The (new - current) ThermalTake TR2-430 430W ATX PSU?

[VirtualLarry]

Has anyone reviewed their current offering? They've offered a bunch of different actual PSUs, under this long-selling model number.

I ordered several from BestBuy, because they were $36 shipped ea. on their ebay store.

I have fairly fond memories of these back in the day. I was using them (the dual 80mm fan model, from 2006-ish era) to power my Core2 rigs, and I had no problems with them, they were quiet, maybe not the coolest or most efficient though.

Back then, I thought I had read that they were made by HEC. Even back then, though, they had pretty decent protection features, even if they weren't APFC or 80Plus.

So anyways, the new ones come in a flashy red-trimmed package, claiming:
"5 Year Warranty"
"Haswell Ready"
"Bullet-proof Power Protection".

Would like to find out which OEM makes these current models (if HEC, or someone else, like CWT maybe?), and how decent they are.

I'm impressed by the 5-year warranty, at this price point, EVGA PSUs only have a 3-year warranty, AFAIK, and I think that the Antec VP-450 (my other budget favorite, currently powering my Core2Quad rigs for the past few years) is only two years.

Anyways, seems like a half-decent PSU. I only just glanced at the label, unsure if it's even 80Plus at all.

I also picked up several of the EVGA 600W 80Plus (but not the "B" - Bronze model) units from BestBuy, for $30 shipped ea.

Not really sure which one is better. The ThermalTake has a longer warranty, but the EVGA has two PCI-E power connectors for video cards.

They came just in time, I've got a client coming in tomorrow with a dead PC. I'm hoping it's just a PSU replacement and it will be up and running again.

 

[UsandThem]

It depends on the actual full model number. This post shows they have had many different variations over the years:

http://techreport.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=117797

This one was last updated in 2014, and shows the 430w version as still being HEC:

http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/psu_manufacturers

SO without opening it up (and voiding your warranty), it's tough to know for sure.

I personally look at the EVGA 80 Plus and the Thermaltake TR2 being about equal quality wise. They are both budget PSUs that get the job done. I have a TR2 in my youngest son's PC (got it for a good price when I bought it), and it has been fine for the last 4 years. I also keep a EVGA B1 (got for $30) that I use for testing and as an emergency back-up if needed.

However, when I built my older son's computer a few months back, I put in a EVGA SuperNova P2 that I got on sale. I figured he could reuse it again when he needs a new computer in 4-5 years. The build difference is quite dramatic over the TR2. Both the TR2 and B1 are significantly lighter than the SuperNova.

 

[VirtualLarry]

However, when I built my older son's computer a few months back, I put in a EVGA SuperNova P2 that I got on sale. I figured he could reuse it again when he needs a new computer in 4-5 years. The build difference is quite dramatic over the TR2. Both the TR2 and B1 are significantly lighter than the SuperNova.

I believe it. These PSUs are mostly for entry-level builds (although both should be OK for adding a mid-range dGPU too), and repairs of older systems that have died or have dead PSUs.

(Got a guy coming in tomorrow with a dead PC, and then I've got another friend that had a PC die during a recent thunderstorm, although it had shut off on him once a month before.)

If I was doing a high-end custom build, I might go for one of those P2 PSUs or something "nice", but that's pure overkill to replace a dead PSU in a 5-8 year old rig. They just need something that will work, and not kill components, not something that would power a battleship and last 20 years.

 

[UsandThem]

If I was doing a high-end custom build, I might go for one of those P2 PSUs or something "nice", but that's pure overkill to replace a dead PSU in a 5-8 year old rig. They just need something that will work, and not kill components, not something that would power a battleship and last 20 years.

Yeah, if I was repairing or building a computer for customer/client, I would go with a budget unit as well. Like I mentioned earlier, my youngest son has the TR2 in his i3 system, and no problems at all going on 4+ years. Generally if the power supply is absolute junk like a Powmax or Deer unit, it would have blown up the whole computer by now

If you ever do a high-end build, the EVGA SuperFlower Leadex G2 and P2 based units are amazing. They are even more amazing catching it on sale