CS650M PSU surge issue

[Ashewolf]

Hi, so I've been running into a problem with my psu in my new computer. I put the whole thing together about 2 months ago and I haven't had any problems with it until recently where my ASUSZ97 Pro-Gamer motherboard would detect a surge in my CS650M PSU and shut it down.

 

The question is do you think this is a faulty PSU or is my motherboard being oversensitive? OR could it possibly be the PSU is running a bit too hot and it's causing this issue. Any thoughts?

[PlayStation 2]

Judging by the fact that it's a CS power supply (not sure about the quality of Great Wall PSUs) then the PSU might be faulty.

[OAcesync]

It's probably a PSU problem so I would definitely replace it(CS isn't known for being a good quality PSU so it is likely and replace it with good like a EVGA,XFX or Seasonic PSU)

[STRMfrmXMN]

Hi, so I've been running into a problem with my psu in my new computer. I put the whole thing together about 2 months ago and I haven't had any problems with it until recently where my ASUSZ97 Pro-Gamer motherboard would detect a surge in my CS650M PSU and shut it down.

 

The question is do you think this is a faulty PSU or is my motherboard being oversensitive? OR could it possibly be the PSU is running a bit too hot and it's causing this issue. Any thoughts?

Try a new power cable before jumping to conclusions and then I would blame it on the motherboard. Asus boards are a bit sensitive about power surges in my experience.

[westom]

The question is do you think this is a faulty PSU or is my motherboard being oversensitive?

What do you think is a surge?  Some call low voltage a surge.  Some call a high current a surge. Some call a blackout a surge.  What is your surge?

 

The surge reported by an Asus could be a faulty reading by its voltmeter.  Or a defect in its power system.  But it is completely unrelated to what exists on AC mains or a power cable.

 

To get a useful answer means a meter, some requested instructions, and minutes of labor.  Resulting numbers make possible a reply that identified or exonerates parts.  Otherwise simply do shotgunning as others have suggested.  Keep replacing good parts until symptoms disappear.

[Ashewolf]

I seem to have fixed or at least temporarily fixed the problem. The PSU only seems to 'surge' whenever the computer is running a particular Steam game, "Starmade". For each time the computer was shut down I was running that game however over the past few hours or so I haven't been running it and the computer is running fine as it did for the 2 months prior, from the time the computer was built to when I started running the game. I don't know how the two are linked but it seems to me like they are.  

 

 

What do you think is a surge?  Some call low voltage a surge.  Some call a high current a surge. Some call a blackout a surge.  What is your surge?

 

The surge reported by an Asus could be a faulty reading by its voltmeter.  Or a defect in its power system.  But it is completely unrelated to what exists on AC mains or a power cable.

 

To get a useful answer means a meter, some requested instructions, and minutes of labor.  Resulting numbers make possible a reply that identified or exonerates parts.  Otherwise simply do shotgunning as others have suggested.  Keep replacing good parts until symptoms disappear.

 

To answer your question I always thought a surge was a sudden burst of high current. But then again I'm no expert on power, I know very little about electricity and PSUs in general. 

[westom]

To answer your question I always thought a surge was a sudden burst of high current. But then again I'm no expert on power, I know very little about electricity and PSUs in general. 

It is not about knowing electrticity.  It is about answers provided without perspective.  The word 'surge' did not come with a number.  That alone says any conclusion is probably only speculation.  One type of surge is a microsecods burst of high current (not voltage).  If something foolishly tries to block or stop that current, then voltage rises to destructive levels.

 

But you did not have that anomaly.  You apparently had and still have an intermittent.  A defect may have existed when the machine was constructed.  And is slowly becoming worse.  How to find and eliminate that defect (even when the computer was new) was described previously.  But this we know.  That defect remains.  Nothing identified what it is or fixed it.

[ictdude1]

the CX and the CS series are not very good power supplies, i would change the psu that will most likely be causing any problems you have, they are only cheap budget power supplies anyway 

[don_svetlio]

the CX and the CS series are not very good power supplies, i would change the psu that will most likely be causing any problems you have, they are only cheap budget power supplies anyway 

the CX are bad, aye but the CS are decent 80+ gold PSUs.

[don_svetlio]

It's probably a PSU problem so I would definitely replace it(CS isn't known for being a good quality PSU so it is likely and replace it with good like a EVGA,XFX or Seasonic PSU)

CS is decent, unless you want to bring up the chinese caps argument.

Though yeah, seems like you got a faulty model. Try RMAIng it or just replace. SeaSonic, EVGA, Antec or Super Flower - all excellent choices.

[ictdude1]

the CX are bad, aye but the CS are decent 80+ gold PSUs.

they are low end 80+ gold psus, i would still only trust them for basic builds

[don_svetlio]

they are low end 80+ gold psus, i would still only trust them for basic builds

According to JohnyGURU they're fine. I also think they're fine.

[watts300]

According to JohnyGURU they're fine. I also think they're fine.

@ictdude1

 

Agreed. I have one in my kid's computer. CX600. It's doing just fine with six drives and mid-to-high-end components. It's been in there since March 2013.

