• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Dead PSU #2

Polaris573

Senior Moderator
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,268 (0.61/day)
Location
Little Rock, USA
Processor LGA 775 Intel Q9550 2.8 Ghz
Motherboard MSI P7N Diamond - 780i Chipset
Cooling Arctic Freezer
Memory 6GB G.Skill DDRII 800 4-4-3-5
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7850 2 GB PCI-E
Storage 1 TB Seagate 32MB Cache, 250 GB Seagate 16MB Cache
Display(s) Acer X203w
Case Coolermaster Centurion 5
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
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?
 
Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
1,765 (0.26/day)
Location
Calverton, New York
System Name Current rig
Processor i9-9900k
Motherboard Z390 Aorus Xtreme
Cooling Corsair h150i Pro
Memory 32GB Ripjaws V 3200
Video Card(s) Asus 2090 ti Strix
Storage Samsung 970 Pro 1tb
Display(s) Alienware aw3418dw
Case Thermaltake View 91
Power Supply seasonic 1kw
Maybe you have bad luck? :laugh:
 

Polaris573

Senior Moderator
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,268 (0.61/day)
Location
Little Rock, USA
Processor LGA 775 Intel Q9550 2.8 Ghz
Motherboard MSI P7N Diamond - 780i Chipset
Cooling Arctic Freezer
Memory 6GB G.Skill DDRII 800 4-4-3-5
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7850 2 GB PCI-E
Storage 1 TB Seagate 32MB Cache, 250 GB Seagate 16MB Cache
Display(s) Acer X203w
Case Coolermaster Centurion 5
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
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. :wtf:
 
Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
1,765 (0.26/day)
Location
Calverton, New York
System Name Current rig
Processor i9-9900k
Motherboard Z390 Aorus Xtreme
Cooling Corsair h150i Pro
Memory 32GB Ripjaws V 3200
Video Card(s) Asus 2090 ti Strix
Storage Samsung 970 Pro 1tb
Display(s) Alienware aw3418dw
Case Thermaltake View 91
Power Supply seasonic 1kw

Migons

New Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2005
Messages
243 (0.04/day)
Location
Finland
Processor Athlon 64 3500+ ClawHammer
Motherboard Asus A8V Deluxe Rev. 2.00
Cooling Zalman CNPS7700-Cu
Memory 2x 512MB A-Data Vitesta DDR500
Video Card(s) Club 3D GeForce 6200 128MB
Storage Seagate 7200.7 160GB + 80GB SATA 8MB
Display(s) Dell M770 17" CRT (!!!)
Case Antec Performance PlusView1000AMG
Audio Device(s) Sound Blaster Live! 5.1
Power Supply Nexus NX-4090 400W
Software FreeBSD 6.2 w/ custom kernel
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

New Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2005
Messages
387 (0.06/day)
Location
Prague
Processor AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice (OC 2500 MHz)
Motherboard Abit AN8 Ultra - passive northbridge cooling via heatpipe
Cooling Cooler Master Hyper 48 (almost 1 kg of copper :) )
Memory 1GB RAM (2x512 DDR, CL2, running at 137 MHz)
Video Card(s) Sapphire X800GTO2 (510/585, 16p) AC ATI Silencer
Storage 320 GB Seagate, 200 GB Western Digital, 120 GB Seagate
Display(s) LG 22" LCD Panel
Case Chieftec blue bigtower with additional cooling
Audio Device(s) AC97 raiser card on mainboard
Power Supply Chieftec 360W
Software WinXP SP2, sometimes Vista Ultimate x64
And are you sure that your PSUs are death?
Did they they blow safety-fuses?
 

