblaming2023how long have you had the build, and is it still running?

[@Idletsu]

Please do 220-240V tests too! Would be really nice to see how they differ

[@TheCrazyCanuck420]

Linus, 240V, what could go wrong?

[@m1stertim]

Did you even watch the video?

[@Cleath78]

I think I saw at least one 230V test graph in there. I think they've got you covered!

[@blobhead7]

@@Cleath78 what about the amps draw in 230V?

[@xfy123]

​@@blobhead7in general it's gonna be a lot less. If a psu is using 600w on a 230v line it's gonna be drawing 2.6 amp give or take a few decimals but on a 120v line it's gonna be around 5 amps of current draw.

[@mikiehill67]

I'm back. I commented around 6 months ago saying I like the Thermaltake Smart power supplies. Also said I had a Smart 700w PSU in my PC and bought a Smart 600w PSU for my brother's PC. Well I'm happy to say they both are still working great. I use my PC daily and I have had absolutely zero problems out of them.

[@FlimzyYT]

thanks, im planning on getting the 700w. How is the noise btw?

[@FlimzyYT]

also what are your pc specs?

[@mikiehill67]

@@FlimzyYT The noise is not a problem at least for me. I don't ever hear it. Also my specs for the PC is ASRock A520M-HDV Ryzen 5 5600G with 32GB RAM 3200MHz clocked up to 3600MHz 1TB nvme and ASRock RX 6600 8Gb oh yeah and the Thermaltake Smart 700W PSU.

[@FlimzyYT]

@@mikiehill67 Thanks for the reply, sounds great because im planning on building a pc with similar specs

[@mikiehill67]

May I ask what specs you are planning on? I'm just curious that's all. Oh and is this your first build?

[@Codewalker22]

I'd suggest making the baseline in diagrams to zero and not other values (like 0.3 in the PFC diagram). It tends to mislead on a quick glance and makes things look wrong in comparison

[@Steamrick]

You are correct and yet I disagree with your example because there's nothing wrong with making bad PFC look as terrible as possible...

[@GodlikeIridium]

Totally agree.

[@GodlikeIridium]

​@@hammerth1421That's the only correct way to do it.

[@Codewalker22]

I totally agree, but since Linus wants a solution that works for everyone, LTT should either add a small explanation on the split axis for those who have no experience in reading lots of diagrams and just rely on the visual impression, or use the full axis range.

[@noxious89123]

But when all of your results are bunched up in one area, you just end up with a lot of blank space on your chart and lower resolution for the useful data.

[@chrisconner5777]

When I've researched PSU's in the past, the tricky part turned out to be that the name on the outside isn't as important as the OEM. Unfortunately, most PSU's, regardless of brand, are made by a small handful of manufacturers, and varying models with the same brand on the outside may come from completely different OEM's. Something really obscure may be from a solid OEM, while some top-tier name brand may be stamped on a total pile of flaming garbage (possibly literally). As a rule-of-thumb, reputable brands are a good start, and that obscure PSU with a solid OEM may or may not have questionable features tacked on or skimped, but research, research, research!

[@TH3C001]

I believe that is some of the most unacceptable BS in the PC world. How can a component so important and so essential for an entire PC to function be so obscure, so mysterious, and so hard to find information on? That is why I think this is probably the most valuable and important thing LTT has ever done. This sort of things is long overdue and I couldn’t be more thankful that they’re finally stepping in to change things.

[@chrisconner5777]

@@TH3C001 100% agree. Once LTT and GN both get fully rolling on PSU testing, the DIY PC community will have an invaluable set of resources we've been sorely lacking

[@AshenTech]

