Verdict
Head-to-head · Best 850w Power Supplies

Corsair HX850 vs Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 850W

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Corsair HX850 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.6 vs 4.0). The gap is mostly about fit for purpose — read the strengths below before deciding.

Corsair HX850
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best 850w Power Supplies
Corsair HX850
3 sources2 derived$311as of Aug 1

The Corsair HX850 is an 80 Plus Platinum, fully modular 850W unit whose defining trait is silence: ZeroRPM keeps the 135mm fan stopped until load demands it. KitGuru points to the Japanese 105°C capacitors and the build quality behind the ten-year warranty, and PC Perspective's bench work found voltage regulation on the main rails inside tight tolerances. The complaints are practical rather than electrical — thick ATX, EPS and PCIe cables that fight small cases, and over-current protection behaviour on the 5VSB rail. It suits a quiet high-end build where cable room is not the constraint.

Strengths
  • Full power at 46°C ambient temperature
  • 90% efficiency at real-world load conditions
  • ZeroRPM mode for fanless operation at low loads
Watch-outs
  • OCP at 5VSB
  • Bulky ATX, EPS and PCIe cables
Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 850W
Ranked #6 in Best 850w Power Supplies
Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 850W
3 sources$109.99as of Jul 31

The Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 850W carries 80 PLUS Gold and Cybenetics ETA Gold certification, ATX v3.0 and PCIe 5.0 compatibility, and a 12VHPWR connector rated at 450W. APH Networks called it a silent-to-very-quiet, fully modular unit built by CWT and cooled by a 135mm fluid dynamic bearing fan, and reported that Thermaltake’s advertised "100% Japanese brand capacitors" claim is false because the polymer capacitors are Chinese-made. Tom's Hardware called it one of the first ATX v3.0 PSUs with decent performance and quiet operation, but measured short peak efficiency and high inrush current at 230V. It fits buyers who want dependable v3.0 compatibility and a 10-year warranty, not those chasing the absolute best in performance or fan quality.

Strengths
  • ATX v3.0 and PCIe 5.0 compatible with 12VHPWR connector rated at 450W
  • Fully modular design with 135mm fluid dynamic bearing fan for quiet operation
  • Semi-passive operation available and selectable
Watch-outs
  • Advertised "100% Japanese" capacitors: the polymer capacitors are Chinese-made
  • Average transient response at 12V rail
  • High inrush current with 230V input

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

Specs side-by-side

SpecCorsair HX850Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 850W
Wattage850W850W
Efficiency80 Plus Platinum80 PLUS Gold, Cybenetics Gold (87-89%)
Form FactorATXATX
ModularityFully ModularFully modular
Fan Size135mm fluid dynamic bearing135mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan (HA13525H12SF-Z)
Warranty10 years10 years
ComplianceATX12V v2.4 and EPS 2.92 standardsATX v3.0, EPS 2.92
Connectors2x EPS, 6x PCIe 6+2 pin, 16 SATA, 1x FDD, 1x ATXPCIe 6+2Pin X 4, PCIe 12+4Pin X 1
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