Crackling noise from Corsair PSU, requesting confirmation its dead or dying.

[Mikenumbers]

Upgraded to a CX750 because my 5 year old TX650 couldn't run a R9 280x.

 

First one I sent back after a week because the fan was rattling like mad.

The second one (this one) started acting up after I did tried something I saw in one of Linus' videos. (I'm not blaming him or anything)

 

RAM, I noticed my two dims were running in single channel, changed them from slot 1 & 2 to 1 & 3 and it failed to boot, switched back to 1 & 2 and since then my PSU has been making this noise.

 

 

Was it merely coincidence? Two brand new Corsair PSU's failing on me within a week of each other or is it possible something else happened?

The PSU did not make this noise, ever, until I messed around with the RAM, noise is not audible when in BIOS, only starts once Windows is loaded.

 

I pulled the PSU out of the case as far as I could to make sure the sound was originating from there.

All screws were tightened and all cables were securely plugged in, despite the noise the computer still runs, the noise is loudest when the computer/PSU is idle and it becomes quieter when under heavy load, such as a virus scan.

 

tl;dr version

 

*Just wish to get confirmation that my second Corsair PSU has failed, or is failing... within a week of the other.

*Would also like to know, if possible, if something caused it to fail, or if it was just bad luck.

[techguru]

the CX and CS line are total garbage

you should have gone for a seasonic or xfx

 

also your TX was a better quality psu

I find it hard to believe you couldn't run a 280x with it

[manikyath]

that doesnt sound very healthy.

 

and that kind of coincidence happens, i had two routers die on me the day i got them, same exact router, same store.

[techguru]

my first guess...you have a "dirty power" socket...or line causing issues or something else

[manikyath]

the CX and CS line are total garbage

you should have gone for a seasonic or xfx

 

also your TX was a better quality psu

I find it hard to believe you couldn't run a 280x with it

i cant quote on CX and CS, but my (and my girlfriend's) RM series are dead silent. its not all of corsair that's bad

-- just as a matter of being comlete.

[techguru]

i cant quote on CX and CS, but my (and my girlfriend's) RM series are dead silent. its not all of corsair that's bad

-- just as a matter of being comlete.

the RM's are good

to bad they don't sell them anymore

[manikyath]

the RM's are good

to bad they don't sell them anymore

they dont? then i got lucky

 

one thing i hate about my RM is that theres only two SATA cables, yes they have 4 connectors, but ONLY 2 GODDANG CABLES -cringes-

[Mikenumbers]

 

the CX and CS line are total garbage

you should have gone for a seasonic or xfx

 

also your TX was a better quality psu

I find it hard to believe you couldn't run a 280x with it

 

The TX650 is extremely old, it is 5 years old, literally.

If I'm not mistaken PSUs lose some of their power as they age.

Orignally I did run the TX650 with the R9 280x, the computer boots but when running certain games the computer froze and died.

 

The power socket being damaged seems unlikely, been using for for 8 years+ with no issues,

Just be to sure though I'll quickly try a different socket and report back.

[techguru]

The TX650 is extremely old, it is 5 years old, literally.

If I'm not mistaken PSUs lose some of their power as they age.

Orignally I did run the TX650 with the R9 280x, the computer boots but when running certain games the computer froze and died.

 

The power socket being damaged seems unlikely, been using for for 8 years+ with no issues,

Just be to sure though I'll quickly try a different socket and report back.

a quick test probably isn't gonna help determine if you got a bad socket

you need something to test the socket with a power load on it and see if the power values fluctuate at all..thats basically what "dirty power" is

[techguru]

I have something like this I use at clients places sometimes

http://www.stetzerizer-us.com/microsurge-meter-for-dirty-electricity.html

 

obviously you don't need to go out and buy anything like that

but the fact that you have 2 psu's acting up on you ..I would atleast suspect that could be a problem

 

the other possibilities ..bad card...bad ram...bad motherboard gpu socket

[Mikenumbers]

a quick test probably isn't gonna help determine if you got a bad socket

you need something to test the socket with a power load on it and see if the power values fluctuate at all..thats basically what "dirty power" is

 

Any suggestions?

Though that seems rather extreme, the other user seems to think its mere coincidence and even you, yourself said you don't think highly of the CX series.

 

I'm not sure what I prefer, a second PSU to RMA or that somehow my sockets might be resonsible... if thats possible.

All I did was take out the RAM and then it started making the noises, if it was the socket than why not sooner?

The timing is pretty awful but so far seems to be coincidence, I actually kind of hope it is.

 

EDIT: I saw your post above, would just like to point out the first PSU didn't 'fail', it just had an insanity inducing rattle in the fan.

I ran MemTest and it passed twice after it started making the noise, MB seems okay as the BIOS works, Windows and everything else works beside the noise the PSU makes.

[techguru]

try just one stick of ram at a time in different sockets

and make sure those sockets don't have any dust on them or something

[Mikenumbers]

try just one stick of ram at a time in different sockets

and make sure those sockets don't have any dust on them or something

 

 I've already tried that unfotunately.

 

The computer only boots with socket 1&2 (single channel) and socket 2&4 (dual channel).

Computer refuses to post or boot with sockets 1&3 and 3&4.

It also will not boot with only one stick in, regardless of slot, I tried both sticks one at a time as well, no boot. (Also ran MemTest, 2 passes for both sticks)

And finally I have also tried different RAM from my spare computer, 2 sticks minimum to boot.

 

Same noise from the PSU for every single test and configuration etc. 

The slots are clean as well, I often clear the computer of dust and take special care with sensitive parts like the slots.

[techguru]

probably a bad fan then on the corsair unit

[AliveGhost13]

The TX are slightly better than CX, but still aren't great for the money. RM are hardly good either, when you can get G2 EVGAs for the same price or even sometimes, cheaper

[dragoon20005]

you must be really unlucky

 

i just got the CX430 but nothing bad (touch wood) has happen so far

[Mikenumbers]

Well I was in contact with Corsair, even with this bad sting of luck I do have to say their customer support is second to none, because of my issues with two of the CX750's they are offering to take it back and swap it for a CS750, which is apparently better quality than the CX which he described as an entry level PSU.  Seeing as I can't get my money back and the alternative is yet another CX750 I decided to take them up on the offer.

 

It does seem like I'm jinxed or cursed with this build, ever since I got the R9 280x.

 

 

 

* Corsair TX650 couldn't run it at load due to its age.

 

*EVGA SuperNova 750W B1 which a friend recommended, that failed after 3 days, causing BSODs, freezes, weird electronic noises, like white noise, got my money back thankfully as they had no spares.

 

*Corsair CX750 #1, worked for about a month before the fans started rattling like mad, so it didn't technically 'fail', wasn't going to risk fixing it myself when a PSU could kill you.

 

*Corsair CX750 #2, this one, seemingly just coincidence, the PSU starting making the noises as linked in my first post after I tried switching RAM around.

 

 

Thanks for all the replies, was feeling like it was my fault somehow as I couldn't believe how unlucky and unlikely the series of events were and that I was making unreasonable requests out of Corsair.   Guess I'll mark the thread as solved, not much else I can do at this point, hell, with my luck there will be another thread when the CS750 fails too, thanks again.

[JohnM0522]

I have a CX600 and I am running an ASUS r9 280x on it. Every so often my monitor will cut to brownish vertical lines and freeze like that, only way to fix it is to restart the computer. I figured that this was because of overheating on my graphics card, but temps seem pretty normal. Could this be because my psu isn't supplying enough power to my card? Thank you in advance.