@@TH3C001 i have had to explain to more then a few people that SuperFlower, FSP and GreatWall are all name brands, infact, often their higher tier models are better then what 3rd parties have them produce for re-badge, as the OEM's are known to omit or add features to save money and boost sales, like an oem removing part of the PFC in favor of having RGB installed and still meet the profit targets... i have had some great and horrible psu's from top names, as well as no-names... "sparkle" wasnt well known by most, but i was using them in the 90's because they were FSP builds and 30-50% cheaper then antec for better quality, no joke, never had one of hundreds we used fail.. not without it being a power surge/lightning strike that took it out.. even then only the psu died the rest of the system was protected.. just really great units.. more so for the price.. i always tell people to research and for psu, over spec, when asked why.. longevity, both of the psu itself but also, overhead for upgrades later, part of why i bought this evga 1300watt when i did was because it was overkill and would last me a while, i dont plan to pull 1300watts, but..running it below nominal max load... means its more efficient and wont age so quickly... i dont tend to run low power rigs.. 9370, x5675/w3680@4.7ghz, 7980xe@4.6, but even for very low power rigs, i tend to over spec the psu as a matter of course... nothing worse then finding out you gotta replace the psu to upgrade the cpu/gpu because it was "just enough" ... ask my buddy with his kids ryzen 1600 rig.. LOL..uses a non-standard psu you cant just swap.. not and mount a normal or sff psu in the case anyway... he regrets not listening to me before buying the kid a system on the cheap.. heh..

[@a0dnk1]

Creating a database like this is a crazy cool idea. I'm happy that its linus of all, who took this challenge as i can usually expect transparent and accurate data.

[@uatlagh]

I am glad to see you brought out something like the N1 for testing. Many average consumers while they may know to trust certain brands over others don't know that those same brands can still produce total crap

[@riba2233]

Yeah in eu this wouldn't pass

[@vitorviotti]

It's really great to see the psu lab coming together. As for my opinions and suggestions for methodology: Some of the graphs are not very easy to understand, power factor corrections as an example having the beer analogy was a great way to digest the concept, so maybe having more analogies would be great. Voltage ripple is a must have As a solid foundation the clear information of pass or fail on the atx standard is easy to understand, so including as many standards tests as possible. One option to make the results digestible is determining weight to each results and creating a general score as the tier list. I personally like a mad genius tester in Brazil that gives the score "bomb" or "explosion hazard" to the worst offenders and them going a more traditional F to S tier. Include 220-240v results, as a international spectator in my country we have 110-220v on city by city, so this would be an interesting info for people with similar situations. A recommendation of use would also be very interesting. Even a 30 dolar suspicious psu from wish can maybe be used for a low power home theater PC. And speaking of wish, also include aliexpess and other alternative options just so we can see how big of a fireball you can make it with them. Use the thermal camera not only from an efficiency POV but also on the hazard and thermal effects on the system. Does the PSU sold in canada is the same as the one in a a low importance market? Does a psu in Europe that has more restrictions and standards is better? Obviously this is not something that you guys can do for all samples, but it would be a nice extra. Are there practical differences from a new psu to an old one? Does the psu operate differently on lower or higher temperatures? (is the psu tester close to the ambient chamber? 😅) Destructive testing. Can the psu survive and/or protect the rest of the system after a lightning strike hit and the rest of the electrical system did not go off in time? How reliable are those 5 dollar psu testers? Are there better brands or models so we can test a psu at the wild? You guys are doing a service to the whole community, thank you for your efforts in making companies more accountable for the products they but in the market. I wish I could buy more LTT merch, but between the exchange rate and import fees, getting a back pack for example would cost me a whole minimum wage salary for a month plus some change.

[@antoniogott]

who is the Brazilian tester you talked about?

[@Toutvids]

I bought a brand new 550 watt EVGA about 5 years ago... it turned on, then off and never ran again. Still sitting in the box on a shelf. It would cost more to ship it to them for rma than it cost me to buy. I've had about 6 Thermaltake units and not one has ever failed.

[@jjjarod1]

Im gonna be that guyand point out just after 4:20 Linus says Closlier instead of closer, and I love it and want everyone to enjoy this with me. Thanks for all the handwork Linus! cant wait to see mor labs stuff and lists and testing and so on :)

[@roarsy]

It's amazing that we get this sort of info and even more coming with Labs team, for free. Well done to the entire LTT team!

