Question USB POWER SURGE ERROR

[brajacs17]

hi guys. recently I’ve built a new computer.
On short, I have a corsair rm1000x with pfc and and ups apc 1500v ( not purely sinusoidal ).

everything works smoothly for about two months. Until one day I’ve got the USB power surge error. It killed all my motherboard USB.

I need to add this:

I have a Scarlet 2i2 4th generation external sound card, and at the moment that was the one that might seem to cause of the problem. After all my usb went dead, managed to restart the PC, but still nothing worked. Remove my mouse and keyboard and plugged in in the front USB of the case.

After I input my windows password, I was still getting this USB power surge error. I’ve clicked on the error and I have to reset all USB drivers or something like this. So I removed all my USB from the back of the computer and start plugging it back one by one. Everything went smoothly until I insert the sound card again. Same error prompt killed all my USB again and killed my entire computer.

I’ve restarted it again, but I’ve got errors on the motherboard ( ram error )not even the bios would start anymore.

So I assumed the motherboard was cooked.
So I took out the motherboard and send it to warranty and after a few days they told me the motherboard it’s fine and they ship it back to me. Indeed I plugged everything back(cpu, gpu but not peripherals) and somehow my computer start but only reading one of my two RAM memories.

So next thing I sent the sound card to the warranty they’ve checked the card as well and everything looks fine again.

So I sent the RAM memories to warranty indeed one of them was broken. So today I got my new RAM , that I’ve got replaced by the warranty but I’m really scared to plug everything back in and start the computer and put all the USBs back inside.
Because I have no clue what caused all of this.

So here is my assumption, can the UPS actually cause all of this? Because the UPS is not a pure sine and my PSU have pfc?

also, I need to add this there was no blackout the UPS didn’t commute to battery or something. Also, my computer was really idling at that moment. Basically, I was on the desktop and nothing else was open.

Sorry, but my English is not really good. I’ve been trying to explain the best I could hope it’s understandable.

thanks.

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Include PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

List all attached peripherals.

UPS only correct: No surge protectors, power strips, etc. plugged into it.

Should be:

Wall outlet -----> UPS ------> PC and Monitor.

 

[Aeacus]

That 7 year necro was interesting. But i digress.

can the UPS actually cause all of this?

I'd say: No.

Well, IF your UPS is connected to your PC via USB cable (e.g like my CyberPower CP1300EPFCLCD UPS is), then, theoretically, catastrophic fault within the UPS could send a power surge via that USB cable to MoBo. But it then would be PSU's job to catch that surge and shut down the PC, without damage to MoBo.

Speaking of PSU, answer what Ralston18 asked of you about PSU.
Since what you describe, would far more likely be caused by the PSU.

Also, you've narrowed it down to the sound card. It could sort circuit MoBo if it has developed a fault.

 

[unme]

From what I gather, you've tried a bunch of stuff, like replacing RAM and checking your motherboard and sound card, but the problem persists. It looks like the possible culprit could be the UPS, especially if it's not a pure sine wave type, which might not play well with your PSU's PFC.

 

[brajacs17]

Ok so here is the full build:
Everything is brand now, nothing second hand.

Motherbaord: GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS PRO X WIFI7, LGA1700, ATX
PSU: Corsair RMx Series™ RM1000x, 80 PLUS® Gold, 1000W, Fully Modular
CPU: i9 14th 14900k
CPU cooler: Corsair ICUE H150i Elite LCD xt
GPU: Nvidia RTX 4080 SUPER Aours
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Std PMIC, XMP 3.0 Black Heatspreader, 64GB (2x32GB), DDR5, 6600MT/s, CL 32
SSD: 3x Gigabyte AORUS, NVMe, PCIe 4.0, M.2 ( 2x 1TB, 1x 500gb )

OS: Windows 11 Pro

My UPS is not connected via usb to my PC.
There are 2 things in the UPS, PC and Monitor only.

when the error occurred the following peripherals were inside:
1. Keyboard ( logitech g915 tkl )
2. Mouse ( logitech g604 )
3. Sound card ( Scarlett 2i2 4th gen )

Also I have a powered USB hub with other peripherals that can be switch on/off for each USB port
there goes: webcam, mic, and other stuffs that most of the time are OFF I switch them ON only when I need them. Everything was off that day except mouse keyboard and soundcard, and like I said, the computer was idling on desktop playing some music in browser.