Polaris573

Senior Moderator
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,268 (0.61/day)
Location
Little Rock, USA
Processor LGA 775 Intel Q9550 2.8 Ghz
Motherboard MSI P7N Diamond - 780i Chipset
Cooling Arctic Freezer
Memory 6GB G.Skill DDRII 800 4-4-3-5
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7850 2 GB PCI-E
Storage 1 TB Seagate 32MB Cache, 250 GB Seagate 16MB Cache
Display(s) Acer X203w
Case Coolermaster Centurion 5
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
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

New Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2005
Messages
387 (0.06/day)
Location
Prague
Processor AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice (OC 2500 MHz)
Motherboard Abit AN8 Ultra - passive northbridge cooling via heatpipe
Cooling Cooler Master Hyper 48 (almost 1 kg of copper :) )
Memory 1GB RAM (2x512 DDR, CL2, running at 137 MHz)
Video Card(s) Sapphire X800GTO2 (510/585, 16p) AC ATI Silencer
Storage 320 GB Seagate, 200 GB Western Digital, 120 GB Seagate
Display(s) LG 22" LCD Panel
Case Chieftec blue bigtower with additional cooling
Audio Device(s) AC97 raiser card on mainboard
Power Supply Chieftec 360W
Software WinXP SP2, sometimes Vista Ultimate x64
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.
 
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
650 (0.10/day)
Location
Madrid, Spain
System Name Sample light
Processor AMD Phenom II 965
Motherboard MSI DKA790GX
Cooling Zalman 9500LED
Memory 2x 2GB G-skill PC8500
Video Card(s) Asus built AMD/ATI HD4850
Storage 500GB Wesern Digital green
Display(s) too ashamed to tell, but its an acer
Case Lian Li V2000
Audio Device(s) Echo Audiofire 2
Power Supply Corsair VX550
Software Windows XP pro SP3
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

Senior Moderator
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,268 (0.61/day)
Location
Little Rock, USA
Processor LGA 775 Intel Q9550 2.8 Ghz
Motherboard MSI P7N Diamond - 780i Chipset
Cooling Arctic Freezer
Memory 6GB G.Skill DDRII 800 4-4-3-5
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7850 2 GB PCI-E
Storage 1 TB Seagate 32MB Cache, 250 GB Seagate 16MB Cache
Display(s) Acer X203w
Case Coolermaster Centurion 5
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Aevum said:
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?
 
Last edited:
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
650 (0.10/day)
Location
Madrid, Spain
System Name Sample light
Processor AMD Phenom II 965
Motherboard MSI DKA790GX
Cooling Zalman 9500LED
Memory 2x 2GB G-skill PC8500
Video Card(s) Asus built AMD/ATI HD4850
Storage 500GB Wesern Digital green
Display(s) too ashamed to tell, but its an acer
Case Lian Li V2000
Audio Device(s) Echo Audiofire 2
Power Supply Corsair VX550
Software Windows XP pro SP3
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,
 
Last edited:
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
2,318 (0.35/day)
System Name MONEY PIT
Processor i7-3770K @ 4800 1.20v batch #3231B415 Delided
Motherboard ASrock Z77 OC Formula w onboard waterblocks
Cooling Apogee HD, MCP655,rad MCR320-XP,Micro Rev2 res
Memory G,skill Trident X F3-2400C10D-16GTX
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 980 Ti Classified with EK nickel/acetal waterblock installed
Storage 2x120gig Wildfire raid0 2x120gig VERTEX3 raid0
Display(s) 3/ Samsung2343bwx + 65in LG 4K
Case NZXT Phantom White w/red
Audio Device(s) ReCon3d fatal1ty pro, Logitech z906 THX
Power Supply corsair AX860i
Mouse Rat7
Software 64bit ++++ win 10
Go to the cosco and get an APC they work for ever well worth the $$$
 