[@nhand42]

It's not "for free". It's funded by merch sales, ad revenue, sponsors, floatplane, etc. Ultimately Linus is paying for it using revenue from other sections of his company and penultimately we are paying for it through all of the above.

[@thedudely1]

I love this video. Coming back to it after watching it for the first time when it came out and I'm really appreciating the thoroughness and attention to detail now that I'm actually looking to buy a PSU for myself

[@tiger.98]

A thing I would really like to see tested is PSU aging. How much worse does regulation gets with time? Does frequent use make it worse or better? In short: do old PSUs need to be replaced?

[@andrewt9204]

The efficiency graph could use the 80 Plus Rating legend flipped to make it easier to decipher. Maybe have the colors a bit more distinct as well. This is a nice start to PSU testing though, can't wait to see how some A/B tier units stack up.

[@Robert-wq1sz]

I've used the Thermaltake Smart 700 White for dozens of builds and all of them have been rock solid for years.

[@thouxanbandzae]

You think i’d be good with Ryzen 5600x and 3070?

[@cyberrunner6529]

@@thouxanbandzae 700 watt is enough for 3070 using the same psu with no issues nut mine one is black 80 plus

[@astronola]

Same bro

[@crumbman]

I know it's probably a bit more complicated to pull offf but it would be great if you could also test those PSUs with 230V (for those like us European plebs) because the efficiency changes with the input voltage.

[@thorbear]

Also, apparently the tier lists are less useful for us, because at least the list referenced in this video will automatically C-tier a PSU if it only delivers full capacity at 230v. So devices built for the European market, that are otherwise A/B-tier will fly under the radar in that list.

[@nickshaw3619]

I am so excited to see each part of Labs start paying off. As many PCs as I've built, some aspects, like PSUs, have always felt like rolling the dice. It's literally a black box, that I have to trust with my components, my power bill, and the safety of my house, yet it has always been hard to get reliable information about their performance and reliability. Linus' work to change that is VERY much appreciated!

[@shankS0]

Great video I hope labs will be able to also test European brands like Endorfy, and not just American only brands. Also in case of power supplies I hope they will be tested at both 230V and 120V.

[@amariucaisilviu8768]

I wonder if they should do testing on both 120 and 230V. I have no knowledge about this, but i reckon they would differ even on the same power supply model

[@Felinusfish]

It is really annoying whenever power supplies don't tell you the full picture right out of the gate. That's why everybody always recommends going a step above what you think you'll end up being at. If you think you could reach 600 watts, you go with 700 watts. That's usually the best thought process to make sure you don't get boned by your purchase of a brand new power supply.

[@HerbaMachina]

That's also to factor in the slight loss in ability to supply power by your PSU over time as the Capacitors degrade

[@Felinusfish]

@@HerbaMachina that's a good point, which would also be why you go one up what's needed

[@a5cent]

Actually not so good advice. PSU's are most efficient when driven at around 50% of their rated wattage. On the other hand, just knowing your average power draw is harder than you'd think, because all components list their max power draw, which is almost never what they actually draw.

[@TheGandorX]

@13:45 LTT labs have in no way spellchecked the message in yellow at the bottom of the video....

[@big_man_nine6488]

I've had the 700w for years and it works like beauty

[@aaronsmo7082]

Just bought it a month ago.

[@carposp7789]

same, i have it with a 3080/I5-11400 combo, and no issues so far

[@bardthetrue2183]

I'd love for LTT to start sharing this data on their website in the form of Web API's. Think of the amount of tools developers can create for consumers to help avoid bad or unsafe purchases. Just two examples: PCPartPicker could connect to the API's for these power supply data and provide a warning for unsafe power supplies. Or someone to could create an app that compares their GPU benchmarks to prices on ebay or Amazon to give a New or Used Gaming Value.

[@DoctorTrueheart]

They've spoken on that subject on WAN, the potential problem might be LLMs like ChatGPT that might take that info and LTT loses the value of the data. Which isnt to say they wont do it, if I recall they didnt make a decision either way yet

[@dt35591]

Hope the database gets up and running soon because it'll be nice to have a comprehensive list based on actual data instead of relying on a bunch of forums "experts" who claim that if any non-Corsair/Seasonic/EVGA PSU is so much as plugged into your motherboard your computer is as good as dead. Most of the people I see posting lists of good/bad PSU brands give off that audiophile stink.

