Advice on PSU (Horror story inside)

[gihad]

Hey guys,

Last weekend I upgraded all parts of my computer, except my Case and PSU(bad idea).

The new configuration was an FX 6100 CPU, Radeon 6870 GPU, 2 x 4GB DDR3, 2 x 7200RPM HDDs, 1 x SSD, Antec Water-cooler Kit. This was running fine on my 2 yrs old 500W Mastercooler PSU.

Yesterday I decided to add another 2x 4GB DDR3 Sticks and I replaced my Radeon 6870 with a 6950. At the same time I also replaced the PSU Fan, Water-cooler Radiator Fan and Chassis Fan with 3 Noctua NF-S12B FLX 120mm 600~1200 RPM Fans.

I noticed that the CPU was getting unusually hot (as if the noctua fan wasn't spinning, but it was) so I turned the computer off and let the CPU and PSU noctua fans run at the max speed (by removing the resistor adaptors). After about 15 minutes playing Battle Field 3, the computer just shut down and it would not power up anymore, the PSU was extremely hot to the touch, even the main black thick power cord(the one from the wall to the psu) was very hot. The PSU remained very hot for at least 10, 15 minutes, I hope that only the PSU was damaged.

Now I need to find another PSU and I have this options (Noise is the main concern):

http://canadacomputers.com/product_info ... _id=026423
http://canadacomputers.com/product_info ... _id=021533
http://canadacomputers.com/product_info ... _id=021536
http://canadacomputers.com/product_info ... _id=039392 (this one is a little above my budget)

Or anything that they have in this website,

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks a lot.

[gihad]

Also, the PSU metal case and the watercooler radiator are touching each other, that might have aggravated everything(heat transfer), and this must be why the water-cooler wasn't really cooling the CPU.
Before swapping the Radeon 6870 for the 6950, adding the 2x DDR3 sticks and modifying(installing the Noctua fan) my PSU, the watercooler was installed in the same place and everything was running well.
Attached is a picture.

IMG_20111127_205946.jpg

[Olaf van der Spek]

Is the Seasonic X-560 not available? Or Enermax Pro87+?
I'm also wondering whether a normal tower CPU HSF wouldn't be better.

[ntavlas]

I would alse look at the Enermax eco/liberty eco series which seem to have a fairly good price/performance ratio. Of the psus you`ve already looked at, the Seasonic is probably the best. The Antec CP is also well regarded. However, it has a different form factor: it only fits in certain Antec p18X cases.

As to why your psu died, while I don`t think you exceeded it`s limits, the fan swap, along with the close proximiity of the cpu radiator (especially the later) could have contributed to it`s premature death.