Ticking/Clicking PSU (Seasonic RMA Service

[TempletonPeck]

I woke up on Saturday to use my computer and there was a ticking/clicking noise coming from it.

I've since narrowed it down to my Seasonic PSU, which I just got back in January of this year. http://products.ncix.com/detail/seasonic-g-series-650w-atx-ce-76943.htm

It's not constant, it seems to come and go. I notice if I start gaming, after about 15 minutes or so it'll start ticking/click.

I assume it has to do with the fan speeding up.

I took the side of my case off, unscrewed the PSU and ran it outside the case and it did the same thing. I took a look when it's in operation as well as when its not and I can't see anything that the fan could be hitting.

Any other reasons it would tick/click?

Right now as I type this, it's completely quiet.

I contacted Seasonic and they said to RMA it.

My concern is that if it's not a constant noise, will they test it and determine it to not be defective and then I'm out shipping + another fee they charge on top of that for non-defective merchandise. Plus I'll probably have to pay to have it shipped back and at the end of that I probably will have spent enough for a new PSU.

Not to mention I'll be without a PSU while it's going back and forth from Canada to California.

Has anyone here dealt with Seasonic before with an RMA? How were they?

I'm wondering if I'm better off to wait until it gets worse, or if I should deal with this now?

 

[lehtv]

I've done a Seasonic RMA, it was good. They didn't tell me they were going to ship an X660 to replace my X650, but at least it was a brand new unit in retail packaging. It took 1-2 weeks if I remember correctly.

What is the benefit of waiting until it gets worse?

 

[TempletonPeck]

The benefit of waiting would be that the ticking/clicking isn't constant right now. So if they test it and it doesn't tick/click for them I'll be out a fair amount of money and be exactly where I started.

 

[Deders]

if you slow the fan down by pressing something against the centre (not the fins) of the fan, does the clicking change?

 

[TempletonPeck]

I tried pressing on the centre of it, but I don't think it had any impact.

The clicking/ticking is super random it seems. I did a cold boot and it started doing it. So I tried again doing a cold boot, it didn't start clicking/ticking.

I tried gaming for 40 minutes or so, no clicking/ticking like it was doing recently.

 

[silicon]

I tried pressing on the centre of it, but I don't think it had any impact.

The clicking/ticking is super random it seems. I did a cold boot and it started doing it. So I tried again doing a cold boot, it didn't start clicking/ticking.

I tried gaming for 40 minutes or so, no clicking/ticking like it was doing recently.

why wait until it fails completely and potentially takes out the MB and other parts? It could be a failing electronic part inside that you cannot see. RMA it and in 2 weeks you will have anew PS.

 

[TempletonPeck]

why wait until it fails completely and potentially takes out the MB and other parts? It could be a failing electronic part inside that you cannot see. RMA it and in 2 weeks you will have anew PS.

Well if there is no discernible pattern and Seagate can't re-create the problem, they aren't going to give me a new PSU. They'll charge me for their time + I'll be out shipping costs.

That's my concern, if it was continuous I'd have RMA'd it already.

 

[silicon]

Well if there is no discernible pattern and Seagate can't re-create the problem, they aren't going to give me a new PSU. They'll charge me for their time + I'll be out shipping costs.

That's my concern, if it was continuous I'd have RMA'd it already.

i am sure they will give it a good test and probably will replace it.

 

[C1]

Look at this Forum thread: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/264358-28-power-supply-clicking

The implication is that it could be either the MB or something with the PSU or even nothing.

What I would do is go to Fry's and pick up a replacement PSU (perhaps even the same make and model). If the replacement doesnt click, then RMA the old one and either keep or return the new one. (In such case I am courteous to the vendor and typically keep the purchased unit and keep the RMAed as spare.)

If there appears to be an issue with the new PSU, then you may want to pull the system down for testing (eg, run MB outside of case with minimum components then adding back one component at a time, etc.).

 

[TempletonPeck]

It started doing it all the time the other day, so I RMAed it today.