Should I replace my power supply?

[Spoonfull]

So..I have a CX 600w power supply. When I bought it, I was under the impression that it would be fine for what I was building (A $1k rig). I just recently started reading up on it, and discovered that it uses low quality Taiwanese/Chinese capacitors. Ive seen people on overclockers, Reddit, and Tomshardware whine and complain about how bad and terrible the CX series is.

 

People like Austin Evans use the CX series in alot of his builds, so when I was first getting into it I thought nothing of a CX 600w. In fact, I thought it was decent because it was from Corsair. 

 

Ive been using mine for 15 months. No issues at all, at least not that I know of. For around 6 of these months its been a mini-itx build, I then switched to a mid-tower for better airflow.

 

I have been eyeing the EVGA 600b, as I hear only good things about it.  I just want to know, is it really necessary to replace my PSU? Is the CX series a danger to my system? I DO NOT overclock in anyway, and I use a business (B85) grade mini-itx motherboard + an i5. (It is a unlocked, but I got it for a cheaper price so I decided to pick it up)

 

EDIT: Im building an all new rig in 9 months. It just needs to last me until then, after that its going into charity.

[Swndlr]

Dont replace what aint broken.

Edit - Well actually I take that back, its a power supply... I would say just get a new one when you get the chance, not like its just gonna blow up out of nowhere.

[comicsansms]

I would get a new PSU asap.

But it isn't a real problem unless you computer start to get hot!!!

[Jlryan]

All capacitors are low quality Taiwanese/Chinese... The ones in more expensive power supplies are just "slightly better" low quality Taiwanese/Chinese that provide better ESR and better smoothing of ripple.

 

Honestly if anything's going to blow in a Power Supply it's either the Voltage Regulators or some low tolerance resistor that usually tend to go ape-shit if a sudden short is induced, then you start getting into the territory of bridge rectifiers exploding or going dead short and then goes the fuse.

 

Just typical experience in the electrical past^

 

In other words, don't worry about it.

[Spoonfull]

All capacitors are low quality Taiwanese/Chinese... The ones in more expensive power supplies are just "slightly better" low quality Taiwanese/Chinese that provide better ESR and better smoothing of ripple.

 

Honestly if anything's going to blow in a Power Supply it's either the Voltage Regulators or some low tolerance resistor that usually tend to go ape-shit if a sudden short is induced, then you start getting into the territory of bridge rectifiers exploding or going dead short and then goes the fuse.

 

Just typical experience in the electrical past^

 

In other words, don't worry about it.

 

You're saying the Japanese just use Taiwanese/Chinese capacitors and call them Japanese because they use them?

 

 

I would get a new PSU asap.

But it isn't a real problem unless you computer start to get hot!!!

 

And why is that? Avg load temps is 62 degrees on both the CPU and GPU although it increases as dust builds up.

[Jlryan]

There's a story behind how the Electrolytic Capacitor came about, but I can't remember it. Basically someone designed it, didn't finish it in time and someone else stole the unfinished design.

 

All the Electrolytic Capacitors used today are based on that stolen/unfinished design, just some are of slightly better quality than others. The only way you can actually tell a slight difference between these Capacitors in day to day use is mostly Audio equipment where you can actually hear the difference between a capacitor that's punchier than the other in Bass response and such.

[bpw87]

All capacitors are low quality Taiwanese/Chinese... The ones in more expensive power supplies are just "slightly better" low quality Taiwanese/Chinese that provide better ESR and better smoothing of ripple.

 

Honestly if anything's going to blow in a Power Supply it's either the Voltage Regulators or some low tolerance resistor that usually tend to go ape-shit if a sudden short is induced, then you start getting into the territory of bridge rectifiers exploding or going dead short and then goes the fuse.

 

Just typical experience in the electrical past^

 

In other words, don't worry about it.

Bad info... Quality PSUs like Seasonic and Super Flower use Japanese caps that are high quality rated at high temps for long periods and not low quality caps like you say.

