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PSU Faulty or something else?

Tags:
  • Gaming
  • Power Supplies
  • Overheat
  • Shutdown
  • Homebuilt
  • Corsair
  • Components
  • Random Shutdown
  • Motherboards
Last response: in Components
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:05:16 AM

So,

Over the past 2-3 days, my system just turns off while playing watch dogs. It is completely random and has happened 2 times now. Although I have only noticed it with watch dogs, I am 98% sure that it is not a Watch dogs fault and it is a hardware issue.

(The specs are in the bottom right corner.)

Here is what I noticed:

    -While playing, when under load, my system just turns off without warning
    - However long I wait, I cannot turn my system back on by pressing power switch. Therefore, it is not a overheating issue.
    -If I flick the PSU switch off and then on again, my system powers on just fine and I am back to normal.

    THEREFORE, I think it may be a PSU fault? Why should flicking the switch make it turn on ? Could it be motherboard as well - since flicking switch drains all the power out?



I have made no hardware or software changes and the system has been working perfect so far.
Thanks in advance for all your help - I wasn't able to figure this one out myself. :( !


P.S System is 1.5 yrs old now so all parts still under manufacturer warranty.

More about : psu faulty

a b ) Power supply
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:12:29 AM

Run a stress test on both your CPU and GPU, monitor the thermals while doing so. Overheating is a common cause of shutdowns while doing intensive things with your machine. Prime95 for the CPU, MSI Kombustor or similar for the GPU. Use Core temp, Real Temp or open hardware monitor to view the thermals.
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a c 296 4 Gaming
a c 719 ) Power supply
a c 104 B Homebuilt system
a c 1174 V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:15:11 AM

Looks like a failing PSU. Temp problems would mean thermal throttle not shut down.
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:20:26 AM

What PSU are you using? You might want to ditch a crappy PSU even if its not the cause of your problems.
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:23:42 AM

zink1701 said:
Run a stress test on both your CPU and GPU, monitor the thermals while doing so. Overheating is a common cause of shutdowns while doing intensive things with your machine. Prime95 for the CPU, MSI Kombustor or similar for the GPU. Use Core temp, Real Temp or open hardware monitor to view the thermals.



Thanks will do that. however, I doubt its an overheating issue because like I said, I can turn the system straight back on and when I check temps, they are all acceptable.
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:23:57 AM

huilun02 said:
What PSU are you using? You might want to ditch a crappy PSU even if its not the cause of your problems.


It is the Corsair CX600.
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:24:50 AM

rolli59 said:
Looks like a failing PSU. Temp problems would mean thermal throttle not shut down.



hmm thought so. However, when I check voltages, they are all seeming to be in the acceptable range. Still can be a psu fault?

I will be contacting Corsair anyway, to see what they say.
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a c 296 4 Gaming
a c 719 ) Power supply
a c 104 B Homebuilt system
a c 1174 V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:26:38 AM

tambeshakunt said:
rolli59 said:
Looks like a failing PSU. Temp problems would mean thermal throttle not shut down.



hmm thought so. However, when I check voltages, they are all seeming to be in the acceptable range. Still can be a psu fault?

I will be contacting Corsair anyway, to see what they say.


Although a budget unit it has an internal protection for multiple things and that you have to flip the switch points to one of them tripping and needing reset.
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a b 4 Gaming
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a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:32:21 AM

Right, Thanks for that. Are you sure its not some motherboard power delivery issue? Where it only turns on when the power is drained and then powered again? Just wondering! :/ 
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a b 4 Gaming
a c 95 ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a c 145 V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:47:08 AM

tambeshakunt said:
huilun02 said:
What PSU are you using? You might want to ditch a crappy PSU even if its not the cause of your problems.


It is the Corsair CX600.


The cheap capacitors are probably giving out. Had 4 CX's that did the same thing.
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:48:50 AM

bignastyid said:
tambeshakunt said:
huilun02 said:
What PSU are you using? You might want to ditch a crappy PSU even if its not the cause of your problems.


It is the Corsair CX600.


