Power Supply Failure

[RavenNight]

Hi!

A couple of days ago the PSU in my main rig failed quite spectacularly. I've sent if off to Hiper to be looked at and hope to get it back early next week. Since is was fairly dramatic I was worrying about the rest of the components. Never having been in the situation before should the failure have damaged the rest of the system (through a power spike or similar) are they responsible and can I get them to pay for any replacement parts?

RavenNight

[Clunk]

It is possible that other components have been damaged, but you might be ok. I think that the chances of Hiper paying out for any damage are slim to none. Ive seen a number of posts like yours regarding Hiper PSUs in the last few months, maybe a bad batch?

[RavenNight]

I know several people with Hiper PSUs and none of them have had a problem. Mine ran fine for over a year before deciding to kick the bucket. Fingers crossed everything will be okay. The PSU in my parents Compaq blew, filled the room with smoke but avoided damaging anything, hopefully I'll be as lucky.

[BlindMelon7]

I was thinking of getting a Hiper Type R 580watt. Maybe not such a good idea?

[this_is_gav]

I know several people with Hiper PSUs and none of them have had a problem. Mine ran fine for over a year before deciding to kick the bucket. Fingers crossed everything will be okay. The PSU in my parents Compaq blew, filled the room with smoke but avoided damaging anything, hopefully I'll be as lucky.

I guess the one in the Compaq was an el-cheapo, but for the Hiper to go too (OK, they're not the best, but they're not Q-tec)... perhaps a dirty power supply in your house/room?

[amjedm]

I was thinking of getting a Hiper Type R 580watt. Maybe not such a good idea?

I remember reading a post here a few months ago about Hiper being not so good since they switched factories.

[HoldenBurn1000]

Hmmm that puts me a postion. I was thinking about one of those. Let us know the outcome when you find out if anything else was damaged.

[RavenNight]

Update: Well got a brand spanking new PSU from Hiper today, very chuffed with the service, the people on the phone are surprisingly friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. No damage whatsoever to the system thankfully. And removing the PSU gave me a decent excuse to give everything a really good clean. Very pleased, would definitely recommend a Hiper PSU to anyone.

[dave87]

If only the reason mine blew was covered under warranty (user stupidity)

Very happy with the Seasonic I bought to replace it though

[Blitzen]

It is possible that other components have been damaged, but you might be ok. I think that the chances of Hiper paying out for any damage are slim to none. Ive seen a number of posts like yours regarding Hiper PSUs in the last few months, maybe a bad batch?

Hiper PSUs are average at best.
Go Enermax, Epsilon, Seasonic, Corsair, OCZ to be safe.

[dave87]

If I'm honest, thats rubbishh. Hiper (or the ones I've used) have been as good as most of the Tagans (and therefore, if reviews are to be believed, better than Enermax) I've used.

[mpd1981]

I've had this happen to me many times (used to work in a large RMA department, mentioning no company names...) and had power supplies blow up quite literally, even taking out the whole buildings power a few times. Yet never damaging any part inside the computer it was attached to.

Its usualy the other way, shorting on the board or a fualty part causing the psu to blow.

[this_is_gav]

If I'm honest, thats rubbishh. Hiper (or the ones I've used) have been as good as most of the Tagans (and therefore, if reviews are to be believed, better than Enermax) I've used.

They are good, but the number of Hiper RMA's you see is slightly worrying. That may be because they're cheaper than most of the top-tier PSUs, and therefor there's more sold to go wrong, but who knows. It is rather disconcerting though.

Personally, Enermax aren't what their reputation suggests either in my experience. They simply don't deliver the power they advertise. They are pretty solid though.

[amjedm]

Add my two pence

Antec - from what I've recently read, I wouldn't trust them too much - would put them in the middle of the pack.

Enermax - I did have problems with the first Enermax I bought (had to be RMA'd as it kept tripping). Supplier couldn't find a problem though

[Clunk]

Ive used Enermax for the last 5 or 6 years and it was only this year that i thought i would try something different and i wish i hadnt.

FSP epsilon 700w - cheap and nasty, poorly made with a loud fan and rubbish connectors.

Tagan 700w - The main unit and wiring was solid enough, but for some bizarre reason, they chose to only put SATA connectors on the wiring loom and not a single molex. Tagan supply some extremely cheaply made SATA to molex adapters...some of them shorted out instantly and some of the harder wearing ones lasted for a few pluggings-in before shorting. Just to keep things uniform, the fans on the Tagan stuck on full and it was irritatingly loud.

Back to Enermax i went and no problems at all.