ASUS ROG THOR III 1200W Platinum PSU Review
Conclusion
The ROG THOR III Platinum 1200W is a serious PSU for serious ROG fans
Ok, there’s no getting around this. The ROG THOR III Platinum 1200W costs over £400. This is an expensive power supply, but what do you expect from a Platinum-rated power supply with an OLED screen, unique features, and such mega-quiet performance?
Sadly, our test setup is loud. This makes it impossible for us to get proper noise testing when fully loading any power supply. It is also hard to do proper noise testing in a residential setting. Noisy neighbours and passersby are a thing after all. That’s why we tend to talk about our experiences when discussing PSU noise levels. With this in mind, we lack precise data on noise. That said, we can say that we never heard this PSU operate during this review. When this PSU’s fan runs, it does so quietly. A room with any ambient noise will drown this out. This is backed up by this PSU’s Cybenetics A++ noise rating. To achieve this standard, a PSU must operate under 15 dB(A) at all times. Cybenetis rated this PSU as having an average noise level of 10.45 dBA across all their tested load combinations.
Clearly, ASUS’ premium ROG heatsinks are paying off with their THOR III. Furthermore, we appreciate ASUS’ efforts to change things up with their magnetic OLED display, their use of Gallium Nitride MOSFETs, and their unique “GPU-First” voltage stabilisation feature. This isn’t just a normal PSU with an ROG badge on it.
The lack of braided cables is disappointing
Honestly, the only thing I dislike about this PSU is that it doesn’t come with braided PSU cables. Yes, this PSU’s cables are textured to give a similar look, but for a premium PSU like this, braided cables are certainly desirable. Regardless, this is a premium unit that delivers excellent efficiency levels and an aesthetic that puts other premium PSUs to shame.
It’s a ROG PSU, nobody can deny that
Ok, not all PSU purchasers will want a PSU with this much flash. Yes, this PSU’s aesthetic is a little wasted in today’s PC case landscape, where PSUs are mostly hidden out of sight. Regardless, ASUS has done the seemingly impossible by creating a PSU that you wouldn’t want to hide. ASUS took a look at the PSU market and has built something with the over-the-top flair that ROG fans expect. Does it need a movable OLED screen? Does it need RGB? No, and no. But that doesn’t mean that a PSU shouldn’t have those features.
The complaints that you can level at this PSU can be levelled at most ROG products. It’s premium, and it has features that price it above competing PSUs. If you are min-maxing your PC’s price and performance, this is not the PSU for you. That said, ASUS has created an excellent PSU here. It’s efficient, quiet, and boasts some cool features. Is that worth ROG-level pricing? That’s a question only you can answer. This is an Enthusiast-Grade PSU, no question about it.
You can join the discussion on ASUS’ ROG THOR III on the OC3D Forums.
