29 replies to this topic

[Xtreme2damax]

Ah, ok but if this happens again I will be going with another brand of power supply. I will also be carefully inspecting everything before installing the new power supply.

Is this true at all, what I mentioned in my last post?

Quote

I have an SLI system and someone mentioned to diable SLI if I overclock because it causes dangerous voltage spikes. Is this true

I have my system overclocked to 4.2 Ghz, voltages were manually set in bios and within safe range and temps were fine. Another thing is it a coincidence that my problems didn't start until after I tried enabling Load Line Calibration and setting CPU Differential Amplitude to 800mA?

[mduren2445]

I have a garanteed fix for this problem but you will have to follow my instructions carefully --- go to your favorite computer parts website and order something you can afford -- obviously cosair psu's and you don't agree and if you open the failed one up and try to repair it and it takes out your motherboard, cpu , hard drive and so on you will see a new one would be a lot cheaper. BTW do you use a surge protector on your computer?

[Xtreme2damax]

Yes I have a surge protector, a cheap one that I think I paid $20 - $30 for but it's a surge protector. I'm not so sure about the wiring in our apartment complex though, I haven't bought another brand of PSU to confirm whether it's the PSU or something external contributing to the failure of my PSU.

[monkey13]

Xtreme2damax, on 30 January 2012 - 11:53, said:

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..

I don't think you would get voltage spikes. I would have thought that would remain reasonably constant. It may be possible to have a current spike if you have a load of stuff that ramps up its power requirements suddenly but then the PSU and wiring should be rated to handle something like that.

However if you are OCing then I'm not so sure. I don't know much about that.

Generally most PSU problems are because they aren't supplying enough power or the correct consistent voltage.

[TEX4S]

Tempus, on 30 January 2012 - 10:54, said:

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

I know - but now its all pretty silver and says 1000W Platinum on it - and everyone knows that silver makes it go faster.

[Witt3439]

One thing nobody has addressed is that, from the symptoms you described, I'm wondering if the PSU is actually to blame (especially 2 of them doing similar things).

The last time I had a system doing something similar to what you described, the motherboard was shorted.When I'd swap PSUs out, it would work for a little while and then it would start rebooting on it's own. It's not going to be simple to do, but if the replacement PSU does it, try that same PSU in a different system if possible.

Otherwise, NEVER open a PSU. They can hold a substantial charge, even if unplugged for a while.

[Xtreme2damax]

Witt3439, on 31 January 2012 - 05:18, said:

One thing nobody has addressed is that, from the symptoms you described, I'm wondering if the PSU is actually to blame (especially 2 of them doing similar things).

The last time I had a system doing something similar to what you described, the motherboard was shorted.When I'd swap PSUs out, it would work for a little while and then it would start rebooting on it's own. It's not going to be simple to do, but if the replacement PSU does it, try that same PSU in a different system if possible.

Otherwise, NEVER open a PSU. They can hold a substantial charge, even if unplugged for a while.

Six or seven months between failing seems too long for it to be a short, the PSU would have probably failed before then. I've checked everything and nothing appears to be shorted, the motherboard is on risers as it's supposed to be and nothing else appears to be shorted. The last time this happened I checked everything to ensure there were no shorts causing issues with the power supply.

[+Another Canuck]

I would recommend two things:

1. If you have any spare components, swap them out and try the PSU with them. Or install it into a different PC if possible.
2. Plug it into a different outlet, preferably one on a completely different circuit. Don't use the same surge protector.

[Xtreme2damax]

Another Canuck, on 01 February 2012 - 00:32, said:

I would recommend two things:

1. If you have any spare components, swap them out and try the PSU with them. Or install it into a different PC if possible.
2. Plug it into a different outlet, preferably one on a completely different circuit. Don't use the same surge protector.

I don't have any spare components and I've already tried a different outlet but not a different surge protector since I don't have one. This problem, if it happens to be an external source contributing to the failure of both PSU's is going to be difficult to diagnose especially if everything is running fine and stable for at least six or seven months.

[Xtreme2damax]

It was indeed the power supply that failed again. I received my replacement from Corsair yesterday, installed it in my PC and everything is running fine.

[Crisps]

I've had nothing but problems with Corsair PSU's in the past, so I switched to OCz and have never looked back

[JJ_]

I've been running the Corsair 520w PSU since 2007/08 and haven't had a single problem (hope I don't jinx it with this post). Perhaps Seasonic have made changes in their manufacturing process but there seems to be a very interesting thread over at overclock.net which investigates the issue of failure of new Seasonic/Corsair PSU's after about 6 months or so of use:

http://www.overclock...nic-x560-owners (issue affects Corsair AX range too)

[TEX4S]

Xtreme2damax, on 30 January 2012 - 13:43, said:

Yes I have a surge protector, a cheap one that I think I paid $20 - $30 for but it's a surge protector. I'm not so sure about the wiring in our apartment complex though, I haven't bought another brand of PSU to confirm whether it's the PSU or something external contributing to the failure of my PSU.

I didnt see this post last week when this thread was started - but it is all starting to make sense.

NO that is NOT A SURGE PROTECTOR - $20-$30 is a piece of junk power strip - nothing more. it might be a Surge Suppressor but it is not a Surge Protector. yes, there is a difference.

Whatever you decide to do - get a decent surge protector. APC, or Tripp-Lite are great. Anything more than $30 is OK; anything less is nothing but a power strip to add more unprotected power cables.

Obviously its not worth spending $200 on a 900W APC w/ LED screen if its protecting a 4 year old HP or some netbook - but everything piece of electronics I own is plugged into some kind of protection.

After I saw a gaming computer melt a power cable and start a fire with my own eyes - I have been vigilant about power protection.

[scaramonga]

Had my Corsair 750W TX for nearly 3 years now, great PSU, and still going strong despite all my clocking efforts Great Warranty on them too, so I see no need to open any of them up.

[Xtreme2damax]

Ok, so I am not sure now that the PSU was the sole fault of my system. While replacing the PSU has caused the issues to subside I have experienced two random shutdowns since replacing the PSU. I honestly think my motherboard may be part of the problem as well. Since I bought the motherboard I've had problems with the system not booting with my DDR3 ram in slots 1, 3 and 5, however the system will boot with the ram in slots 2, 4, and 6. Another thing is that I accidentally dropped a piece of thin copper/metal wire into one of the PCI-e x16 slots which I was sure I got out before booting the PC.

Only problem is that I am not sure I can RMA my motherboard as I stupidly tried to remove the sticker with the serial number due to planning to request an RMA in the past since I didn't want to remove the motherboard just to get to the serial number.

:Edit: Also when I was experiencing issues with my PSU, sometimes when the system shutdown or rebooted my system clock would be reset.