OCZ 520w PSUs blowing up

[cybercelt]

I went over to Monarch Computers this afternoon to pick up some stuff. I overheard a sales rep talking to a customer about the OCZ 520w Powerstreams. The customer was in the shop to pick one up. The sales rep told him that they were pulling the power supplys off the shelf because they had several blow up in the shop taking the mb's and other components with them.

I asked the guys about what I heard and he and the other sales rep confirmed the story.

Anyone hear anything similar?

I have one waiting to go into a new build I'm doing on Sat. I don't really feel like taking a gamble. Is there any way to check a psu without plugging it into a mb?

Could I just plug it in by its self and see what happens?

 

[Matthias99]

I'm gonna guess the power supplies failed under load, not just sitting there plugged in. Unless you have some specialized test equipment lying around (like what they use at Silent PC Review for testing PSUs), no, there's no real way to test it in real-world conditions. You can plug the PSU in and short the power switch pins with a paper clip if you just want to make sure it spins up the fans and doesn't explode...

 

[Viper96720]

I wonder if it got anything to do with the adjustable pots.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Matthias99
I'm gonna guess the power supplies failed under load, not just sitting there plugged in. Unless you have some specialized test equipment lying around (like what they use at Silent PC Review for testing PSUs), no, there's no real way to test it in real-world conditions. You can plug the PSU in and short the power switch pins with a paper clip if you just want to make sure it spins up the fans and doesn't explode...

I once did that on a PSU that would power up and then immediately power down. The powersupply went boom. Thank god I had the forsight to unplug it from everything.

 

[drifter106]

i talked with a rep on phone the other day and his remarks were the same... they pulled it form their website... not a good thing for OCZ

was planning on getting the 520... any other recommendations in place of this unit?

 

[edelbrock]

I hope this was some kind of problem that was specific to what they were doing because I have one and am using it right now on a build I did just 4 months ago. It has been a teriffic powersupply so far. More stable than any power supply I have ever owned including Enermax, Thermaltake, and Antec. If it doesn't blow up I am completely happy with it.

 

[shabby]

Does ocz actually make any of the products that they sell, or do they just rebadge them and charge more for them?

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: shabby
Does ocz actually make any of the products that they sell, or do they just rebadge them and charge more for them?

yes they do

 

[Mik3y]

what about their new modstream psus? hopefully those will be fine, right?

 

[jvarszegi]

Originally posted by: drifter106
i talked with a rep on phone the other day and his remarks were the same... they pulled it form their website... not a good thing for OCZ

was planning on getting the 520... any other recommendations in place of this unit?

I'm eyeballing this one. Thoughts? Seems like a lot of money for a power supply, but I want to wind up with an SLI rig.

Enermax EG701AX-VE-SFMA Noisetaker 600W Power Supply

 

[klah]

Read this thread: http://forums.extremeoverclock...&page=1&pp=100

Maybe someone can PM MonarchJoe and get the straight scoop.

 

[erikistired]

looks like the 600w had issues, not the 520w. sounds like ocz is taking care of their customers tho, going above and beyond.

 

[Rhin0]

lets not jump to conclusions


good to hear OCZ is taking care of the problem, can't really ask for more. Everyone has probs sometimes

 

[AWhackWhiteBoy]

Originally posted by: klah
Read this thread: http://forums.extremeoverclock...&page=1&pp=100

Maybe someone can PM MonarchJoe and get the straight scoop.

that was really sh**ty of that guy to RMA the raptor for something OCZ caused and should have taken care of...

 

[Gnoad]

Wow. I liked OCZ before, but after reading those links of what has been happening to other people, I have lots of respect for OCZ. They were quick to admit there was a problem and are not just replacing the psu, but any equipment that got fried because of it. Now thats customer service the way it should be.

 

[mechBgon]

I have lots of respect for OCZ.

Do you know OCZ's full history, out of curiosity.

 

[Gnoad]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

I have lots of respect for OCZ.

Do you know OCZ's full history, out of curiosity.

Yes I do, but for the last 2 years I have seen nothing but great things from OCZ. Customer support is now probably the best there is, and there products are usually top of the line. Obviously this psu problem sucks, but they are taking full responsibilty and replacing all fried components. They're even buying some guy a new X800 XTPE! I don't know of many companies that would do that.

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

I have lots of respect for OCZ.

Do you know OCZ's full history, out of curiosity.

they moved way beyond that checkered past of theirs

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: Gnoad

Originally posted by: mechBgon

I have lots of respect for OCZ.

Do you know OCZ's full history, out of curiosity.

Yes I do, but for the last 2 years I have seen nothing but great things from OCZ. Customer support is now probably the best there is, and there products are usually top of the line. Obviously this psu problem sucks, but they are taking full responsibilty and replacing all fried components. They're even buying some guy a new X800 XTPE! I don't know of many companies that would do that.

dam a x800xtpe makes me want to get an ocz.

 

[Gnoad]

Originally posted by: w00t

dam a x800xtpe makes me want to get an ocz.

Well OCZ fried the one they have to replace, so don't think you can buy a 600w OCZ psu and get an x800 XTPE

 

[GlobalHPSJoe]

I need to check Anand more often, the Christmas season has me running around here like a madman.

Here's the deal:

There was a bad shipment of OCZ powersupplies that went out. We did have some problems with them, to which OCZ promptly recalled the affected shipment. We chose to remove the power supplies from our offered items until all the issues were worked out. We try to be as selective as possible with the items we carry, so that people can expect the best quality possible.

OCZ has done everything in their power to take care of each customer that had an issue with the power supplies very promptly. Their recent track history shows that they are a customer service driven company that makes a quality product, and I do think they have corrected the problem as quickly as they possibly could. I would hate to see this small issue tarnish them. I would look for Monarch to carry OCZ power supplies in the near future, and we will continue to push OCZ ram as well.

If you guys have any other questions, as always, feel free to contact me.

 

[Waylay00]

Would I be safe now getting a 420w Powerstream?

 

[GlobalHPSJoe]

Originally posted by: Waylay00
Would I be safe now getting a 420w Powerstream?

From my understanding, all issues have been addressed. So I would see no problem in purchasing the power supply.

 

[Gnoad]

Yeah, OCZ worked really quick to fix all the problems, so I'm sure by now everything is ok.

 

[JBDan]

How scary is this? PCPower&Cooling!