Power supply keeps dying

[dizmo]

Hey all.

 

So I have a slight problem with the PC I lent a friend. The power supplies keep dying. He went through one after several months, and the latest one lasted only two months.

The system isn't over clocked and is mainly used for Netflix, office docs, and Photoshop work.

It's left on almost 24/7.

 

It's a 2700k, GTX 480, Xonar STX sound card, a pair of SSDs and that's it.

The most current power supply was a CX600, the last one was some 850w Corsair but I can't remember which.

 

Any ideas what's causing it to burn out so quickly? The computer just ends up shutting off and won't turn back on.

It's not like it's under a great deal of stress, and I don't think that having it on for long periods should cause death.

 

Is there a master reset switch or anything on the supply itself? That's my noob question for the post.

 

 

[Fred Castellum]

Could the power in his house not be stable? Does he have a UPS? 

[dizmo]

Could the power in his house not be stable? Does he have a UPS? 

That's a definite possibility. We're getting a better place in a couple weeks, so maybe it's best to wait to warranty the PSU.

No UPS, and honestly not really worth the money to get one.

[Fred Castellum]

Your using a surge protector at the same time right? You can test how stable the power in the house is if you have one of those meters you plug into the wall socket. Forgot the name. I use to have once but I've either lost it or left it at the other house. 

 

If it fluctuates when nothing in the house is drawing alot of power you may have a problem you have to address. 

[airdeano]

That's a definite possibility. We're getting a better place in a couple weeks, so maybe it's best to wait to warranty the PSU.

No UPS, and honestly not really worth the money to get one.

 

prolly a UPS would be saving this exercise in PSU replacement. i have never lost a PSU

on my UPS. smooths out the inconsistent volt flux, warns of voltage issues and has 24/7

monitoring to protect system with safe shutdowns and reports of why shutdown.

[dizmo]

Your using a surge protector at the same time right? You can test how stable the power in the house is if you have one of those meters you plug into the wall socket. Forgot the name. I use to have once but I've either lost it or left it at the other house. 

 

If it fluctuates when nothing in the house is drawing alot of power you may have a problem you have to address. 

Yup. Hah, there's no way he's putting any money into remedying the problem. It's a pretty ghetto apartment, and we're moving into a 3/4 million dollar place in a couple of weeks.

I suppose we'll just hold out and use the 2 week wait to warranty it.

 

prolly a UPS would be saving this exercise in PSU replacement. i have never lost a PSU

on my UPS. smooths out the inconsistent volt flux, warns of voltage issues and has 24/7

monitoring to protect system with safe shutdowns and reports of why shutdown.

UPS is too expensive. I'd be able to replace the PSU 8 times for the cost of one.

[airdeano]

UPS is too expensive. I'd be able to replace the PSU 8 times for the cost of one.

 

$80-120USD? 500mA-2000mA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007932%20600013480&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&cm_sp=PowerProt314-_-VisNav-_-10012000VA&Order=PRICE&PageSize=100

[Fred Castellum]

$80-120USD? 500mA-2000mA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007932%20600013480&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&cm_sp=PowerProt314-_-VisNav-_-10012000VA&Order=PRICE&PageSize=100

^ pretty much, it doesn't have to be large enough to power your system for hour or anything. Just long enough for you to save your work and turn your PC off in the case of a power outage. 

[dizmo]

$80-120USD? 500mA-2000mA

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007932%20600013480&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&cm_sp=PowerProt314-_-VisNav-_-10012000VA&Order=PRICE&PageSize=100

Unfortunately I can't order off of NewEgg and UPS's are generally quite a bit more up here.

[ictdude1]

check the power going into the psu....if not that check the pc isnt shorting out

[dizmo]

check the power going into the psu....if not that check the pc isnt shorting out

I'm pretty sure @MyInnerFred nailed it with the shitty power. The original PSU lasted 4ish months, the latest only two but the original one was also worth about three times the second so I imagine that's why it held out longer.

We'll just wait a couple weeks and replace it once we're in the new place.

 

Thanks all!

[quan289]

You did do a downgrade in terms of quality when going with the CX, but it shouldn't have died within 2 months time.

If you still have the original TX, you should RMA it along with your CX. You should have a 3 year warranty on the CX, and up to a 5-7 year warranty on the 850w depending on which series it is.

[Armede]

Power sags can screw up a PSU. I had mine on the same breaker as my AC window unit and after about 2 years it made the PSU unstable and unable to function properly.

[dizmo]

You did do a downgrade in terms of quality when going with the CX, but it shouldn't have died within 2 months time.

If you still have the original TX, you should RMA it along with your CX. You should have a 3 year warranty on the CX, and up to a 5-7 year warranty on the 850w depending on which series it is.

Yeah, I know. My friend didn't want to spend a ton of money repairing it and I wasn't going to spend anything on it as I don't need it.

As for warranty, I don't have the receipt for the original PSU, and my friend doesn't think he kept the receipt for the CX. So we're out of luck on that front.

 

Power sags can screw up a PSU. I had mine on the same breaker as my AC window unit and after about 2 years it made the PSU unstable and unable to function properly.

I wish they'd last 2 years, 2 months is kind of ridiculous.

[quan289]

As for warranty, I don't have the receipt for the original PSU, and my friend doesn't think he kept the receipt for the CX. So we're out of luck on that front.

 

You shouldn't let that stop your from submitting an RMA.

 

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=118277

"We normally do not request that unless there is a valid reason to; so dont worry about it unless our customer service asks you for one."

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=115324

"We reserve the right to ask for a receipt, but we don't generally need it unless you're randomly picked or something."

 

You could submit a ticket explaining your situation. If they allow for a RMA, they can set one up for you. You could also attempt to deal with a Corsair rep here on the forum. I know I've seen @Corsair George posting here a few times. He may be able to assist you.

[BoDyBaG2224]

Yup. Hah, there's no way he's putting any money into remedying the problem. It's a pretty ghetto apartment, and we're moving into a 3/4 million dollar place in a couple of weeks.

I suppose we'll just hold out and use the 2 week wait to warranty it.

 

UPS is too expensive. I'd be able to replace the PSU 8 times for the cost of one.

 

If you can afford to move into a $750,000 place who cares about RMA'ing it, just buy a new one.

[dizmo]

If you can afford to move into a $750,000 place who cares about RMA'ing it, just buy a new one.

I did. I'd still like to RMA it and sell the one I just bought when it comes back, and I'd still like to know why it's burning out.

[BoDyBaG2224]

I did. I'd still like to RMA it and sell the one I just bought when it comes back, and I'd still like to know why it's burning out.

 

How is the PSU mounted in the case? Is bottom mounted fan down? If so, what is the surface the case is on (carpet, tile, wood). Since it sounds like these aren't catastrophically failing (pop fizz bang), I'm guessing it is a cooling/airflow issue and some resistor is burning up (as opposed to a cap failing for instance which I would attribute to electrical instability issues).

[dizmo]

How is the PSU mounted in the case? Is bottom mounted fan down? If so, what is the surface the case is on (carpet, tile, wood). Since it sounds like these aren't catastrophically failing (pop fizz bang), I'm guessing it is a cooling/airflow issue and some resistor is burning up (as opposed to a cap failing for instance which I would attribute to electrical instability issues).

I thought about that as well, it is bottom mounded fan down on carpet but the carpet is extremely thin pile, and it's elevated on hockey pucks (I am Canadian, after all).