On this preview, we are taking a quick look at the Thermaltake BX1 80+ Bronze PSU. Ours is the latest 750W model, coming in hot just below $100 USD. It is as the name suggest, an RGB power supply unit, much like the Smart RGB PSU we’ve tested before.
The Smart BX1 750W is an ATX PSU. It features an 80+ Bronze certification, coupled up with a 750W capacity under a 5 year manufacturer warranty. Though non-modular, the power supply houses flat cables and RGB lighting in the mix.
Table of Contents
Technical Specifications
The Thermaltake Smart BX1 750W features a maximum output capacity of 750W with a peak output of 900W. It is a single rail PSU, with an 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency at 115Vac input.
| P/N | PS-SPR-0750NHFABx-1 |
| Model | SP-750AH2NKB |
| Type | ATX 12V v2.3 and EPS v2.92 |
| Max. Output Capacity | 750W |
| Peak Output Capacity | 900W |
| Coldplate Material | Black |
| Dimension （ W / H / D ） | 150mm(W) x 86mm(H) x 140mm(D) |
| PFC （Power Factor Correction） | Active PFC |
| Power Good Signal | 100-500 msec |
| Hold Up Time | > 16msec at 70% of full load |
| Input current | 12A max. |
| Input Frequency Range | 50Hz – 60Hz |
| Input Voltage | 100V – 240V~ |
| Operating Temperature | 5°C to + 40°C |
| Operating Humidity | 20% to 90%, non-condensing |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C to + 55°C |
| Storage Humidity | 20% to 85%, non-condensing |
| Cooling System | 12cm fan hub |
| Efficiency | Meet 80 PLUS®Bronze at 115Vac input. |
| MTBF | 100,000 hrs minimum |
| Safety Approval | CE/CB/TUV/ UL/ FCC/ BSMI |
| PCI-E 6+2pin | 4 |
The power supply has a maximum input current of 12A, a hold up time of less than 16ms and a 120mm RGB fan.
Packaging and Accessories
The Smart BX1 comes in your standard Thermaltake packaging. It’s a simple flip box with RGB goodness all over it.
The back is more specific, especially when it comes to the specifications of the PSU. Output specifications are well laid out, while we also get to see the efficiency curve of the Smart BX1 according to Thermaltake’s own results.
You’ll get a few paper works, four screws and an EU power cable. Nothing is out of place as far as bundled items are concerned.
Design, Build and Connectivity
The Smart BX1 750W is a compact PSU for its capacity. It features soft lines, mainly due to its rounded corner design.
Certifications, tests passed and specifications are labelled at the top of the BX1’s chassis. Corresponding output current ratings are also printed here together with the maximum output power for the DC outputs.
The fan inside the Smart BX1 750W is a translucent 120mm hydraulic bearing fan. Thermaltake rated this fan to feature a 39.59dB noise level at full load which is not really on the quiet side of things. Your best bet here is to keep the power under 50% if you don’t want the fan to hit its RPM ceiling.
The Smart BX1 is again, a compact PSU. It requires little to no effort to fit on most cases, especially with the flat cables around.
Ventilation is appears to be good with an ample amount of vent holes at the back of the PSU. The button for the RGB fan is situated here as well.
The Smart BX1 is not a modular PSU, so expect to do some magic with the cables. These are flat cables though, so tucking them in is easier compared to your normal cables. The cables look nicer too, yet they require extra care when handling due to the thinner wire gauge.
The cables have enough length to stretch inside full towers with adequate cable management routes. If you’re not going to use the majority of cables, the compact size of the PSU makes up for it, allowing gamers to tuck everything in front of the shell. It is advisable to use a case with a PSU shroud if you like to tidy things up.
| Cable Type | Cable | Connector |
| ATX 20+4 pin | 1 | 1 |
| ATX 4+4 pin | 1 | 1 |
| PCI-E 6+2 pin | 2 | 4 |
| SATA | 2 | 8 |
| Molex 4 pin | 1 | 4 |
| FDD 4 pin | 1 | 1 |
Safety and Efficiency
A power supply unit is just not about power and reliability; it’s also about safety and efficiency. On this section, we check out if the PSU carries the commonly adapted safety or protection features. We also get to talk about the 80 Plus certification and its effect on efficiency.