[@MrAlexguldager]

Would love to see you open op the ones that failed to see if there is any clue as to what failed and if it's the same component that failed. And also to see if the PCB perhaps is made at the same factory, and/or with the same components.

[@4carhur1more]

I'm excited to see what the labs have in store for PSU reviews! With all the data on other components of computers, there isn't as much across the board for PSUs and it will be good to know that we'll have reliable information down the pipeline when it comes to making decisions on buying a PSU.

[@Caderynwolf]

Ok, so I was going to buy this power supply (here in uk) because it was the best value for money, for a friend whos psu blew up/shorted... But decided to get an evga 600w for £7 more because I prefer EVGA psu's and I know it'll be fine... at 4:35 I am SOOO glad I decided to stump up the extra for the EVGA.

[@onejdc]

I really hope they get Electroboom in here to help evaluate their testing methodologies. And blow things up.

[@Steamrick]

Nah, if there's one guy to ask about this it's jonnyGURU. He's still alive and working for Corsair atm. GamersNexus did a video with him last year.

[@2fast820]

@@Steamrickhe’s not fun though electroboom is the way

[@xisplo]

These videos are so helpful in putting brands on the spot. I really hope an industry overhaul happens based on the data that the lab will be putting out

[@TheHammerGuy94]

or, some companies will be forced to do underhanded a-hole maneuvers like putting NDAs in their terms and conditions. or outright trying to pursue legal action by exploiting defamation laws. or in the case of nintendo, apple and john deere, abusing copyright and patent laws. Journalism always pisses people off if people in question are the ones being put in a bad light. I know in my country, a youtube doctor got harassed by a quack for exposing her quacking and harrassed him by hiring a stalker in his country.

[@Lostcontroller]

We really need content like this, especially with so many tech companies going down the sleazy and scummy route these days.

[@c2thew]

Massive respect for finally bringing in the true equipment needed to properly test manufacturer statements.

[@ohboiiPumba]

Glad seeing you guys pushing forward with this. Shocking what little knowledge people have about their PSUs.

[@SilverLuna07]

Actually makes me really excited! Far too long I've neglected power efficiency on these types of components, despite my PC being one of the most power hungry and expensive devices to run in my house. This will actually give you an easy and legitimate way to decide whether forking over that extra 50 bucks is worth it over the course of the next few years! Also it will just show what is simply objectively better for the environment in the long run.

[@iggysixx]

I really love this new aspect of LMG. Really interested in future results (particularly in the 'cheap' segment.. Which could possibly be the segment with the most interesting results.. "How are they keeping the prices low, and what does that mean in practise?" "And how do 'inferior' parts / omitted failsafes influence real-world performance and reliability?" And curious what else you might be testing next (besides power supplies). But for now - PSUs. Build thine database (and please - if possible - have it accessible to us mere mortals)

[@AG-bp3ll]

Loving what this lab is doing. Wish this had been around when I built my last PC.

[@AlexB-xr2bd]

Y'all are about the change the ethos of what the sales industry. Once you start testing enough of the market, people will have to "risk" being found out for gray marketing and losing market share because of it. Keep up the great work LTT!

[@IntingADCurry]

Im really looking forward to a LTT Labs page where we can filter the data and pick our hardware not only according to price and specs but also to how it ACTUALLY performs. This will be a huge change for the PC Industry and will put a lot of pressure on manufacturers. Finally!

[@MontroseChloe]

This isn't the seggsiest topic. but I am seriously SO HAPPY someone is finally doing this! This will be a game changer. It's always been a bet on the horse with the best name scenario up till now. LTT. You're doing God's work!