 

[brajacs17]

From what I gather, you've tried a bunch of stuff, like replacing RAM and checking your motherboard and sound card, but the problem persists. It looks like the possible culprit could be the UPS, especially if it's not a pure sine wave type, which might not play well with your PSU's PFC.

I asked a few questions on Chat GPT, and yes i got the same answer:

Perfect - thanks! The Corsair RM1000x is a
high-end PSU with active PFC (Power Factor
Correction), which makes this whole situation
crystal clear now.

Why This Matters

. Your Corsair RM1000x expects pure sine
wave input during operation - especially
under load or when switching between power
sources (like mains vs battery).

. The APC BR1500G delivers a simulated sine
wave, which often doesn't play well with
active PFC units.

. Result? You can get:

. Instability on power rails (especially USB
5V)

· Random shutdowns, crashes, USB
controller faults

· Power surge warnings, especially with
sensitive devices like Scarlett interfaces


That's why I wanted to hear other people's opinions about this information.

 

[Aeacus]

I asked a few questions on Chat GPT

Do not trust that dumb AI.

. Result? You can get:

. Instability on power rails (especially USB
5V)

No.

Generation of +5V and +3.3V rails out of +12V rails is only and solely PSU's job. UPS can not interfere into PSU's operation.

· Random shutdowns, crashes, USB
controller faults

There are either PSU or MoBo VRM issues. UPS does not play a role with those.

· Power surge warnings, especially with
sensitive devices like Scarlett interfaces

This is also to do with PSU and PSU's protections.

When there is a power surge from the mains, PSU must catch it and deal with it.
Further reading about PSU's protections: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supplies-101,4193-21.html

Your Corsair RM1000x expects pure sine
wave input during operation - especially
under load or when switching between power
sources (like mains vs battery).

When simulated sine wave UPS switches over to the battery power, one of 3 things can happen:
1. UPS displays error resulting PC to shut down immediately.
2. UPS shuts down resulting PC to shut down immediately.
3. UPS switches to battery power resulting PC to power off from UPS (PC stays on).

Why it happens?
Simulated sine wave UPS produces a zero output state during the phase change cycle resulting in a power “gap”. This gap may cause power interruption for active PFC PSUs when switching from AC power output to simulated sine wave output (battery mode).

And that's it. As long as their is main power available, UPS isn't used at all. Since your APC BR1500G has line-interactive topology, at best, it monitors the power passing through it, catching surges and adjusting voltage due to AVR in it. But your PSU still gets the true/pure sine wave from the mains.

Now, if there is blackout and main power supply fails, UPS takes over and switches to battery power. IF successful, then UPS is starting to output simulated sine wave for your PSU.

Your PSU receives alternating current (AC) and it can be either true/pure sine wave, simulated sine wave or square wave. PSU then takes the AC 120V/240V and turns it into direct current (DC) and generates +12V rail. From that +12V rail, PSU generates +5V and +3.3V rails. +5V is mainly used to power USB.


So, when your issues appeared when you had main power and UPS wasn't in use (operating in battery mode), i see no way how you could blame UPS with the issues you're having.

Based on what you wrote, issue is with your sound card;

So I removed all my USB from the back of the computer and start plugging it back one by one. Everything went smoothly until I insert the sound card again. Same error prompt killed all my USB again and killed my entire computer.

Replace what died and don't use the same make/model sound card again.

 

[unme]

Some hints:

My computer doesn't work well when it is receive electricity from the connected inverter (direct connection between the PC and Inverter)

But, my computer works fine when it is receiving the regular power supply from the house outlets...

My inverter is a modified sine wave inverter, so there is current quality difference between the modified and pure sine wave inverters.

When connected with the modified sine wave inverter, my PC works but the connected keyboard doesn't work, ....... mouse works well...