3 identical systems turn off when front USB is touched.. dodgy Coolermaster RC-600 Gladiator case?

gee3000

gee3000

gee3000

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Hey guys,

Got a strange problem with 3 identical systems I built a couple months ago. Full specs as follows;

  • Coolermaster RC-600 Gladiator Case - Black
  • AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 640 3.00GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail
  • Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H AMD 880G (Socket AM3) microATX DDR3 Motherboard
  • Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9)
  • Corsair CX 430W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-430CXUK)
  • Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ)
  • Sony Optiarc AD-5260S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM
Problem is as soon as I simply touch the front USB port with a USB device, the machine turns off. The front LED fan remains lit, and the system appears to be running, but it's actually off.

To help narrow down the culprit I replaced the following parts in one of the systems with completely different parts:

  • Motherboards
  • CPU
  • RAM
  • Hard drive
and the issue remained the same, meaning it should be either the Case, PSU or Optical drive (which I doubt). Unfortunately I can't keep taking these machines apart as they're used in a business environment all hours of the working day.

Since it's to do with the front bezel USB ports I'm assuming it's caused by the case.. I've also found a thread on another 'harware forum' (can I post a link?) which states the exact same issue with other Cooler Master cases (Elite 330).

Does anyone have any ideas or heard of this issue before I take time out to dismantle everything again? Thanks in advance.
 
Look inside the front usb port, you will probably see bent pins inside which can short to ground chasis when you insert something.
If you know how to solder, the defective usb ports can easily be replace.
 
yeah it sounds like a short somewhere

u havn't done anything silly like plugged them into the firewire slot or something have u ?

if not, then its most likly dodgy usb ports
 
AtaRo said:
Look inside the front usb port, you will probably see bent pins inside which can short to ground chasis when you insert something.
If you know how to solder, the defective usb ports can easily be replace.
Click to expand...

Cycrow said:
yeah it sounds like a short somewhere

u havn't done anything silly like plugged them into the firewire slot or something have u ?

if not, then its most likly dodgy usb ports
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips but I can't imagine I'd have made these same mistakes on all 3 systems + once more when replacing parts :\ I'll check them tomorrow though and report back.
 
Wild guess. Not based on experience:


Are the computers earthed?

If they are, then can you be certain the property in which they are being used is correctly earthed?

Try touching a known earthed part of an appliance whilst inserting the device. See if the problem persists whilst doing so.


Edit: Nylon carpet maybe?
 
gee3000 said:
Hey guys,

Got a strange problem with 3 identical systems I built a couple months ago. Full specs as follows;

  • Coolermaster RC-600 Gladiator Case - Black
  • AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 640 3.00GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail
  • Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H AMD 880G (Socket AM3) microATX DDR3 Motherboard
  • Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9)
  • Corsair CX 430W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-430CXUK)
  • Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ)
  • Sony Optiarc AD-5260S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM
Problem is as soon as I simply touch the front USB port with a USB device, the machine turns off. The front LED fan remains lit, and the system appears to be running, but it's actually off.

To help narrow down the culprit I replaced the following parts in one of the systems with completely different parts:

  • Motherboards
  • CPU
  • RAM
  • Hard drive
and the issue remained the same, meaning it should be either the Case, PSU or Optical drive (which I doubt). Unfortunately I can't keep taking these machines apart as they're used in a business environment all hours of the working day.

Since it's to do with the front bezel USB ports I'm assuming it's caused by the case.. I've also found a thread on another 'harware forum' (can I post a link?) which states the exact same issue with other Cooler Master cases (Elite 330).