[@aidanbrooks771]

I had a Thermaltake Smart 80+ 700w in my system for about 2.5 years. If I remember right I got it for $55 Canadian dollars off of Amazon. Still works perfectly but when I upgraded my PC I swapped it out for a Corsair RM850

[@HowIsWaldo]

For the efficiency graphs it might be nice to see something more like what cybenetics does with their powersupply reports. They show a bit more of a complete picture of efficiency, showing how things change depending on how much power is coming from each rail. I also find the graphs to be much more compelling since you can easily visualize how efficient particular units are based on the size of each colour shown in the graphs. They also do a similar thing with power supply load vs noise which are great to know if you are planning a quiet build. Cybenetics also duplicates testing to show 120v and 240v results which might be appreciated by our european friends.

[@HowIsWaldo]

Either way I highly recommend checking out their reports for inspiration (though I imagine you have already) since they do a phenomenal job of it

[@GotNoYT]

Wouldnt it also be great to always test 2 of the same power supplies to see if there are maybe inconsistencies in quality or anything else? Maybe you just got a "bad" piece even though the rest is good or simply the other way around.

[@xDanyManx]

Been using the thermal take 700 watt PSU for 2 years now with no problems.

[@P4GrAnGeR]

I'm so hyped for the lab. I've been waiting a decade for this to exist. Thanks a lot Linus for starting this endeavor, I hope that soon the consumer electronics purchase experience is forever changed and manufacturers are punished for putting garbage out to the market.

[@blue7081]

I've been using a Thermaltake Smart 630 for a little over 6 years now, nothing wrong with it yet

[@lathiat]

This is the content I want and need. Tom’s hardware has this kind of test data for SSDs but who publishes this data for power supplies. Love it. Likely to be most beneficial in the mid tier price points.

[@EricFixalot]

It might be a good idea to test multiple samples of the same PSU. If you look at when Gamer's Nexus tested the exploding Gigabyte units, I think he said that like half of the units passed the tests. To help offset the cost, you could sell the good test PSUs for a discount. I'd like to have a store to buy the reputable new parts as well. If you did start selling parts, you could also look closer at a particular part if you're getting a lot of RMAs. Not sure if it's possible, but it would also really help if you could test motherboards too because it's hard to really trust any of the brands. I just have to go by the reviews individually which really sucks, especially when you get something well reviewed because people plug it in and it works fine, but then fries your CPU over time with excessive voltage or something.

[@costafilh0]

Can't wait for this to reach many more units. It will make so easier to research and make decisions and recommendations. Hopefully the data is free to use for final users. If not, at least this type of video on recommendations would help. But they should be on the same power category, not price. Because price varies a LOT from country to country.

[@HappyDude1]

Cant wait until you test high end 800-1500W PS

[@yasu_red]

Uh oh, I've had this exact unit since 2020. It's held up pretty well with a 3600XT and 5700 XT.

[@gundoxcrit1652]

The thing with budget power supplies is if you know “exactly” what load you’re putting on it, they’re fine for most uses. There’s always going to be some that have “horrible” voltage variations of course. The safety features of this one passed for example. The problem people have with them is when their expected load changes dramatically outside of the specifications of the power supply, they usually fail once and are done, as shown in the video. Sometimes this happens in spectacular fashion, and sometimes some components on the power supply just blow. I’m a little disappointed the labs didn’t specify what happened downstream when they tripped the overpower protection, as far as I know, it’s usually a fuse gets blown. Some people don’t like that. I have a friend who had the evga white series for example. Ran just fine for 7 years, he put in a new graphics card and the thing died in a day, probably tripping overpower protection as it did in this video. TLDR: People really need to do research for power supplies AND the load of the components they are using. When you spec a system just take the 15 minutes to load up a power supply calculator, answer truthfully and see what you need.

[@intermilan9731]

@@gundoxcrit1652 I have been using a Litepower series unit for 5 years now. If I ever change gpus, I will most def change the PSU. I always thought about having a new gpu means a new PSU

[@Mc_Fly]

Honestly… the PSU Tester is one of the most exciting stations in LTT Labs that I know so far! Can’t wait for all the tests you’ll do!