Polaris573

Senior Moderator
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,268 (0.61/day)
Location
Little Rock, USA
Processor LGA 775 Intel Q9550 2.8 Ghz
Motherboard MSI P7N Diamond - 780i Chipset
Cooling Arctic Freezer
Memory 6GB G.Skill DDRII 800 4-4-3-5
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7850 2 GB PCI-E
Storage 1 TB Seagate 32MB Cache, 250 GB Seagate 16MB Cache
Display(s) Acer X203w
Case Coolermaster Centurion 5
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Last edited:
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
2,318 (0.35/day)
System Name MONEY PIT
Processor i7-3770K @ 4800 1.20v batch #3231B415 Delided
Motherboard ASrock Z77 OC Formula w onboard waterblocks
Cooling Apogee HD, MCP655,rad MCR320-XP,Micro Rev2 res
Memory G,skill Trident X F3-2400C10D-16GTX
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 980 Ti Classified with EK nickel/acetal waterblock installed
Storage 2x120gig Wildfire raid0 2x120gig VERTEX3 raid0
Display(s) 3/ Samsung2343bwx + 65in LG 4K
Case NZXT Phantom White w/red
Audio Device(s) ReCon3d fatal1ty pro, Logitech z906 THX
Power Supply corsair AX860i
Mouse Rat7
Software 64bit ++++ win 10

Polaris573

Senior Moderator
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,268 (0.61/day)
Location
Little Rock, USA
Processor LGA 775 Intel Q9550 2.8 Ghz
Motherboard MSI P7N Diamond - 780i Chipset
Cooling Arctic Freezer
Memory 6GB G.Skill DDRII 800 4-4-3-5
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7850 2 GB PCI-E
Storage 1 TB Seagate 32MB Cache, 250 GB Seagate 16MB Cache
Display(s) Acer X203w
Case Coolermaster Centurion 5
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Is that the second one? The link doesn't work.
 
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
2,318 (0.35/day)
System Name MONEY PIT
Processor i7-3770K @ 4800 1.20v batch #3231B415 Delided
Motherboard ASrock Z77 OC Formula w onboard waterblocks
Cooling Apogee HD, MCP655,rad MCR320-XP,Micro Rev2 res
Memory G,skill Trident X F3-2400C10D-16GTX
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 980 Ti Classified with EK nickel/acetal waterblock installed
Storage 2x120gig Wildfire raid0 2x120gig VERTEX3 raid0
Display(s) 3/ Samsung2343bwx + 65in LG 4K
Case NZXT Phantom White w/red
Audio Device(s) ReCon3d fatal1ty pro, Logitech z906 THX
Power Supply corsair AX860i
Mouse Rat7
Software 64bit ++++ win 10
yup that's the 2nd 1 try link on post #13
 
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
650 (0.10/day)
Location
Madrid, Spain
System Name Sample light
Processor AMD Phenom II 965
Motherboard MSI DKA790GX
Cooling Zalman 9500LED
Memory 2x 2GB G-skill PC8500
Video Card(s) Asus built AMD/ATI HD4850
Storage 500GB Wesern Digital green
Display(s) too ashamed to tell, but its an acer
Case Lian Li V2000
Audio Device(s) Echo Audiofire 2
Power Supply Corsair VX550
Software Windows XP pro SP3
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

Senior Moderator
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,268 (0.61/day)
Location
Little Rock, USA
Processor LGA 775 Intel Q9550 2.8 Ghz
Motherboard MSI P7N Diamond - 780i Chipset
Cooling Arctic Freezer
Memory 6GB G.Skill DDRII 800 4-4-3-5
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7850 2 GB PCI-E
Storage 1 TB Seagate 32MB Cache, 250 GB Seagate 16MB Cache
Display(s) Acer X203w
Case Coolermaster Centurion 5
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
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?
 
Joined
Dec 18, 2005
Messages
8,253 (1.24/day)
System Name money pit..
Processor Intel 9900K 4.8 at 1.152 core voltage minus 0.120 offset
Motherboard Asus rog Strix Z370-F Gaming
Cooling Dark Rock TF air cooler.. Stock vga air coolers with case side fans to help cooling..
Memory 32 gb corsair vengeance 3200
Video Card(s) Palit Gaming Pro OC 2080TI
Storage 150 nvme boot drive partition.. 1T Sandisk sata.. 1T Transend sata.. 1T 970 evo nvme m 2..
Display(s) 27" Asus PG279Q ROG Swift 165Hrz Nvidia G-Sync, IPS.. 2560x1440..
Case Gigabyte mid-tower.. cheap and nothing special..
Audio Device(s) onboard sounds with stereo amp..
Power Supply EVGA 850 watt..
Mouse Logitech G700s
Keyboard Logitech K270
Software Win 10 pro..
Benchmark Scores Firestike 29500.. timepsy 14000..
"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

