Recently my PSU started failing so I finally got around to replacing it. I had a Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 600W and just bought an A-Power AK 750W.
Before I had replaced it I was able to play Skyrim on High with almost no lag at all, but after replacing my PSU It's almost unplayable because of the lag.
I tried reinstalling Skyrim and my video drivers but neither did anything. I'm assuming it has something to do with my new PSU.
I also wanted to see if any other games were being affected so I started a TF2 which I've never had any problems with and a few minutes after playing in game this starts to happen:
[IMG]http://i40.tinypic.com/20rv6zc.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/2cxu4ac.jpg[/IMG]
Could anyone please shed some light on my situation?
Here's my specs:
[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/2psn035.jpg[/IMG]
A 750W PSU for $35 should raise a giant red flag, I have no idea why you replaced a quality PSU with bottom of the barrel trash.
Take that PSU back to where you got it and get a refund. In which case you can't do that, take it out of your computer, chop off all of the power wires and use it as a door stop.
And what exactly failed on your cooler master? If it was the fan or capacitors, those can easily be fixed.
Haha I like how straightforward that was. And I messed up pretty bad with my purchase.
I bought it from this ghetto warehouse for $86 only to later find that I could buy it online for $35.
When I brought it back there's a sign that says no refunds and that I could get store credit, but all they have there are more PSU's of the same brand.
And the fan on my Cooler Master started making the loudest sounds and finally stopped working at all, but I had a lot of problems running games after it stopped working.
Would only fixing the fan stop the problems or is it more than just a fan problem?
When FETs undergo extreme overheating, their amperage output can fall by 75% or more, and can start creating dirty power. I don't know how long you left it running without a fan, but the extreme heat from the FETs could have damaged other parts inside the PSU also.
At best, you could replace the fan in the Cooler Master and just have reduced the life left in it, at worst, the CM PSU could be bricked. The fan inside the CM PSU is just a standard case fan, you can take it out and replace it with another one, they're cheap enough. Just make sure you get one that has sufficient airflow and doesn't have a thermistor on it to control the speed (so it always runs to keep the PSU cool.)
This is assuming the Cooler Master PSU doesn't have a warranty left on it. If it does, RMAing it would be the best option.
The fan hasn't worked for about a year now, I've just had my case open with a large fan aimed at it.
I don't think I've had any overheating problems with that PSU, but my GPU did overheat a few times which I was able to fix using my oven.
I need to upgrade my GPU anyway but I don't have the money right now.
I'll try returning the A-power PSU and seeing what other options I have in a couple of days.
And thank you very much for the help!
I have no idea if it still has a warranty on it though.
FETs generate heat proportional to the amount of power is drawn from them. With a heavily loaded system like yours, they could easily overheat without proper cooling. Most FETs have a thermal shutdown protection, but the temperature at which a FET will burn is over 100C, while other components are usually far less.
Having your case open with a large fan pointed at it would not cool the PSU since it's enclosed and requires air to move across the heatsink fins inside the PSU. And having your case open in general reduces cooling efficiency, even with a large fan.
Oh, I see. So it's pretty safe to assume that my old PSU most likely has more damage then just the fan.
At least with this overpriced brick everything can stay cool.
I did notice though that every time I start windows I get a NVIDIA Power Warning that says:
"Your NVIDIA graphics card is not receiving sufficient power. As a result, the graphics card has lowered its performance to a level that allows continued safe operation.
To remedy the problem, ensure that your NVIDIA graphics card has the supplemental power connector attached."
Although I have attached the 6-pin PCI-E from the power supply to my GPU.
I did find that only one of the two 6-pin slots on my GPU work though. If I connect it to the other one my computer makes a loud constant beep when my computer starts.
Is this also do to the quality of the new PSU or could it be a side effect from overheating of my GPU?
That's the reason I said the PSU was trash. They label it as a 750W unit, but it clearly cannot deliver its labelled wattage. If you opened it up, you'll probably find that the components in it can barely deliver half or less of the rated wattage, something which scam PSU manufacturers do all the time.
Unlike reputable manufacturers that make PSUs that can operate indefinitely under their rated load, shitty ones will make a part that can at best do 50% (but usually 25% or less) of the rated load and say that the wattage reading on the label can be achieved "for brief periods of time", "brief" being about 3 seconds before it explodes or burns.
Also look at the power wires going to the ATX power connector and PCIe power connector, I bet they're using 20 gauge wires, instead of the 18 gauge they're supposed to be using.
I don't recommend you continue using that PSU, it's dangerous. When shitty PSUs die, they often short in such a way that wall voltage is allowed to reach the components inside the computer and destroy them as well.
That makes sense. Thanks for the help, it's been very helpful.
And as I said I'm going to return it tomorrow, I think I remember seeing a 600w PC Power and Cooling PSU, would that be a better choice?
Better than A-Power but still not good.
Keep an eye out for these:
Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic, Thermaltake, OCZ (In order of preference pretty much.)
[QUOTE=HIROU;33360008]That makes sense. Thanks for the help, it's been very helpful.
And as I said I'm going to return it tomorrow, I think I remember seeing a 600w PC Power and Cooling PSU, would that be a better choice?[/QUOTE]
PC power and cooling went down the shitter when they switched their OEM form Seasonic to Sirfa. Check recent reviews on sites like Newegg and see if anyone says which OEM made the PSU.
[editline]20th November 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=SataniX;33360055]Better than A-Power but still not good.
Keep an eye out for these:
Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic, Thermaltake, OCZ (In order of preference pretty much.)[/QUOTE]
I like how you say the one he picked out isn't good and he should get a Seasonic but depending on the model his one he picked out may very well be made by Seasonic. Maybe you should check that kind of info before making a recommendation.
[editline]20th November 2011[/editline]
Even more hilarious is you also recommend OCZ, the company that owns PC power and cooling now.
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