[@pata7355]

Some power supplies need to be left for over a hour to turn back on as the capacitors need to discharge while the supply is unplugged after a overload.

[@filmweaver2013]

Amazing work Linus and his team is doing with the Labs project! I'll not be surprised if one day they do design and manufacture their own tech product!

[@Drakken_Dude]

Love seeing these labs update. Appreciate all the hardwork you guys put into making sure consumers know whats going on with their hardware!

[@simonriley3584]

I see you were using Rohde & Schwarz equipment. That company's headquarters is just 20 minutes away from me here in Germany! I actually applied for a job there but unfortunately the work times don't work out...

[@GreatYamatanoOrochi]

Hey LTT team, do you plan on tackling both 115V and 230V? As someone who is not really well-informed about power supplies, I'm running on the assumption that 230V power supplies hit a high efficiency rating for cheaper.

[@lethoca5777]

In this video the charts swapped from 115v 60hz to 230v 50hz

[@GreatYamatanoOrochi]

@@lethoca5777 Ohhh I missed that, thank you

[@freakyninjaman3]

I am so excited for Labs to be fully operational! As someone who plans on building a PC in the next year, this will be BEYOND helpful. Thank you, LTT!

[@Minace141]

I have great confidence in the Rohde & Schwarz Oszilloscope in the background. I work with one and its the best I have used so far.

[@IgansioYT]

This kind of testing can be SO useful, even for people that do a bit of research. I had around 70€ to spend on a PSU, saw a Seasonic 80+ Gold 650W for around 72€ and thought it was a great option, it even had mostly positive opinions. But 6 months later, I discovered that this particular model isn't made in the same place as other Seasonic PSUs, instead it's a different factory with different components and not that much of a reputation in comparison. The company that manages that factory isn't by no means bad, but it isn't the same Seasonic that makes those fanless 80+ Titanium monsters. With time, I noticed that the noise that came from my computer was from the PSU fan, and apparently it isn't quite as good as other Seasonic PSU fans because of what I mentioned earlier. But what's even worse is the electrical noise that it makes at basically any load, had to test with and without GPU and it doesn't change. I didn't know until now that PSUs can have that coil whine noise, even though it's kinda obvious since they have coils in them. My model is a 'Seasonic G12 GC 650W 80 Plus Gold' btw. Don't get me wrong, it could be just bad luck with my unit, and it still works super reliably, even with a 3060ti GDDR6X that asked for 750W recommended.

[@benjaminfrohns]

I think I have the same model. It had a Yate Loon fan that I swapped for something silent. (Danger. Know what you are doing before opening a PSU.) Yate Loon fans were once the coolest kid on the block in the early 2000s. Now, just audible in an idle system. Mine doesn't have the coil whine, but it did make the coil whine from the GPU worse.

[@ar-videos]

Honestly, this is every industry. In bicycles, the top Trek's are/were built in their home waterloo factory, the sub models were outsourced to a partner in asia. Shimano top stuff would be made in japan, their b tier products would be moved around southeast asia. Even cars, Toyota's or Honda's made in Japan? nope, try texas and mexico. The parent brand is not a good judgement in blind faith.

[@Voltaic_Fire]

I'm glad that the labs are getting use, there isn't anyone else doing these kinds of tests and it'd be sad to waste all that money. I wonder if LMG will ever issue a buyer's guide, like the Michelin guide but for tech. I also wonder why they don't absolutely plaster their roofs with solar panels to save or even make money, they could also build a solar awning between their buildings to generate power while protecting their cars from the weather.

[@TotoGeenen]

There are multiple other companies doing this

[@jay1185]

I guess I'm using 4 terrible PSUs then lol. Three of the four towers in this home use Smart 600W and mine uses a 700W. Prior to my wife and I's Gigabyte B550M DS3H+Ryzen 5 5600G+Zotac 1070 8GB Mini upgrade this past Feb, we were running Gigabyte 990FXA UD3P boards with FX-8350s and the Zotac 1070 8GB Minis for about 3 years. The other systems are an i7-4690+HP GTX 1060 3GB and my previous system as a gameserver for us and our friends (it has an old Asus GT 630 just for video output). I've been told that personal experience with a product doesn't weigh very heavily in the proof of the product, but I have a few friends who also use these PSUs and we all haven't had problems for years. I've stuck with Thermaltake for a long time and still have a couple of old TR-2 500W units that I use for testing boards.

