HX620 sudden shutdown, can only be reset after a few minutes, what can be wrong?

[jefflowe]

Hi guys,

I am having an issue with my computer and would like your help to determine what to do next.

 

I build a Hackintosh according to Lifehacker. The power supply I used is a Corsair HX620W. It's been working fine for about half a year. Recently, without any HW or SW changes, it suddenly started to lose power, like somebody just pulled the plug. Trying to reboot right away yields no response, as if there is just no power. If I flip the switch on the power supply off/on and try to reboot, still no response. If I wait 10min and try to reboot, no response. The only way to reboot is to wait 10min, AND flip the switch off/on on the power supply, then press the power switch for the computer. Before, the sudden loss of power occurs about 30min after powering on, now it has reduced to about 10min. I ran a computer that monitors the CPU/HDD temps and everything appeared normal.

 

Given the recovery procedure requiring a 10min wait, and a flip off/on of the HX620W power switch, I am guessing that the power supply shut off suddenly due to some kind of over heat issue. Is my diagnosis correct?

 

I need help to determine what to do next. Can the symptoms be so clear that the only explanation is a faulty power supply and to RMA it? Is there any other troubleshooting I can and should do? I am concerned that if there is a motherboard or component issue, I might damage my next power supply. The power supply might just be protecting itself by shutting down.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

Jeff

Hacintosh

Gigabyte H55N-USB3

i3-530, stock cooler

Kingston DDR3-1333 2x4GB

Memorex BD-ROM

Seagate 500GB

EVGA GT240

[RAM GUY]

That could be a problem with the MB, can you test this system with another PSU or test our PSU on another system to help isolate the problem?

[jefflowe]

Okay, I will try a different power supply. I was hoping the symptoms would point to something obvious. I have an mini-ITX case that fits a full ATX power supply like the HX602W. As you can imagine, it is not the easiest to swap power supplies in and out.

 

Thanks,

 

Jeff

[jefflowe]

I swapped the power supply with another one I had laying around. Due to the size of my case and the fact that the power supply is non-modular, I just sit the new power supply on top of the case. After a few hours, no problem what so ever.

 

So I reconnect HX620W back, again, just sitting it on top of the case. No problem what so ever! Obviously, something is overheating, and by having the case open and the power supply on top, it helps to reduce the temperature. The computer has been running for half a year without issue, so something must have changed and is on the verge of failure.

 

So I put the HX620W back into the case and close everything up. Half an hour later, the computer shut down, sudden loss of power. Exactly the same symptom as before.

 

I am back where I started. There is a problem with the computer, and I don't know if it is the MB or the power supply.

 

Does anybody know what happens when a power supply over heats? Does it match with my symptom? Sudden loss of power, and requiring a cool down time plus a toggle off/on of the power supply switch?

 

What about an over heated motherboard? Same symptom?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and help,

 

Jeff

[Garvin]

In my opinion with the specs you've listed, I can't see anyway you'd be driving that Corsair supply anywhere near hard enough to cause an overheating problem in it. I'd suspect either the motherboard or the vid card. The next time it shutdowns like that remove the power cord from the supply and open the side of the case. Holding onto the metal side of the PC case with one hand, lightly touch the side of the power supply, the heatsinks on the motherboard's VRM's (there near the CPU), the CPU heatsink, the tops of the RAM sticks, and any metal you can get at on the video cards heatsink. Try not to touch any of the board's circuit traces or capacitors. You're just checking to see if anything feels excessively warm or hot.

[jefflowe]

Hi Garvin,

Thanks for your suggestion. Yes, with my setup, I am only pulling < 140W so the power supply is more than adequate. My L.-L. case is small, so once the power supply is installed, I can't even see the motherboard with the case panel open. I will try running with the power supply out and panel open, although that won't cause it the suddenly shut down. I will try to get my hands on a infrared thermometer and see if I can find a hot spot.

 

Thanks,

 

Jeff

[Garvin]

Sure sounds like somethings causing an emergency thermal shutdown. The infrared's the better way to go if you have access to one.

[Zoltrix]

Hi Jeff,

 

I'm having the identical problem with the same PSU, and all of my hardware is different to yours. I have had the PSU for over four years. Now suddenly it is powering off intermittently.

 

Did you ever get to the bottom of your issue?

 

Cheers,

Zolt