Does anyone have any ideas or heard of this issue before I take time out to dismantle everything again? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Welcome to my world have exactly the same problem with a HAF X, plugging in a usb stick , digi camera is fine. As soon as i plug in something connected to a power source like a scanner or printer into the front panel i get exactly the same problem you describe. PLugging it into the motherboard is fine but the front panel is a no go. I've had a multimeter on there and everything and cannot find the cause. I'm currently awaiting a new top and front panel from coolermaster so i will let you know how that goes. Altho seeing as you have gigabyte mobo i'm wondering if it has something to do with that
 
bigjimmyauk said:
Welcome to my world have exactly the same problem with a HAF X, plugging in a usb stick , digi camera is fine. As soon as i plug in something connected to a power source like a scanner or printer into the front panel i get exactly the same problem you describe. PLugging it into the motherboard is fine but the front panel is a no go. I've had a multimeter on there and everything and cannot find the cause. I'm currently awaiting a new top and front panel from coolermaster so i will let you know how that goes. Altho seeing as you have gigabyte mobo i'm wondering if it has something to do with that
Click to expand...

WOW - that is really odd... i'd like to know what the final outcome is when the solution is found...
 
This sounds very much like a higher voltage (Static) coming in to contact with a lower voltage. Hence my previous suggestion.
 
I had a similar problem with the front USB ports on an Antec Fusion case.
Ended up disconnecting the front panel and using a USB extension cable from the back of the case instead.
 
ok earthing strap and touching a nearby metal lamp didn't work.

now tempted to strip the front panel out again and investigate further. Wondering if it's a coolermaster problem or a gigabyte problem.

Altho strangely my HAF 932 was fine
 
bigjimmyauk said:
Welcome to my world have exactly the same problem with a HAF X, ... I'm currently awaiting a new top and front panel from coolermaster so i will let you know how that goes.
Click to expand...

Off-topic slightly, but I have a Coolermaster HAF case (the 912+) and occasionally the PC won't turn on when I press the power switch on the front panel. I have to pull the power cable out of my PSU, wait ten seconds, replace the cable and then I can get it to switch on.
Is it worth me speaking to Coolermaster about my front panel? :(
 
bigjimmyauk said:
ok earthing strap and touching a nearby metal lamp didn't work.

now tempted to strip the front panel out again and investigate further. Wondering if it's a coolermaster problem or a gigabyte problem.

Altho strangely my HAF 932 was fine
Click to expand...

If you are feeling brave, how about disconnecting the earth wire from the 13a plug and trying it again - with and without wrist strap. It goes without saying, this would just be a test to narrow down the possibilities. I would not advocate leaving an earth disconnected.

From your description in the OP I take it you don't necessarily have to plug them together, just need to bring the items in to contact with each other for the fault to happen.
 
Another possibility: I'm not familiar with the case but If it's metal, you could connect a 0v link from psu to the case and try it then.
 
yeah pretty much if the usb touched the metal on the front panel then it reboots.

screw bravery i'll just rig up an extension wire to the main earthing point on the house :)
 
I think it might be a Gigabyte problem, my girlfriend has exactly the same issue with exactly the same board, totally different case.
 
Zefan said:
I think it might be a Gigabyte problem, my girlfriend has exactly the same issue with exactly the same board, totally different case.
Click to expand...

Interesting reading have exactly the same with my system as in sig (Gigabyte Motherboard)

------------------------------------
 
Interesting reading this as I have just ordered a Gigabyte motherboard. I wonder if the motherboard is hypersensative to static. You could try earthing the case direct to a radiator. Another alterative is to touch the USB stick and yourself to a raidator before plugging it into the usb port to remove any residule static and check if that works.
 
Mmm semi eureka moment

tried a few thing changing 240 volt plugs on psu and printer/scanner (no joy)
earthing myself before plugging in (no joy)
earthing the case with my wrist strap (no joy)
earthing the front panel with a croc clip from my wrist strap = Win. For some reason if you directly earth the front panel to a know earth it will work flawlessly. Can someone give this a try for me to confirm. I simply pluged my wrist strap into the mains via a special plug and attached a crocodile clip directly to one of the USB slots. Everything works fine then and only works if attaching to the front panel, If i put the croc clip anywhere else on the case it does nothing.

All other combinations of earthing myself the usb lead and the case resulted in a fail.

The most simple fix i can think of is to solder a small length of wire from a metal part of the front panel to earth. I'm wondering if it's because everything attached to the front panel on my case is plastic so no possible earth points
 
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