Diagnosing faulty PSU - Corsair TX-650

mikej

mikej

mikej

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10 Jun 2009
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Hi folks,
I built an i7 PC in April this year (spec in my sig below), with all the parts bought from OC.

It's been working fine up until tonight - I went to turn it on and...nothing. No lights, no beeps - nothing.

Case power lead is OK (power is getting to PSU), there are no obvious loose PSU/mobo plugs inside and I've bypassed the main case power switch with no joy.

Does this sound like a faulty PSU ? I guess a faulty mobo might also cause similar problems. Would any other faulty components cause a complete lack of power like this ? If the CPU, video card or RAM were faulty, I'm presuming I'd still get some signs of life (mobo lights or beeps).

Are there any basic tests I can do to test for a faulty power supply ?

I bought a good quality Corsair PSU to avoid problems like this - the PSU and case for my old P4 PC cost £29 and they're still going strong after 6 years !

Incidentally - everything has been running as standard, so no overclocking.

Any help in diagnosing the problem would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Mike.
 
It's worth completely disconnecting the psu from the computer and then seeing if the psu can be jump started.

Google for 'psu jump start' and you'll find plenty of guides.
 
Here's how to jump start:

Pull out the 24 pin ATX connector from your motherboard. Get a paperclip.

Bend the paperclip out so the two ends are roughly 10mm apart, and facing the same direction.

Look for the green wire in the ATX connector. There's only one of these. Bridge this pin to any of the black ones. (Black is earth). Don't worry about being electrocuted, there is a *very* small voltage/current on this pin as its just the power switch. You'll have to hold the paperclip in there, as when you remove it, it'll turn off. If you get the PSU spinning up, your motherboard is dead. If nothing happens, your PSU is dead.

Don't worry about unplugging everything else... the board itself will use comparatively little power, while everything attached to the PSU will still be drawing. If the PSU fails to spin up first time, you can try unplugging everything, then try the PSU again. This will tell you if you have too much load on it.

Hope this helps!
 
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Many thanks for your replies guys - very useful info.

Before I got chance to try any jump-starting, I was lucky enough to be leant a friend's spare PSU tonight and noticed the (internal) LEDs on the P6T light up immediately when this new PSU was connected and switched on (before the main case switch was switched on).

The fact that these internal mobo power/reset LEDs do not light up when my old PSU is connected and switched on suggests to me that my PSU is burnt out. Does this sound like a fair assumption ?

I've just applied for an RMA to OC. Does anyone know what the normal returns policy will be for a 6 month-old Corsair PSU ? It has a 5 year warranty so I'm hoping I can return it to OC for a replacement, as I live nearby.

Thanks for your help.
 
To conclude this thread, I took the PSU back to OC on Saturday and they tested it for me there and then, which was good of them as the email reply I'd received said that they don't usually do testing on a Saturday.

It didn't take them long to agree with my diagnosis and gave me a replacement - hope the new one lasts a bit longer !
 
Well the replacement Corsair TX650W PSU has just packed up on me tonight !

The first lasted 8 months and this one lasted 16 months - do these Corsair PSUs have reliability issues or have I just been unlucky ?

Looks like I'll have to RMA this one too :(
 
stulid said:
Unlucky, Corsair have a good rep.

Maybe invest £20 in a Belkin surge protector?
Click to expand...

My PC is plugged into one !

I have noticed a very faint burning smell in the office in recent weeks - I guess that was probably a sign as I'm pretty sure the same thing happened last time, when I think about it.
 
mikej said:
Well the replacement Corsair TX650W PSU has just packed up on me tonight !

The first lasted 8 months and this one lasted 16 months - do these Corsair PSUs have reliability issues or have I just been unlucky ?

Looks like I'll have to RMA this one too :(
Click to expand...

I'm not sure - my Corsair TX650 also conked out recently after 18 months or so. Went for an XFX 750 modular jobby and am going to RMA the Corsair (back to Holland - £18 for postage :eek:) and then sell the replacement on the MM.
 
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