Senior Moderator
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,268 (0.61/day)
Location
Little Rock, USA
Processor LGA 775 Intel Q9550 2.8 Ghz
Motherboard MSI P7N Diamond - 780i Chipset
Cooling Arctic Freezer
Memory 6GB G.Skill DDRII 800 4-4-3-5
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7850 2 GB PCI-E
Storage 1 TB Seagate 32MB Cache, 250 GB Seagate 16MB Cache
Display(s) Acer X203w
Case Coolermaster Centurion 5
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
trog100 said:
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.
 
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
650 (0.10/day)
Location
Madrid, Spain
System Name Sample light
Processor AMD Phenom II 965
Motherboard MSI DKA790GX
Cooling Zalman 9500LED
Memory 2x 2GB G-skill PC8500
Video Card(s) Asus built AMD/ATI HD4850
Storage 500GB Wesern Digital green
Display(s) too ashamed to tell, but its an acer
Case Lian Li V2000
Audio Device(s) Echo Audiofire 2
Power Supply Corsair VX550
Software Windows XP pro SP3
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.
 
Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
2,318 (0.35/day)
System Name MONEY PIT
Processor i7-3770K @ 4800 1.20v batch #3231B415 Delided
Motherboard ASrock Z77 OC Formula w onboard waterblocks
Cooling Apogee HD, MCP655,rad MCR320-XP,Micro Rev2 res
Memory G,skill Trident X F3-2400C10D-16GTX
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 980 Ti Classified with EK nickel/acetal waterblock installed
Storage 2x120gig Wildfire raid0 2x120gig VERTEX3 raid0
Display(s) 3/ Samsung2343bwx + 65in LG 4K
Case NZXT Phantom White w/red
Audio Device(s) ReCon3d fatal1ty pro, Logitech z906 THX
Power Supply corsair AX860i
Mouse Rat7
Software 64bit ++++ win 10
Frogger said:
Go to the cosco and get an APC they work for ever well worth the $$$

;) ;) :) like I said
 

Polaris573

Senior Moderator
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,268 (0.61/day)
Location
Little Rock, USA
Processor LGA 775 Intel Q9550 2.8 Ghz
Motherboard MSI P7N Diamond - 780i Chipset
Cooling Arctic Freezer
Memory 6GB G.Skill DDRII 800 4-4-3-5
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7850 2 GB PCI-E
Storage 1 TB Seagate 32MB Cache, 250 GB Seagate 16MB Cache
Display(s) Acer X203w
Case Coolermaster Centurion 5
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Aevum said:
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 :)
 
Last edited:

KennyT772

New Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2005
Messages
3,572 (0.54/day)
System Name Raptor
Processor Intel E8400 Wolfdale @3600
Motherboard Asus P5Q-Pro LGA775
Cooling Zalman CNPS9700
Memory 1024mbx2 Crucial Ballistix DDR800
Video Card(s) XFX 9600GT
Storage Seagate 7200.11 500GB
Display(s) Acer AL2216Wbd and Acer AL1717
Case Gigabyte 3DAurora Black
Audio Device(s) Creative X-Fi Extreme Gamer Faitality
Power Supply OCZ GameXStream 500w
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...:D
 

Polaris573

Senior Moderator
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
4,268 (0.61/day)
Location
Little Rock, USA
Processor LGA 775 Intel Q9550 2.8 Ghz
Motherboard MSI P7N Diamond - 780i Chipset
Cooling Arctic Freezer
Memory 6GB G.Skill DDRII 800 4-4-3-5
Video Card(s) Sapphire HD 7850 2 GB PCI-E
Storage 1 TB Seagate 32MB Cache, 250 GB Seagate 16MB Cache
Display(s) Acer X203w
Case Coolermaster Centurion 5
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Power Supply OCZ StealthXStream 600 Watt
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x64
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.
 
Top