New Corsair RM850X PSU Buzzing/Rattling under GPU load...

[martinwood333]

Hi folks! I'm new here, so I guess this post has to double as an introduction and a request for some advice! I'm Martin, from Airdrie, Scotland. (I'll have a look for the introduction forum!).

At the start of October, I purchased a new PSU, Corsair RM850X (along with Motherboard, CPU and RAM) from OCUK (of course). All is brilliant, however, I have only now recently noticed that under GPU load, there is buzzing coming from the PSU, though it's quiet as ever at idle. I've eliminated all fans (including the PSU's) and other hardware being the culprit, and is definitely sourced from the PSU (exiting 3D games/apps immediately stop the noise). To describe the noise, it is not high pitched like GPU coil-whine, it is more of a light 'rattle' type sound.

I've done all the tests Corsair has suggested with no success. I have also contacted them and they offer to RMA it, though the delivery is at my expense (PSU's are heavy... eek!).

I want to be clear though that the problem isn't that the noise is annoying (because it isn't, I can live with it), I'm just curious if, whatever it is, could damage my system, as I realise certain combinations of components can cause coil noises etc., and for all I know when I eventually replace my Graphics card it could go away anyway.

Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks peeps!

PC Specs (incase it matters!):
PSU: Corsair RM850X
Mobo: Gigabyte Z170X-Ultra G1 Gaming
CPU: Intel i5-6600 (Skylake)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LED 16GB 3200MHz
GFX: Gigabyte nVidia GTX970 G1-Gaming (I realise these 970's are known for coil-whine. I lucked out with this one as there isn't any!)

 

[martinwood333]

Hi! Thanks for your feedback, I'm very grateful! That's awesome. Yeah I'm prepared to live with it providing it doesn't get ridiculously loud. To be able to hear it over your headphones, that must have been really loud! To know it's not likely to cause harm is very reassuring.

I've used many Corsair products over the years and have nothing bad to say about them, this was really my first concern surrounding them. The reason I got this new one was to replace my HX850 that had been running for 7 years, all without issue! (I see end-of-warranty being a good time to replace a PSU).

Thanks again

 

[martinwood333]

The noise is steadily getting worse, so for complete peace-of-mind I've opted to RMA it afterall. I did however upgrade the RMA ticket to Express, so they're sending me a new unit out now which will be with me in a few days, and when I receive it, I then send my current one back to them (in the Netherlands) to minimise my downtime. (They just take a credit card and put a hold-charge on it, which is removed when they receive my defective PSU).

I'll obviously need to pay postage, but to me it's a small price to pay to eliminate my worrying every time I turn my PC on!

Thanks again for the help chaps!

 

[martinwood333]

I thought Corsair had a UK service centre now?

Well, that's partly true it seems. After speaking to Corsair to upgrade my Standard Ticket to Express (which is a USA call center, free on Skype so no big deal really), I questioned this, because I was worried about shipping costs.

It turns out Standard RMA's (where they send out a new unit ONLY when they receive your defective one) are dealt with in England. Express RMA's are dealt with in the Netherlands.

They get about don't they!?

PS. Aberlour is a nice Scotch!

 

[martinwood333]

That sucks. You couldn't get a postage paid label out of them?

Aberlour distillery is just down the road from me. Lovely smell when the wind is in the right direction.

Nah, sadly. They were pretty adamant, and made it very clear shipping isn't covered under Warranty. I'm not too bothered. I own numerous Corsair products (as does my wife) and have never had issues in the past, so I'll let them off this time haha!

I'm pretty jealous! No distillery's near me unfortunately, just a couple of bottling plants. No wonderful scents like that in Airdrie, so I'll just have to do with that whiff I get when I open the whisky cabinet