Dead PSU #2

[Polaris573]

I have an OCZ modstream 450 Watt, acutally I've had two of them. The first one died roughly 2-3 weeks after I bought it. I waited for the replacement to come from newegg everything worked great for about 3 weeks. Then this one died. What the hell? I thought OCZ was supposed to be good? I have a $35 Raidmax that's less delicate than this. It's been chugging along for 5 months without failing. So any thoughts about why my power supplies keep failing?

[bikr692002]

Maybe you have bad luck?

[Polaris573]

I think it's the 20ft extension cord I have my computer plugged into (shhh don't tell OCZ).

I'm living in an apartment that the university gave me to me at a reduced rate because they ran out of dorm rooms. The complex is going to be torn down within the next 2-3 years and there are no grounded power outlets in my room. So I have to run an extension cord from one of only two grounded outlets in the apartment.

[bikr692002]

[Migons]

About half year ago there was at least one manufacturing batch of OCZ ModStream power supplies (450W and 520W), which broke when using Serial ATA hard drives. It was a "bug" in the SATA power cable, and it caused a BOOM for the psu. Maybe you got couple psus from this kind of batches?

But it really sounds crazy, if the same bug would still excist...

[peta01]

And are you sure that your PSUs are death?
Did they they blow safety-fuses?

[Polaris573]

How would I check the fuse without tearing it apart and thus voiding the warranty? If you're talking about the main breaker for the apartment complex I don't have access to that, but since the outlet still works I imagine it didn't trip. Anyway, I'm sure it's the power supply since my venerable raidmax piece of crap still works . Thanks though

[peta01]

I would still try to measure the PSUs outputs using multimeter. Just plug the PSU alone to electricity and measure the cables that are to be plugged into mobo.
There is still some chance that they are not dead since there has been no fireshow
It should be caused forexample by your case's power switch.

[Aevum]

what you should check if you had problems with other apliances, bad TV reception, cracking and poping in your stereos, having to change lightbolbs quite often, could be that the electrical supply to your house or electrical in house install has problems, in that case you should get a normal cheap UPS to filter out the current, one day one of those psus is going to take out parts of your machine aswell

[Polaris573]

Originally Posted by Aevum

what you should check if you had problems with other apliances, bad TV reception, cracking and poping in your stereos, having to change lightbolbs quite often, could be that the electrical supply to your house or electrical in house install has problems, in that case you should get a normal cheap UPS to filter out the current, one day one of those psus is going to take out parts of your machine aswell

That's what I'm worried about. This apartment complex was built in the 50's and has almost no upgrade in wiring. The little bit that has been upgraded was done very poorly. I have an okay surge protector. Should I really invest in a UPS?

Would this one be okay?

[Aevum]

the problem with a surge protector is that it only removes peaks, it does nothing for irregular current, brownouts (when power still flows but tension is below optimal or needed values)

you can get whatever you want, as always, APC is the best you can get, but also expencive

all you need is any UPS with a battery, just one detail, some have switches that give the device connected to the UPS direct from socket power when there is power and then give it battery power when the socket goes dead,
you might want to avoid those, you need something that will feed the computer from the battery and keep charging the battery from the socket
have the battery act as a buffer, and the battery will always give a constant and clean 110V.

walmart....
somewhat i feel dirty now for having visited their page.

forget that wallmark piece of chinese junk (no offence to our chinese readers)

http://apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=21#anchor1
39.95, lifetime warranty, full protection, i rather pay 5 bucks more and have a APC,

[Frogger]

Go to the cosco and get an APC they work for ever well worth the $$$

[Polaris573]

While I'm sure they are well worth $$$. I'm a college student and don't have $$$ to spend on a UPS. In fact, $$$ would probably empty my bank account at this moment.

how about one of these though?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16842101124

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16842107109

[Frogger]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16842107109 this one has the longer bat life and will do for standard home usage looks good for the money

[Polaris573]

Is that the second one? The link doesn't work.

[Frogger]

yup that's the 2nd 1 try link on post #13

[Aevum]

the thing is, APC has a lifetime warranty, and your problem isnt power outages, its irregular current, the APC deals better with that, pay the extra buck, get the APC

[Polaris573]

I probably will end up buying the APC, lifetime warranties are nice and I've never heard of opti-ups. It makes sense that irregular current could be killing my power supply. What I don't understand is why the better power supply would die every three weeks while the cheap POS has "worked" for months. Could the OCZ be sacrificing itself to prevent damage to my computer?

[trog100]

"Could the OCZ be sacrificing itself to prevent damage to my computer"

hmm.. altruistic hardware hey.. he he..

come on dude.. rationalizations as to why good hardware aint quite as good as its made out to be can only be carried so far.. he he

trog

[Polaris573]

Originally Posted by trog100

come on dude.. rationalizations as to why good hardware aint quite as good as its made out to be can only be carried so far.. he he

trog

Yeah, more that likely the OCZ power supply is an overhyped POS and that's why it's failing. I'm hoping it's not, but the evidence certainly points that way.

[Aevum]

i almost forgut something, the grounding line,

you can get a grounding line from almost everywhere, water and heat piping, aluminim and steel window frames, with a simple copper wire hooked up, you can get ground,

you can test by touching your computer case and several pipes, when you feel the buzz, or the zap in some cases, you found ground, (carefull, could fry equipment or you).

btw, have you opened any of your burnt OCZ PSU´s, it could be that all they need is a fuse replacment.

[Frogger]

Originally Posted by Frogger

Go to the cosco and get an APC they work for ever well worth the $$$

like I said

[Polaris573]

Originally Posted by Aevum

i almost forgut something, the grounding line,

you can get a grounding line from almost everywhere, water and heat piping, aluminim and steel window frames, with a simple copper wire hooked up, you can get ground,

you can test by touching your computer case and several pipes, when you feel the buzz, or the zap in some cases, you found ground, (carefull, could fry equipment or you).

btw, have you opened any of your burnt OCZ PSU´s, it could be that all they need is a fuse replacment.

If I open the power supply I believe I void the warranty. If I modify the wiring I have to pay a $250 fine to the university for damaging the apartment.

Frogger I have less than $300 period there is no place I can go to get more and I still owe the school $1000. I just can't afford to spend $100 plus on a power supply right now. Maybe this summer when I'm not in school and am making more money but even then.....

Next power supply I try will be an APC though okay

[KennyT772]

well if u need a cheap alternative try the TT420 watter. 18a on the 12v+ and as many leads as you could possibly need. about $40 shipped from newegg too...

[Polaris573]

The OCZ has a three year warranty and I already have an RMA number. Why should I buy another power supply. I'm happy with it when it works.