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New PC build - PSU has died 2x in 2 weeks

adokitkat

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Hello,

I have built a new PC for my relative 3 weeks ago. I really hope I din't do anything wrong, because I build a few computers already & and nothing similar happened to me.
After I was done building (and yes, I have tried to follow all instructions from manufacturers), I did install all of the software such as Windows OS, MS Office, drivers, etc.
I also did dome light benchmarks and system seemed to work great & was stable.

My relative got his new PC for 4 days but something has happened - the PC wouldn't even turn on.
So I went to look at it and it was dead PSU. Most of the time I pressed the power up button nothing happened, after unplugging and plugging back in it would just turn on for
a split second - fans and RGB turned on but then instantly turned off and stayed off again. I also tried the PSU directly with included pin tester and 3 days ago everything worked, now it was not turning on.
So we replaced the PSU with new one (exactly same brand and line) and everything looked ok, PC works again, I thought it was just a bad unit.

However, 9 days later, the replaced PSU is dead again.
I am wondering, if could there be something killing off PSUs in the build? Or is it just coincidence?

(I don't know if this is important, but the relative insists on having plugged all of his PC stuff - PC, 2 monitors, printer, etc. - via 1 extension cord. Also I think his house doesn't have the newest wiring - it's kind of a hut.)

Full PC build:
PSU: Seasonic Prime Ultra 750 W Titanium (1 dead & replaced, still 1 dead)
Motherboard: MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI
RAM: Patriot Viper 4 Blackout Series 64GB KIT DDR4 3600 MHz CL18
CPU: AMD RYZEN 7 3700X
GPU: GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2060 OC 6G
NVMe SSD: Samsung 970 EVO+ 1TB + some of his SATA HDD
Case
: Fractal Design Focus G Black

Thanks for response.

EDIT:
I just read it could be some protection kicking in and PSU maybe then isn't really dead. After a few minutes unplugged it maybe would start to work again. But right now I have no access to PSU and cannot test if that's the case unfortunately.

EDIT 2:
This time (at least) the PSU isn't actually dead, unplugging it for a period of time actually helped. So the over-current protection of PSU kicked in I assume. We also bought extension cord with over-current protection. I hope it helps... If not see you in a week rip.
 
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do u use a anti-static stuff?
Have you tried to replug all cables?
 

adokitkat

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do u use a anti-static stuff?

Have you tried to replug all cables?

I didn't use antistatic but I build it in safe environment... But as I said it worked well for a few days, I don't think this could be the reason.

And yes, I have tried to do that when it happened the first time - I also tried turning on PSU with included tester but it wouldn't turn on anymore.

Right now I am on a way to check the PC now, to see if it really was the PSU death again.

I was told it can be motherboard that kills the PSU, so maybe I will get a new one...
 
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Only thing I can think of is a grounding issue.

Or maybe the motherboard or GPU is triggering the protection for some reason.
 

adokitkat

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Only thing I can think of is a grounding issue.

Or maybe the motherboard or GPU is triggering the protection for some reason.
Do you think any of that could kill the PSU (2 times) ?

Maybe the PSU isn't actually dead, but the protection has kicked in? (It doesn't really smell like it's fried or anything...) How much time do I have to have it unplugged and wait for protection to turn off, if that was the case?
 
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No more than a few minutes.
 
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I did have one experience where I had the CPU heatsink accidentally shorting the 12V power In to the GPU.
What happened was turning on the PC caused some buzz in the PSU and it stopped after a bit.
While in your case it did turn on and lasted a couple days, there is still a small chance something moved slightly and got the PC shorted, I suggest you inspect the connections and looks for anything suspicious. Sometimes it can be the motherboard having a screw sitting on it, or it maybe touching the chassis due to a flex of the chassis.

Otherwise, try to move the PC to another main socket (may need to be far away sufficiently it is not the same ring circuit) and see if the same happens.
Might also be a good idea to buy a surge protector if you haven't already.
 

adokitkat

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I did have one experience where I had the CPU heatsink accidentally shorting the 12V power In to the GPU.
What happened was turning on the PC caused some buzz in the PSU and it stopped after a bit.
While in your case it did turn on and lasted a couple days, there is still a small chance something moved slightly and got the PC shorted, I suggest you inspect the connections and looks for anything suspicious. Sometimes it can be the motherboard having a screw sitting on it, or it maybe touching the chassis due to a flex of the chassis.

Otherwise, try to move the PC to another main socket (may need to be far away sufficiently it is not the same ring circuit) and see if the same happens.
Might also be a good idea to buy a surge protector if you haven't already.

Is it possible for a bad grounding to not kill the previous PC but to kill this PSU twice?
 
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Strip it down and build it outside the case, see if it starts with the bare minimum, make sure you haven't got an extra standoff in the case as that could cause a shorting issue.
 
