29 replies to this topic

[Xtreme2damax]

I have had two Corsair HX850 power supplies fail on me with the same exact symptoms and issues. At first the system will start rebooting or shutting down at random, reboots happen regardless of what I am doing whether I am in the bios, running a memory diagnostic, running a Linux live disc etc.. most of the time the reboots would occur while attempting to log into Windows when there is significant power draw on the PSU. Stress testing won't trigger an immediate reboot so I can even run games for hours sometimes and the system can be up for as much as a few days to a week without rebooting. Then comes the second and final phase which is complete failure as in I start experiencing trouble posting and then I can no longer power on my system.

When my last PSU did this I was forced to purchase a new PSU from Newegg due to the warranty being voided, I purchased the same brand and model as I did before. The previous PSU and the replacement both ended up failing with the same exact issues and symptoms around six to seven months of use. Last week I shipped the replacement PSU back to Corsair corresponding an RMA request and am hoping to receive the replacement within the next two weeks (for now I am using my roommate's computer), I still have the original PSU that I've kept down in the basement since it failed.

I am in a situation now where I can't afford to purchase new hardware should I keep experiencing this issue with the Corsair power supplies. I don't think the PSU's are completely shot, just that they have a defect that is causing these issues. I am wondering if it is possible to repair the original PSU and how complicated and/or expensive would it be to repair? I need to have something as backup as I don't trust that the next replacement won't have this defect and am afraid I'll be in the same boat again six to seven months down the line.

[Blaze_Zewi]

Openning up a power supply and trying to fix it yourself is a bad idea. You chould end up destorying your entire computer or worst get yourself electrocuted.

Go with a different brand of power supply in the near future. Hiper, Antec, Rosewill, Thermaltake etc... Lots of good brand name to chose from.

[xendrome]

^Not to mention I wouldn't ever 100% fully trust a repaired power supply...

[TEX4S]

Ya know how when youre watching a horror flick - and the killer is behind a door, and the hot chick is about to open that door ? And you think "dont do it, dont do it " ?

Then she does it and bad things happen ? Thats what I think when someone mentions opening a PSU.

It is strange that 2 Corsair PSU went bad, showing the same signs - go with something different this time...

FWIW I just bought a Seasonic Platinum 1000W after owning a Corsair AX850 - couldnt be happier

[Dot Matrix]

Rule number one: DON'T.

[linsook]

how are you so sure its the psu?

[+Another Canuck]

linsook, on 30 January 2012 - 03:55, said:

how are you so sure its the psu?

I second this.

If it keeps happening over and over again, how do you know it's the PSU? What diagnostic steps have you taken to rule out other components?

A system that is randomly rebooting can be caused by any number of things, including unstable grid power. Personally, the PSU is one of the last components I would consider here.

TEX4S, on 30 January 2012 - 03:42, said:

FWIW I just bought a Seasonic Platinum 1000W after owning a Corsair AX850 - couldnt be happier

You had the AX850 for seven days

[TEX4S]

Another Canuck, on 30 January 2012 - 04:48, said:

You had the AX850 for seven days

ssshhhhhhh

Well, uhhhh, true.

[+Tempus]

Another Canuck, on 30 January 2012 - 04:48, said:

I second this.

If it keeps happening over and over again, how do you know it's the PSU? What diagnostic steps have you taken to rule out other components?

A system that is randomly rebooting can be caused by any number of things, including unstable grid power. Personally, the PSU is one of the last components I would consider here.



You had the AX850 for seven days

....and that AX850 was made by Seasonic (as are the ones the OP has)...

[monkey13]

Never, ever, ever, ever open a PSU. There is serious danger in there. First there is the chance of straight out electrocution. Even if it has been off for a while there is still a fair bit of capacitance in there.

Second it is also a major fire risk. Bodge something in there and your whole PC, plus possibly you house, could go up in flame.

Also there are as near enough zero user serviceable parts in there. So there is nothing you can fix anyway.

[muratoner]

the caps must have been dried..just open the power supply lick the biggest cap

PS..seriously DON'T!!!

[Xtreme2damax]

Another Canuck, on 30 January 2012 - 04:48, said:

I second this.

If it keeps happening over and over again, how do you know it's the PSU? What diagnostic steps have you taken to rule out other components?

A system that is randomly rebooting can be caused by any number of things, including unstable grid power. Personally, the PSU is one of the last components I would consider here.



You had the AX850 for seven days

Last time this happened I was able to eliminate other components as the culprit and finally determined the PSU was the cause of my issues. When I bought the new PSU and hooked it up everything powered on instantly and the system posted, no reboots or shutdowns unless I manually initiated a shutdown or reboot myself and everything ran stable. Then six to seven months down the line I ran into the same exact issues again and I am fairly certain the PSU is at fault again. I'm pretty sure nothing else in my system is at fault, there are no shorts and when the system shut down or reboot it's as if the system was losing power. On the Corsair forum there are other people with the same PSU and other makes of Corsair PSU's experiencing the same issues, and like some of them I have an Asus Sabertooth X58 motherboard.

I live in an apartment complex that is around 20 - 30 years old so who knows maybe the wiring here is an issue and dirty electricity is being fed into my reletively cheap surge protector I have everything hooked into. Although I don't see why only the PSU would fail and nothing else. I had my system overclocked to 4.2 Ghz, everything was reletively stable and temps were low enough not to be an issue, I rarely ever shut my system down or rebooted mainly because at the time I was using my system as a game server.

monkey13, on 30 January 2012 - 11:01, said:

Never, ever, ever, ever open a PSU. There is serious danger in there. First there is the chance of straight out electrocution. Even if it has been off for a while there is still a fair bit of capacitance in there.

Second it is also a major fire risk. Bodge something in there and your whole PC, plus possibly you house, could go up in flame.

Also there are as near enough zero user serviceable parts in there. So there is nothing you can fix anyway.

I understand, but what if the issue is as simple as loose connections or loose solder joints? When I opened the last PSU to inspect it there were no bulging capacitors and nothing was burned out or blown.

[alwaysonacoffebreak]

I've worked in electronics for a while and I've tried to do the same thing what You are planing to do (keep in mind I've had all the neccecary equipment for that) and belive me if I say, don't bother. Won't do You any good, the last one I opened and fixed..well lets just say the HI-POT test wasn't too sucseful after almost burning the box to the groud.

[Xtreme2damax]

I have an SLI system and someone mentioned to diable SLI if I overclock because it causes dangerous voltage spikes. Is this true, I don't see why overclocking and enabling SLI would do that as several people overclock and have SLI enabled without their PSU's failing like this..

[monkey13]

Xtreme2damax, on 30 January 2012 - 11:25, said:

I understand, but what if the issue is as simple as loose connections or loose solder joints? When I opened the last PSU to inspect it there were no bulging capacitors and nothing was burned out or blown.

Don't bother. It is dangerous and if you get it wrong there are a number of bigger consequences. As an example you could short to the earth and electrify your whole pc when you turn it back on. Which could fry everything in it and/or electrocute you. Would cost a bit more to repair than just a PSU replacement.

It is never worth it. Even if you have all the correct equipment I still wouldn't do it. You have to think of everything in the PSU as mains side. Would you start messing about with your consumer unit (all right I know the CU is much easier but just an example) or your mains meter?