This page is a footnote on my quiet PSUs page. Please don't read it out of context, or use it to judge TK or anyone at TK outside of that context. Also, note that TK primarily targets OEM customers. They don't like small quantity orders, and they said a lot of the problems may have stemmed from that.

How I got my TK Power PSU

Tired of computer noise, I took some time to investigate options for silent computing. I eventually found some site that claimed TK Power made a line of power supplies that could run fanless, although they were not advertised on TK Power's web site. I called up Ryan Solri (rsolari@tkpower.com or 510-770-1172) for more information, and he said that they did make one.

I ordered it, and after waiting until a little past the delivery date they promised, I called them up. They hadn't shipped it yet. I called them several more times, and after a long time, I finally get the unit sent to me. However, I found that the PSU they sent me was not ATX. The power supply had an ATX plug, but was not a true ATX power supply. It didn't implement a lot of ATX functionality (it did not output one of the required voltages, and it did not talk to the motherboard about turning on and off, but was permanently on). As such, it wouldn't work with my motherboard.

I contacted them again, and after long negotiations, a bit more cash, an extra month and a lot more hassle, they sent me the TK230-1U, a true ATX fanless. They forgot to send a little cable to convert the non-standard plug on the PSU to a normal power plug. I called them, and they promised to send it, but I soldered one up myself to use in the interrim. They never sent theirs, but mine works fine, so I didn't bother wish pushing it.

I've had it for about two years as of this writing, and it works great. It is cleanly constructed, and appears well engineered. I'm quite happy with it; I don't think the incompetance of TK's sales staff doesn't extend to their engineering department. It is rated to 150W continuous fanless, which is more than enough power for my system. Fanned, it can go to 230W. I'm guessing this is also a thermal requirement, as if you add up the specs on each voltage and add, it looks to do 321.5W, with a note that total consumption should not exceed 230W.

It is quite cleverly designed from a thermal standpoint. All the components that run warm are thermally coupled to the case, which is made of ~1/8 inch metal (probably aluminum).

Note that it's fully ATX electrically, but not in form factor, so you will need to attach it in an alternative fashion to the case (this is fairly trivial to do). Also, it is an open frame power supply. This means the case doesn't completely enclose it, so the components inside of it are exposed. If you're stupid and go around poking at them with your fingers, you may get shocked. You have to be amazingly stupid for this to actually happen, but I was asked to put up the safety note.