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Is it possible for a bad grounding to not kill the previous PC but to kill this PSU twice?
I cannot tell and I was not aware of bad grounding killing a PC myself, but it is not impossible.
I am no expert, though, it seems there are some simple testing tools you could use to see if the socket works at least as expected, e.g.
Klein Tools RT210 Outlet Tester, Receptacle Tester for GFCI / Standard North American AC Electrical Outlets, Detects Common Wiring Problems - - Amazon.com

Other possibility can be some inductive appliance like those with motors (washer, AC) being present in the same circuit, my understanding is that they could create surge when things spin up/down.
Typically they be avoided to go within the same loop as sensitive electronics like PCs. But reading from your post, it looks like there was a previous PC working at that same socket, so it suggested that the problem is within the PC itself.

PS: I did also have a Seasonic X-560 broken after maybe a month of service, 9 years ago. But after an exchange the replacement actually works till now.
Just want to add that the chance the PSU being bad is nonzero. Though, I wouldn't expect a second one dying within a short period like that.
 
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Do you happen to use different PCIe cables than the ones that come with the PSU ?
 
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Static could kill a PSU if it had a high enough potential and came across an output. But that is very unlikely. PSUs are pretty rugged. I think bad luck is more likely the cause.

And if mishandling and or ESD during assembly was the problem, the problem would have surfaced at first power up. So I think you need to check and verify your wall outlets. Use a AC Outlet Tester to ensure the wall outlet is properly wired and grounded to Earth ground. I recommend one with a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupt) indicator as it can be used to test bathroom and kitchen outlets (outlets near water) too. These testers can be found for your type and voltage outlet, foreign or domestic, (like this one for the UK) at most home improvement stores, or even the electrical department at Wal-Mart. Use it to test all the outlets in the home and if a fault is shown, have it fixed by a qualified electrician.
 
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Static could kill a PSU if it had a high enough potential and came across an output. But that is very unlikely. PSUs are pretty rugged. I think bad luck is more likely the cause.

And if mishandling and or ESD during assembly was the problem, the problem would have surfaced at first power up. So I think you need to check and verify your wall outlets. Use a AC Outlet Tester to ensure the wall outlet is properly wired and grounded to Earth ground. I recommend one with a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupt) indicator as it can be used to test bathroom and kitchen outlets (outlets near water) too. These testers can be found for your type and voltage outlet, foreign or domestic, (like this one for the UK) at most home improvement stores, or even the electrical department at Wal-Mart. Use it to test all the outlets in the home and if a fault is shown, have it fixed by a qualified electrician.


My toughts exactly. If the build is clean and no shorts to be found, i also would check wall outlets.
 
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adokitkat

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Okay so update: this time the PSU isn't actually dead, unplugging it for a period of time actually helped. We also bought extension cord with over-current protection. I hope it helps...
Static could kill a PSU if it had a high enough potential and came across an output. But that is very unlikely. PSUs are pretty rugged. I think bad luck is more likely the cause.

And if mishandling and or ESD during assembly was the problem, the problem would have surfaced at first power up. So I think you need to check and verify your wall outlets. Use a AC Outlet Tester to ensure the wall outlet is properly wired and grounded to Earth ground. I recommend one with a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupt) indicator as it can be used to test bathroom and kitchen outlets (outlets near water) too. These testers can be found for your type and voltage outlet, foreign or domestic, (like this one for the UK) at most home improvement stores, or even the electrical department at Wal-Mart. Use it to test all the outlets in the home and if a fault is shown, have it fixed by a qualified electrician.

If not, I will buy the AC outlet tester, thanks for a recommendation.

Do you happen to use different PCIe cables than the ones that come with the PSU ?

We are using only the ones that came with PSU.
 
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There might be a loose screw somewhere it shouldn't be.
 
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I would have sworn I answered to here yesterday, maybe I forgot to hit enter, or there is a very similar post elsewhere.
Dirty power from the wall socket can cause a PSU to kick in with it's safety measures to prevent damage.
Use a UPS to prevent this, a surge protected extension cord is not enough.
 
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I've had an overclocked CPU kill a motherboard. But I never managed to kill a PSU. About 10 years ago, I had a new Corsair PSU die on me in a few weeks, but the replacement has been going strong for these past 10 years. The odds of you getting two defective units in a row is remote.

What part of the world are you in? Maybe Seasonic support in your country is sending out faulty replacement units. If it's not that, I'd look into your other hardware. Dirty power would have to be very dirty. modern PSUs can run between 120 and 230 or so volts, so you would might be really dropping under 120 volts or there are some bad power spikes in your area. However, if none of your other electronics get damaged or act funny, it might not be that.
 

adokitkat

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What part of the world are you in?

I live in Central/Eastern Europe.

We bought a surge protector for now. I will also buy an AC outlet tester to find out if the outlet is ok. If it won't find anything bad, then I assume it has to bad motherboard or another component, right?
 
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If it won't find anything bad, then I assume it has to bad motherboard or another component, right?
No. You cannot assume that. Like I said above, you might have just been unlucky and got two flakey PSUs. Assuming you have decent cooling, I doubt it is the motherboard. You do need to verify your outlet wiring. If okay, then just taking a wait and see approach may be your best bet.
I would have sworn I answered to here yesterday, maybe I forgot to hit enter
I hate it when I do that. Typically, if the case, it would have save a draft.
 
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