[don_svetlio]

@ictdude1

 

Agreed. I have one in my kid's computer. CX600. It's doing just fine with six drives and mid-to-high-end components. It's been in there since March 2013.

Oh, I was not talking about the CX - the CX are a fire hazard - they shouldn't be used really.

CS and CX are different. Ask these 2 guys over there - both had explosions associated with the CX

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/445460-stable-and-safe-psu-for-gtx-970/page-3

 

[watts300]

Oh, I was not talking about the CX - the CX are a fire hazard - they shouldn't be used really.

CS and CX are different. Ask these 2 guys over there - both had explosions associated with the CX

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/445460-stable-and-safe-psu-for-gtx-970/page-3

 

Bad reviews congregate.  It's a law of nature and the internet. 

If there was a wide-spread safety issue with CX models, Corsair would have taken action. They're a reputable company. 

 

For what it's worth, we have a CS model, too.  

[don_svetlio]

Bad reviews congregate.  It's a law of nature and the internet. 

If there was a wide-spread safety issue with CX models, Corsair would have taken action. They're a reputable company. 

 

For what it's worth, we have a CS model, too.

CS are fine - but the CX are really an issue - the reason they exist is because they are intended for office PCs - i3 with iGPU - not a gaming PC - even Corsair themselves say not to use them with high end components.

I've seen enough builds crash and burn to know to stay the hell away from the CX.

[watts300]

CS are fine - but the CX are really an issue - the reason they exist is because they are intended for office PCs - i3 with iGPU - not a gaming PC - even Corsair themselves say not to use them with high end components.

I've seen enough builds crash and burn to know to stay the hell away from the CX.

I think the only time I'd replace it is if I can find a modular CS model on a good sale price.  I got the CS450M for $25, so I know it's possible.  The mess from the extra cables in the H440 is... annoying.. when I need to open it. 

 

For my own knowledge, can you show me where Corsair said what you said about the CX line's intended use?

[don_svetlio]

I think the only time I'd replace it is if I can find a modular CS model on a good sale price.  I got the CS450M for $25, so I know it's possible.  The mess from the extra cables in the H440 is... annoying.. when I need to open it. 

 

For my own knowledge, can you show me where Corsair said what you said about the CX line's intended use?

http://www.corsair.com/en/power-supply-units

Scroll down - basic desktop use - light gaming. I still think they are not meant for any form of gaming.

[watts300]

http://www.corsair.com/en/power-supply-units

Scroll down - basic desktop use - light gaming. I still think they are not meant for any form of gaming.

Thanks. Noted. 

 

To be honest, the 10 year warranty on the EVGA attracts me more than anything. (Ya, I'm one of those people.)  Pretty soon the CX I have will be out of warranty.  That would be a good opportunity/time to downgrade it to "backup parts."

[don_svetlio]

Thanks. Noted. 

 

To be honest, the 10 year warranty on the EVGA attracts me more than anything. (Ya, I'm one of those people.)  Pretty soon the CX I have will be out of warranty.  That would be a good opportunity/time to downgrade it to "backup parts."

Just grab a SeaSonic PSU - the chances of one of those breaking are lower than that of you getting killed by a pink buffalo.

[watts300]

Just grab a SeaSonic PSU - the chances of one of those breaking are lower than that of you getting killed by a pink buffalo.

I feel bad that I think we (I) hijacked this thread.  One last question, what model SeaSonic do you like that I should look out for when my CX warranty is done?

[don_svetlio]

I feel bad that I think we (I) hijacked this thread.  One last question, what model SeaSonic do you like that I should look out for when my CX warranty is done?

Well - depending on the price - I'd start out by looking at the M12II Evo - modular, good quality (the evo - original had an issue or two with DOA units) and SeaSonic's fantastic 5-year-warranty service

If that's too much - the S12II is also a good choice.

If you feel like spending a bit more - G-series is modular and 80+  gold

If you have a bottomless wallet - Snow Silent for that "Enthusiast" experience

[watts300]

Well - depending on the price - I'd start out by looking at the M12II Evo - modular, good quality (the evo - original had an issue or two with DOA units) and SeaSonic's fantastic 5-year-warranty service

If that's too much - the S12II is also a good choice.

If you feel like spending a bit more - G-series is modular and 80+  gold

If you have a bottomless wallet - Snow Silent for that "Enthusiast" experience

Screenshot. 

Thanks. I'll watch out for EVGA and SeaSonic in the near future then. 

Mmmm warranties. 

[don_svetlio]

Screenshot. 

Thanks. I'll watch out for EVGA and SeaSonic in the near future then. 

Mmmm warranties. 

Basically - My paranoia made me look at SeaSonic's RMA policy and here is what it said "For any noise, aside from electrical buzz, that can be heard beyond 1 meter of the PSU, a replacement will be issued". They have better service than EVGA, if that's even possible.

[ictdude1]

@ictdude1

 

Agreed. I have one in my kid's computer. CX600. It's doing just fine with six drives and mid-to-high-end components. It's been in there since March 2013.

the cx series is terrible