Power Supply Overheating: Corsair RM850 Watt Gold Rating

[Konker]

Hello TomsHardware Forum,

I just upgraded my pc. I put in a GTX 770 Graphics card and a Corsiar RM850 Watt Power supply. I went and installed everything, than when I turned my PC on, I noticed my PC was getting hot while it was on idle. I then found out that my Corsair RM850 Watt Power supply was extremely hot to the touch. I called corsair and they said it was a faulty power supply. So I called up where I bought my PSU, tigerdirect, and they sent me a new one. I installed that one today, and again, it was getting hot to the touch. And my computer is on idle, no gameplay or anything. Is this a known issue with these Corsair RM power supplies?

Also if it is, what do people recommend as a different power supply that doesn't overheat? I am considering the SeaSonic X Series X-850

 

[ronintexas]

Your PSU is a good one - does it have good air flow through the PSU (unobstructed pathway for air flow)? You should be able to feel the air moving through the PSU.

 

[Konker]

I have great airflow in my computer. That is not the problem at all. The fan won't even kick on. I understand that it is supposed to kick on at a certain load, but no matter what I do, it never kicks on. Even when the PSU is burning hot, the fan won't kick on. I could literally crack an egg on it and cook it.
I read that when the computer initially turns on, that the PSU fan is supposed to spin and than turn off. It doesn't even do that.

 

[ronintexas]

Something is wrong with the PSU. I am a bit surprised that you had one bad one and an RMA produced a second bad one.....TigerDirect isn't a bad company - maybe that have a bad batch or something? I usually buy from NewEgg - they have your PSU on sale for $149 - plus a $20 rebate right now.....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139056

 

[Konker]

Are you sure it is a bad one? Can it be anything else on my computer causing this? I am a tech for a university and I can not figure out any reason why it would be doing this.
I read that this Corsair RM model was recalled about six months ago because of a faulty internal part. I really want this one because I got it for 95 bucks after a big discount and a rebate.

 

[ak195]

Hello!
1- First check that you have installed the supply correctly (that its fans side where hot air comes out should not be blocked or this side should not be inside casing).
2- Corsair supply are good, check that fan is running correctly and non-stop.
3- Fan should not stop even for 5 seconds beacuse when current passes from anything, that thing becomes hot and to cool it down and remian its temp fan should keep moving.
4- Check that correct voltages are coming (but I think this will not be a problem but make sure of it).
5- Check this supply on another system if it runs fine than its your system problem.
6- If everything is fine than the power supplies of this batch number have some problems.

 

[Konker]

1. It is installed correctly. It is not blocked by anything.
2. I have been gaming for over an hour now and the fan has not turned on once. I have been monitoring it.
3. Again, fan isn't turning on.
4. Voltages are good. I am monitoring it with HW Monitor
5. I don't have another system to check it on. (how would the system even effect it like this?)
6. I will contact tigerdirect in the morning and let them know.

 

[ak195]

So main Problem is with supply because fan isn't turning on. Contact TigerDirect and tell them everything.

 

[Konker]

What other power supply would you recommend other than this one? I am starting to think that these rm series are just made with cheap parts.

 

[ak195]

Go for SeaSonic or Antec PowerSupplies.

 

[GhislainG]

What other power supply would you recommend other than this one? I am starting to think that these rm series are just made with cheap parts.

According to this review, the fan starts when the load is 500W or more: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Corsair/RM850/6.html A GTX 770 and other components in your system most likely don't draw 500W or more. On the conclusion page of that review, you can read "The fan enters the party rather late (allowing for high internal temperatures)"

 

[Konker]

What other power supply would you recommend other than this one? I am starting to think that these rm series are just made with cheap parts.

According to this review, the fan starts when the load is 500W or more: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Corsair/RM850/6.html A GTX 770 and other components in your system most likely don't draw 500W or more. On the conclusion page of that review, you can read "The fan enters the party rather late (allowing for high internal temperatures)"

So what would be your suggestion, GhislainG, on a good PSU for my machine that doesn't get extremely hot like this? Would a lower wattage PSU help? I don't think I will be dueling GPU's anytime soon.
Also I spent about 6 hour playing games last night on ultra graphics as I was monitoring the PSU fan. It did not turn on once. It got really hot, but the fan wouldn't spin. Is this PSU based only on load and not internal temperature?

 

[GhislainG]

It's designed to run hot and quiet (0 RPM up to 40% load which your system never reaches). If I were you I'd keep it as it's under warranty for 5 years, very efficient and quiet. My Seasonic Gold behaves similarly, i.e., the fan doesn't spin unless the load is high enough. You could also read http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=369 before deciding if you'll get another PSU. You could also add a few high power GPUs and the fan will start spinning when running stress tests.

 

[Konker]

What about the HX850 Corsair? What are your opinions on that model?

 

[GhislainG]

It's a very good PSU and the fan should run while gaming because it starts at 20% load. If you want the fan to always run, then you should buy a much less powerful unit.

 

[ak195]

What ever the load is, the fan should move even very slowly. After one hour of ultra gaming the fan should move a little to stop reducing the life of PSU. High temperature is main thing that reduces lifetime of any electronic components.
Even after 6 hours of ultra gaming PSU fan even move a little. I will suggest to put load on PSU more and check its temperature, Load and RPM.

 

[GhislainG]

What ever the load is, the fan should move even very slowly. After one hour of ultra gaming the fan should move a little to stop reducing the life of PSU. High temperature is main thing that reduces lifetime of any electronic components.
Even after 6 hours of ultra gaming PSU fan even move a little. I will suggest to put load on PSU more and check its temperature, Load and RPM.

The RM850 PSU (it's optimized for silence) is fanless until the load is at least 40% (approximately 350W), but the OP's system probably doesn't draw more than 300W at peak.The solution is to buy a PSU that keeps the fan spinning no matter what the load is or a PSU that's fanless when the load is much lower, e.g. a Corsair HX850 that stats the fan at 20% load. Personnally I'd keep the optimized for silence RM850 because I doubt it gets that hot (measured with appropriate equipment, not with fingers).