HELP! Sunbeamtech NUUO 550w dead?

J

JaYp146

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
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5,546
Hey guys,

Woke up this morning to find my main rig off (I keep it on overnight to fold). Tried the main power switch with no luck. Flipped the rocker switch on the PSU (which is a Sunbeamtech NUUO 550w) off and then on; tried power switch, nothing.

Then flipped the rocker OFF. Came back about 30 minutes later, flipped it back ON and now every light on the system flashes (LED fan, DVD-RW light, optical out on the Audigy front panel) and the PSU emits a high pitched whining that seems to be "flashing" in time with the lights' flashing. Tried the power switch; nothing.

PS - I've ruled out the surge protector / outlet, as the other devices connected to it work fine.

I bought the PSU last year in November from Jab-tech; is it time for an RMA? :(

Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.
-JP
 
Thanks much for the prompt response; now all I need is a multimeter (I'm @ college).

Will post details / answers ASAP.

Thanks again!
 
Jonny if you're still reading.

I respect your opinions very much however can you tell or have an idea how long a psu will generally last?

I know many sites and yours give a psu a good rating but I feel uncomfortable buying a sunbeam or an aerocool especially when I can get a Liberty(aerocoll) or an enhance (sunbeam) for the same price. by uncomfortable I mean in the long run.

A psu could look tremendous in the short term but could really lose it in the long term.
 
Excellent question, I've been wondering the same thing myself.

(I purchased this 550w NUUO in late November of '05)
 
There's no telling. And MTBF means squat.

That's why I always rag on PSU's having Fuhjyyu's (like Antec.) I thought that the Sunbeam may be an exception to that rule since the fan does seem to move more air and run cooler, but then again we have no way of knowing why this Sunbeam is dead unless we open it up and look around. ;)
 
Thank you. So the caps can give an idea.

I've also read a few hipro 580, the real pretty ones, blowing up or just going kaput.

Thanks again.
 
jonnyGURU said:
I thought that the Sunbeam may be an exception to that rule since the fan does seem to move more air and run cooler, but then again we have no way of knowing why this Sunbeam is dead unless we open it up and look around. ;)
Click to expand...

Which is something I won't be doing. :p

I will, however, try the paperclip thingy as soon as I can get my hands on a multimeter (which might be difficult, seeing as how I'm @ college). Details to be posted later.
 
You can only learn by trying.

Stick your finger in there. Don't worry. What's the most that can happen?

:D
 
Also, another thing you have to keep in mind: EVERY product, no matter how well built, has a certain percentage of failure.
 
jonnyGURU said:
Also, another thing you have to keep in mind: EVERY product, no matter how well built, has a certain percentage of failure.
Click to expand...


And it looks like this one failed. I tried the paper clip trick and nothing happened.

Whenever the PSU is turned one via rocker switch, a high-frequency electronic whine is emitted. No longer does the whine "hiccup", it's a more constant thing that ceases only when the PSU is turned off.

RMA, I'm guessing?
 
Man, thats really sad to hear. I've been running mine since December, and it is one of the most solid PSUs I have ever used.

Did you run the fans on low? I don't really mind the noise, so I have mine at 100% all the time. Mine also runs at around 35C too. Sometimes it hits 41C during gaming, but thats about it. Never had a problem.
 
I ran the fans on Automatic RPM control. Temps never hit above 45C.

It's been a solid PSU, though t'was a bit of a bitch to fit in a SuperLANboy with an XP-120. :p

heh
 
Haha, yeah I can relate. The first case I had mine in was a Super Lanboy too. Mine was a bit easier with the my zalman cooler.
 
I've had my sunbeam for about a year I think, and it also recently started making a high-pitched whine...at first I couldng tell where it was coming from, but now its pretty distinctively coming from the PSU. I've noticed I can kinda interrupt the whine if I scroll up and down the screen real fast, highlighting stuff...very strange. Mine usually starts within a few minutes of getting into windows. I tried disconnnecting stuff, but once it starts whining, it keeps doing it.

Think I'm just gonna get a new PSU. I already replaced the rear fan on this unit (RMA would have been more expensive, considering shipping...and I guess I voided the warranty when I started poking around to find out what was up with the fan :p )

Sucks though, it has been a good little unit. Thinking I'll look at the Corsair units next.
 
I, too, would consider getting a new PSU (mmm, Corsair HX520w...*drools*), but money is tight right now and I can't afford much. Guess I'll have to stick with the RMA replacement. :rolleyes:
 
wow...you should open it up and see what's the deal there...but you are RMAing so I guess thats not an option...

Have they given you an RMA# and ETA for fix/repalacement?
 
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