[comicsansms]

You're saying the Japanese just use Taiwanese/Chinese capacitors and call them Japanese because they use them?

 

 

And why is that? Avg load temps is 62 degrees on both the CPU and GPU although it increases as dust builds up.

check the board temperatures.

I believe the CX will blow up when the case temp is around 40 degrees celsius

[Spoonfull]

check the board temperatures.

I believe the CX will blow up when the case temp is around 40 degrees celsius

 

I dont believe my entire case temp has ever been that hot before lol. And my PSU is still in one piece..not blown up..Everything is working fine, tempest are lowest they have ever been at idle since i dusted a couple weeks ago.

[bpw87]

I dont believe my entire case temp has ever been that hot before lol. And my PSU is still in one piece..not blown up..Everything is working fine, tempest are lowest they have ever been at idle since i dusted a couple weeks ago.

Man you are lucky. Were I live in summer ambient temps go over 40c almost weekly and have had days as hot as 48c. I get scared to turn my PC on haha.

[Jlryan]

Bad info... Quality PSUs like Seasonic and Super Flower use Japanese caps that are high quality rated at high temps for long periods and not low quality caps like you say.

There is very little difference between them... Reputation of the Chinese capacitors dropped like an A-Bomb back in '03 - '05 (possibly before) because of MSI and Abit I believe had a fiasco of leaking capacitors from a bad supplier, but honestly that was it, a bad supplier/batch. 

[Spoonfull]

Man you are lucky. Were I live in summer ambient temps go over 40c almost weekly and have had days as hot as 48c. I get scared to turn my PC on haha.

 

Well you do live in Australia....So I think that is understandable. Australia's avg ambient temperature is 30 C...which is the max that CX psus are rated at.

 

I live in the states, cool California. It rarely gets that hot here during the winter and fall. We have been going through a drought, so its getting a little hotter than usual. Winter and Fall, things get really cold and dry. Summer is a little worse, only averaging around 70 F or 21 C. 30 C max most days. 

[bpw87]

@shilka here is probably the most educated person when it comes to PSUs you will ever find, ask him if you any questions

or get him here http://www.overclock.net/u/246547/shilka

 

http://www.overclock.net/t/1431929/psu-index-thread

[bpw87]

Well you do live in Australia....So I think that is understandable. Australia's avg ambient temperature is 30 C...which is the max that CX psus are rated at.

 

I live in the states, cool California. It rarely gets that hot here during the winter and fall. We have been going through a drought, so its getting a little hotter than usual. Winter and Fall, things get really cold and dry. Summer is a little worse, only averaging around 70 F or 21 C. 30 C max most days. 

Yeah the other day we nearly hit 30c all week in the middle of winter so yeah it's pretty hot here.

[STRMfrmXMN]

So..I have a CX 600w power supply. When I bought it, I was under the impression that it would be fine for what I was building (A $1k rig). I just recently started reading up on it, and discovered that it uses low quality Taiwanese/Chinese capacitors. Ive seen people on overclockers, Reddit, and Tomshardware whine and complain about how bad and terrible the CX series is.

 

People like Austin Evans use the CX series in alot of his builds, so when I was first getting into it I thought nothing of a CX 600w. In fact, I thought it was decent because it was from Corsair. 

 

Ive been using mine for 15 months. No issues at all, at least not that I know of. For around 6 of these months its been a mini-itx build, I then switched to a mid-tower for better airflow.

 

I have been eyeing the EVGA 600b, as I hear only good things about it.  I just want to know, is it really necessary to replace my PSU? Is the CX series a danger to my system? I DO NOT overclock in anyway, and I use a business (B85) grade mini-itx motherboard + an i5. (It is a unlocked, but I got it for a cheaper price so I decided to pick it up)

 

EDIT: Im building an all new rig in 9 months. It just needs to last me until then, after that its going into charity.

I would replace it myself. A 600B isn't much of an upgrade so I would save up more if you're crunched for cash. 

[Aniallation]

600B isn't really any noticeable amount better then CX600.