| Safety Feature | Description | Support |
|---|---|---|
| OCP / Over Current Protection | Activates when the current in the rails surpasses a certain limit. | No |
| OVP / Over Voltage Protection | Activates when the voltages surpass a trigger point. | Yes |
| UVP / Under Voltage Protection | Activates when the voltages go below a trigger point. | No |
| OPP / Over Power Protection | Activates when the PSU exceeds its maximum rated capacity. | Yes |
| OTP / Over Temperature Protection | Activates when the PSU exceeds its rated temperature threshold. | No |
| SCP / Short Circuit Protection | Activates when the PSU impedance is too low. | Yes |
The Thermaltake Smart BX1 features 3 out of 6 commonly used safety features. OVP protects the majority of rails (+3.3V, +5V, +12V), while OPP kicks in when the PSU reaches 10-170% over peak load. SCP on the other hand will kick in when any of the DC rails have short circuited.
Since the Smart BX1 750W features an efficiency rating of 80 Plus Bronze, it has a minimum efficiency rating of 82% at 20% and 100% load. It gets better at 50% load with an efficiency rating of 85%.
Test Setup
Testing a Power Supply Unit (PSU) is not an easy task. It requires expensive measurement tools I.E., load testers, incubators and a lot of balls to make sure a PSU is tested properly.
| TEST SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS | |
| PROCESSOR | Intel Core i5-6600K |
| MOTHERBOARD | ASUS Z170-A |
| CPU COOLER | FSP Windale 6 |
| MEMORY KIT | Crucial Ballistix Tactical @ 2666MHz 4x4GB Kit |
| GRAPHICS CARD | ASUS GTX 1060 STRIX OC 6GB |
| INTERNAL STORAGE | Crucial BX200 480GB |
| POWER SUPPLY | CORSAIR RM850X 850W |
| DISPLAY | DELL U2715H |
| OPERATING SYSTEM | Microsoft Windows 10 Pro |
We do not have the tools required to strain any Power Supply Units yet we could still provide performance insights based on what we have. Hence, titled as a preview and not a full review.
Voltage and Power Good Delay
Voltage tolerance is an important aspect of any power supply unit. If for example, a power supply unit provides the parts of a computer with a particular voltage outside of this tolerance, the system being powered may fail to work properly. Power good delay tolerance on the other hand is the amount of time it takes PSU to start up completely and begin delivering the proper voltages to the connected devices.
| Voltage Rail | Tolerance | Result |
|---|---|---|
| +3.3V | ± 5% | +3.3V |
| +5V | ± 5% | +5.0V |
| +5VSB | ± 5% | +5.0V |
| +12V | ± 5% | +12.0V |
| -12V | ± 10% | -11.7V |
| Power Good Delay | 100 – 500ms | 326ms |
Everything is fine with the Thermaltake Smart BX1 750W. The voltage rails outputted the recommended tolerance from the ATX 2.3 standard, while we got a perfectly fine PG Delay at 326ms.
Conclusion
As usual, I don’t see myself reviewing PSUs anytime soon with the lack of equipment to actually deliver quantifiable results. That being said, our verdict will still rely on our personal experience. We’ve had this PSU for over a week, allowing us to check its capabilities using our mid-range test system which is typically consuming 300W at full load.
The Smart BX1 750W is a capable PSU. We like that it has a 56A amp rating on its 12V rail, so it will pretty much power up any high end components out there – even a dual Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 without a fuss. RGB is also a strong point with 8 color options. This makes the Smart BX1 a true stand out component on open air cases.
We also like the amount of SATA connectivity within the BX1, much like the ToughPower GX1. The fan could be better though, if you’d like to maximize the power supply unit’s potential. 39.56dBA is not quiet at all and you’re better off keeping the PSU at a load level similar to your environment’s ambient noise. 34dBA is my home’s usual noise level, so I should be comfortable to run this baby at 80% load.
The Thermaltake Smart BX1 750W is a compelling choice for those who are looking for a high capacity power supply unit without breaking the bank.
Thermaltake Smart BX1 RGB 750W 80+ Bronze PSU
Summary
The Thermaltake Smart BX1 750W is a compelling choice for those who are looking for a high capacity power supply unit without breaking the bank.
