Can I use Corsair's CX600M with the Rampage III Extreme and its dual EPS connectors

[samuelkwest]

Ok, get the wayback machine set for (gasp) 3+ years ago...

Executive summary:

Primary question: Should RIIIE mobo + Corsair CX600M PS + dual EPS plugs... work??

Why do I care? I'm getting, out of nowhere, BSODs, and I want to eliminate
most of the hardware from the troubleshooting picture, so I bought a budget
PS for that purpose.


My System:

MOBO = Rampage III Extreme
CPU = Core i7-960
GFX = GTX-690
PS = Corsair CMPSU-1200AX
System Disk = 256GB Crucial SSD
Other Disks = couple of 1TB WDs in RAID1
300GB Velociraptor
OD = BD reader/DVD writer
Soundcard = Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
Cooling = watercooled

This is, primarily, a gaming machine.
Recent changes - Acronis upgrade from 2012 -> 2015 (last Friday)
- QNAP NAS added to the network (1-2 weeks ago)


Full backups taken on Friday. I used the system over the weekend, but booted the system on Monday to BSODs.

Can't boot to Safe mode (same BSOD). Tried booting to last known good configuration, and that failed (interestingly, it only gave me a single save point choice...) Rescue disk behavior looks pretty much like the f8 System Repair results... But at least the rescue disk boots! So that's good, I guess.

Suspecting hardware, I ordered a GeForce 210 GFX card and CX600M PS (total outlay about $95), with the thought in mind that I have enough PCs around here (I work from home, and run 2 other systems just for my job), that it would probably be good to have some spare parts on hand...

I pulled the sound blaster: BSOD
I pulled all the disks but the SSD: BSOD
I pulled the GTX-690 and installed the GeForce 210: BSOD.

And, finally, we get to my question:

I went to replace the PS, and discovered that the CX600M does not
have a way to connect to both of the MOBO's EPS connectors.

Looking through the archives here at Tom's, I found:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/281302-30-rampage-extreme-power-supply-question

and I'm hoping I can get tecmo34 to expand on the answer he provided in that thread. I thought that I remembered seeing, somewhere, another mention that both EPS connectors didn't have to be connected, but I looked in the RIIIE's manual, and it says:

"Do not forget to connect the 8-pin EATX12V power plugs; otherwise, the system will not boot."

Plug's', plural.

Plus, with only one of them connected, I get that very brief attempt to start, the fans make a rotation or two, and then... quiet. Won't boot.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

- s.west

p.s. I'm going down the hardware path, because my search on the BSOD signature found so many people guessing (including Microsoft) and trying so many different things, that it is just a mess. And, there are enough of them that claim it to be their hardware, that I'd rather start by getting a warm feeling about my hardware...

Just for completeness, the BSOD is:

0x0000007e (0xffffffffc0000005, 0x0000000000000000, 0xfffff880047080d8, 0xfffff88004707930

When I try to boot into safe mode, the Windows file loading stops at CLASSPNP.SYS, sort of hangs for a moment, and then BSODs.

 

[samuelkwest]

Ok, never mind... I made an assumption that the same connectors were in use between the AX1200 and the CX600M, when, in fact, they are different, even though the 6-pin connectors from the AX1200 will plug in to the 6-pin sockets on the CX600M, the pinouts are different, and things weren't getting power that needed it...

And, the system has the same problem with the new power supply... bummer.

So now it's on to tackling this as software problem... ugghhh....

- s.west

 

[jonnyguru]

Yeah... AX1200 has a completely unique pin out compared to all of the other Corsair PSUs.

But I'm glad you figured that out without frying anything.

 

[samuelkwest]

Yeah. After I discovered my error, and used the cabling that came with the CX600M, I held my breath and closed my eyes when I powered it up...

No fallout that I can see, fortunately. Of course, the system still won't boot, but not because of being cooked...

Thanks.

- s.west