The cheap capacitors are probably giving out. Had 4 CX's that did the same thing.


I see. By 'same thing' are you referring to the need to flick the switch on and off?
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a c 296 4 Gaming
a c 719 ) Power supply
a c 104 B Homebuilt system
a c 1174 V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:52:24 AM

Most likely the PSU since the board is quality.
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a b 4 Gaming
a c 95 ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a c 145 V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:57:38 AM

tambeshakunt said:
bignastyid said:
tambeshakunt said:
huilun02 said:
What PSU are you using? You might want to ditch a crappy PSU even if its not the cause of your problems.


It is the Corsair CX600.


The cheap capacitors are probably giving out. Had 4 CX's that did the same thing.


I see. By 'same thing' are you referring to the need to flick the switch on and off?


I was referring more to the shutdown problem.
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 5:59:23 AM

Quote:
Most likely the PSU since the board is quality.


Quote:
I was referring more to the shutdown problem.

Ok thanks.
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 6:13:59 AM

One more thing....

I have also been playing Battlefield 4 and nothing has happened while playing that ; only every happened with watch dogs. Is this just a matter of chance do you guys think or is it because watch dogs puts more load on the PSU??

thanks for all the help so far.
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a c 296 4 Gaming
a c 719 ) Power supply
a c 104 B Homebuilt system
a c 1174 V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 6:21:42 AM

tambeshakunt said:
One more thing....

I have also been playing Battlefield 4 and nothing has happened while playing that ; only every happened with watch dogs. Is this just a matter of chance do you guys think or is it because watch dogs puts more load on the PSU??

thanks for all the help so far.


That would be the only explanation.
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a c 515 4 Gaming
a c 2466 ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a c 1511 V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 6:36:04 AM

The CX500 , CX 600 and GS600 are Corsairs most returned supplies.

Probably a PSU issue.

I put a CX500 in my mother's Optiplex 960 and it failed 5 months later.

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a b 4 Gaming
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a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 11, 2014 7:02:19 AM

Thanks very much SR71. Looks like everyone is agreeing with my original thought - faulty PSU. I have already raised a support ticket with corsair for this, should reply within a day or two.

BTW, are there are software programs that any of you guys recommend that can simulate the load of the PSU, just so I can make 100% it is a PSU problem and not watch dogs or anything to with software.

Thanks once again!
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a b 4 Gaming
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a b B Homebuilt system
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October 11, 2014 7:37:11 AM

Yes I already tried furmark but only for a short while. Will give it a go for atleast 20-30 mins or so.


Also, what PSU do you think I should get to replace this? I am looking for 750W since I might overclock and/or crossfire another 7970. Should I go for the XFX Pro 750W? I want the cheapest, but most reliable option. 80+ bronze or silver are ok too, gold is not a must.
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 12, 2014 7:06:20 AM



Yeah I saw that but when I click the link to 'more computers' website, it has a different model with a rather ugly green fan. Would like to avoid that ! :p 
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 12, 2014 8:22:55 AM

Ok just ran furmark again....... :( 

Basically, as soon as the GPU1 load reaches 100%, the system powers off.
Does this sort of confirm it is PSU or can it be a GPU issue?


I am looking for good deals on the XFX psu anyway
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 12, 2014 8:54:25 AM

SR-71 Blackbird said:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/EVGA-Supernova-850W-Power-Suppl...
EVGA B2 850W Power Supply Unit for PC

Made by Super Flower.


Thanks for that. What would you say about the shutdown at 100% load?
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a c 515 4 Gaming
a c 2466 ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a c 1511 V Motherboard
October 12, 2014 8:56:17 AM

I think it's a PSU issue.

That's where I would start.