[@OriginalNethaniel]

the reason it's popular is because it's very reliable

[@mr.pangetako]

Absolutely right. I still have my 600w and 700w on my PCs.

[@CarsonBennett-qq2eo]

Yeah, I always get nervous seeing stuff like this, but I have two 600s running, a spare 600w and my friend has a 700w and they have all ran fine for like 4 years already. i think I will rely on personal experience for this one.

[@CarsonBennett-qq2eo]

And my newest one came with black cables, so it's not ugly either.

[@watercannonscollaboration2281]

Really cool to see the labs being able to test out things that might explode (or if you’re talking about Gigabyte, “will” explode) In the meanwhile I’m sticking to buying discounted PSUs on EVGA’s b-stock

[@mike-tq5es]

what Gigabyte PSU model are you talking about that explodes?

[@nathanlowery1141]

@@mike-tq5eslook up gamers nexus exploding power supply video

[@TuEIite]

Awesome to see stuff coming together with the lab. Let's look closelier!

[@cherrypepsi2815]

I was actually about to buy one of these for my newest build (built July 3rd), but the guy at Micro Center led me to a much nicer EVGA PSU for the same price that was much better. Cheers!

[@mr.pangetako]

I still have my (2) 600w and (1) 700w thermaltake smart. It's been years since I bought it and still working. So I don't care what everyone say. If it works, it works.

[@Real_MisterSir]

If ketchup and mustard wire comes out of the rear, that is a psu telling me to stay clear

[@JamesCarter-px9ho]

I have been so excited to see this one! The other one I can’t wait for from the labs is the power bank round up!

[@AceVenturaXii]

More power supply videos please. I love supporting EVGA because they were the first to tell NVIDIA to screw off. I buy their stuff whenever I can. Currently buying EVGA G6 PSU’s but I’d love to hear more about other quality units that pass testing. 😊

[@tylersanders2388]

Did you not watch the whole video? Even a reputable brand like evga puts out junk in their ultra budget segment and there were several categories where evga was an outlier for underperformance. Don't be loyal to a brand, be loyal to results.

[@AceVenturaXii]

@@tylersanders2388 I know what you’re saying. But EVGA makes good stuff, and evidently cheaper stuff too. I’ve been buying the G6. They’re very nice, solid, well built units. I’m supporting EVGA because of the reasons I mentioned by buying their high end products.

[@xkxk7539]

@@tylersanders2388 Doesn't matter the ratio of products that EVGA pumps out that are top notch is too high compared to the worst ones they have. There's a reason why they are considered the #1 pc parts/board partner in the west.

[@tylersanders2388]

@@xkxk7539 that’s a very stupid way to look at it. The majority of people only buy 1 psu and use that for years. Why point millions of people towards crap because it has an EVGA badge on the side? The individual product matters more than the brand’s logo

[@mattfern8823]

I bought the 700w version of this for my first ever PC build and it be loved it thus far! Loved this video!

[@trevorhensel4507]

Once the labs gets the testing methodology down, I’d be interested in a video on the effects custom cables, say from cable mod, have on your PSU.

[@trevorhensel4507]

@@Malc180s they literally said in the video they make a difference… I’m going to trust them over you…

[@barchtic]

Nice. Glad to see the new testing setup is helping out.

[@idiNty]

This is so valuable. Finally someone with a big audience is shining light on this topic. I think I’ve been screwed over from now and then in the past with my power supply choices.

[@ETophales]

Very interesting. I hope that this automatic testing will lead to a large database of results that users can consult. I know that LTT is all about the videos, and I certainly expect to see videos about this, but it would be incredibly helpful when buying a PSU to have a place where one can just look up how well specific units work in the real world.