Corsair PSU 8-pin CPU cable melted/burned

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C

coldblooded

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Mar 11, 2011
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Hi guys, so I got an interesting one for you today.

My motherboard recently died (this is the second motherboard I have within 6 months that has died) so I figured it was something else than just bad luck. I have a really old (4 years old) PSU installed, it's a Corsair TX 850W PSU.

I sent my motherboard to RMA, so I can't use my computer. I thought that while i'm waiting I might as well check the PSU, because I figured it could be the problem. To my big surprise I found that the 8-pin connector from the PSU to the motherboard was half melted, and it looked like the plastic had burned, or at least gotten very hot.

I'm going to change the PSU of course, but now i wonder if other parts in my PC could have taken damage as well? (The other cables from the PSU looked fine). Should i worry? And if my parts have taken damage, how and when will i know? I figure it's pretty clear to know if a part is not working, but could I have damaged the "lifespan" of my parts?

I very much appreciate your answers, and thanks in advance for your time and help.
-CB
 
Solution
rstoledo
Even better than I thought.... Btw, If I were you I would try not to use any extenders, try to use the PSU 8-pin directly to the MB, that will prevent an extra point of failure to be created.

Hoping this solves out the problem and that your rig is ready to fly...
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rstoledo

rstoledo

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There is only way to check that out: Getting the new PSU, carefully checking if the old MB still works...

It is really hard to say without working with the PSU/MB handly, I believe that when it melted (on your first MB, that would be my guess), that damaged the 8-pin as well as the MB, meaning that the older MB could still be fixed, as well as the PSU, that triggers another question: How did it get so hot in the first place ? - Maybe an OC ?

About the lifespan of other parts, honestly, there aint much we can say about it, if there is no visual damage to the parts, I would say "No", but there are things that cannot be diagnosed without a closer view.

Sorry to hear that your PSU had the 8-pin melted, wish you luck on your replacement, and that none of the other parts die on you due to it...
 
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C

coldblooded

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Mar 11, 2011
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Thanks a lot man, by the way, i updated to post, so it's a bit more clear to understand. I can't wait to test the PC when my new motherboard and PSU arrives.

I honestly don't know how it's possible for a cable connector to melt like that, i think it may have been a bad cable, or connection that have short-circuited and burned. Hard to say. What i can tell you is that i have had an 8-pin extender cable connected, and the burn mostly happened between the original cable (end) and the extender cable (start) but the end of the extender cable which went into the mobo 8-pin was also a bit burned, which tells me that it's has nothing to do with OC'ing, because then it wouldn't have melted between the cable and the extender cable.


 
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rstoledo

rstoledo

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It seems to me that the extender cable was not able to handle the amperage that your MB tried to get... and therefore, while the original one was providing what needed, a defect on the extender or it could be a bad design on the extender - or as you suggested, it was could be not plugged as it needed to, caused the short-circuit that burned both of them. The point now is whether the MB really burned or not. It could be only the extender and your old PSU 8-pin that were really damaged.

Best way to settle this would be to take your MB to a the support. They could solve it in 30~45 minutes of tests... Whether checking if power still goes by it, and therefore if there is any other component damaged, or if it is only a matter of changing the power connector on the MB.
 
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C

coldblooded

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Well, i RMA'd the board, and they are sending me a new one, so my guess is that they couldn't get it to boot either. Luckily i don't have to pay for the new motherboard. I threw out the old PSU since i'm going to buy a Corsair AX 80+ Platinum. Hope it will last a bit longer!
 
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ko888

ko888

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The extension cable is the culprit. If there is any poor connection at the junction of the connector it acts as a low resistance resistor and a voltage drop will occur with a high current draw but what will happen is that the junction will heat up to the point of melting the connector housing. That's why you should never use poor quality extension cables. It's best to avoid them altogether.
 
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rstoledo

rstoledo

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Nov 27, 2013
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Even better than I thought.... Btw, If I were you I would try not to use any extenders, try to use the PSU 8-pin directly to the MB, that will prevent an extra point of failure to be created.

Hoping this solves out the problem and that your rig is ready to fly...
 
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Solution
C

coldblooded

Distinguished
Mar 11, 2011
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18,510
Thanks a lot for the help guys, i will keep that in mind with the next PSU. What annoys me is that the extension cable that i used came with the PSU and therefore should be able to work with the PSU, but i guess you can't always be sure.

I will just pick a "best solution", even though they were all good. Hope this will help other people in the future.
Cheers!
 
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rstoledo

rstoledo

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Was your PSU a modular one ? and the "extender" one of the modular cables ?
 
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