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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 12, 2014 8:57:44 AM

Ok. I will order your recommended one today. We will see if it helps after I replace it!
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a c 296 4 Gaming
a c 719 ) Power supply
a c 104 B Homebuilt system
a c 1174 V Motherboard
October 12, 2014 9:02:39 AM

Yep that confirms PSU issue.
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 12, 2014 9:13:44 AM

Thanks. Ok I have ordered the B2 850W. Hope it will do the job! Thanks for the help .. I will pick best answer after I install the new unit :) 
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a c 515 4 Gaming
a c 2466 ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a c 1511 V Motherboard
October 12, 2014 9:14:48 AM

I hope this resolves your issues, thanks for posting on the forum.
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a c 296 4 Gaming
a c 719 ) Power supply
a c 104 B Homebuilt system
a c 1174 V Motherboard
October 12, 2014 9:18:30 AM

You are welcome!
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 12, 2014 9:19:53 AM

SR-71 Blackbird said:
I hope this resolves your issues, .



Me too :) 
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 14, 2014 12:53:08 PM

Ok guys, a major twist in the story and bad news :(  :( 

Basically, got the new PSU today, installed it booted up and everything was normal.
Then I decided to try out furmark again...........
At 100% load nothing happened for about 3-5 seconds and then bam. A white artifact and the system powers off. Now I can't even turn the system on. Tried everything inc clear CMOS, reset of PSU etc.... The motherboard has the power LED on but thats all. NO POWER ON

My immediate thought was GPU. So I took the GPU out and tried powering system on without it. Guess what....works fine. Still I wasn't convinced so I installed this 7970 into another system and installed another 6450 into mine to test. It confirmed the 7970 was faulty - no power on.

Strange thing is .... if I install the GPU without the PCIe power plugged in then the system boots , shows missing video card (theres no display) and the fans on the GPU spin. ~ This further clarifies that the GPU is at fault.
My 7970 is only about 10 months old now and now I am going to have to RMA this. :( 

So you guys agree its a GPU thing ?

Guess I didn't need a new PSU after all.
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a b 4 Gaming
a c 95 ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a c 145 V Motherboard
October 14, 2014 12:56:30 PM

Well that sucks. Rma the video card.
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a b 4 Gaming
a b ) Power supply
a b B Homebuilt system
a b V Motherboard
October 14, 2014 1:00:56 PM

Yep gonna go through the whole process tomorrow. :( 
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a c 296 4 Gaming
a c 719 ) Power supply
a c 104 B Homebuilt system
a c 1174 V Motherboard
October 14, 2014 3:50:20 PM

That is a very rare failure since apparently your card shorted out and may have been tripping the short circuit in the CX, then again if the CX was going bad it may have damaged the card. Normally the short if present is at all load scenarios.
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a b 4 Gaming
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October 15, 2014 10:36:52 AM

Interesting. So do you feel this isn't even a GPU issue ( I have already sent my GPU off :(  )??

Not too sure if its 'shorted out'....my gut feeling is that is it something to do with the VRMs.

Also, do you think I should blame Corsair for this :D 

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a c 296 4 Gaming
a c 719 ) Power supply
a c 104 B Homebuilt system
a c 1174 V Motherboard
October 15, 2014 11:46:15 AM

tambeshakunt said:
Interesting. So do you feel this isn't even a GPU issue ( I have already sent my GPU off :(  )??

Not too sure if its 'shorted out'....my gut feeling is that is it something to do with the VRMs.

Also, do you think I should blame Corsair for this :D 



It is GPU issue now for sure and is a short of some kind whether it is the VRM's on the card or not. I am not sure if it is the CX fault or not but one thing for sure is that its internal protection was tripping whether it was short or overvoltage protection.
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a b 4 Gaming
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a b V Motherboard
October 16, 2014 9:38:35 AM

Ok well I have already sent back my 7970.

Since the 7970 is now phased out for the 280x which is the direct replacement (rebranded 7970), I think the retailer will offer me a 280x or a refund of the money £220 that I originally paid for the 7970.

If I take the refund what card do you guys think I should get?
- A good R9 280X?
- A GTX 780 - Should I switch to green team and will this bottleneck fx 6300 (I have mixed feelings on this)
- something else?

Obviously I want the new card to be equivalent or better than the 7970 and considering the games I play, I think there is a fair balance between AMD and nvidia optimisation so I would say it doesn't really matter. Just thought will give nvidia a go :) 

Thanks for the help!
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