Recently, a Reddit user told a scary story about EVGA’s power supply unit (PSU) that should serve as a warning to PC makers. This event shows how important it is to know about pin patterns and compatibility when upgrading gear.
The Business of Coil Whine
At first, the story seems simple. u/sgircys on Reddit wrote EVGA about coil whine in their brand-new EVGA GQ 1000W Gold power supply. They sent the unit back to be fixed after exchanging it with EVGA. But after that, a string of bad luck destroyed 22TB of storage.
The changes to the PSU and pin layout
EVGA sent back the fixed PSU, but there was a catch: the company had changed the pin layout. They forgot to send new power source cords that would work with the changes, which is a shame. All of their storage devices were destroyed when u/sgircys plugged everything back in because the power source sent too much energy to the wrong wires.
The Terrible Outcome
Things went very badly. All 22TB of storage, which were hard drives full of useful info, were lost. The wrong volts going through the SATA-powered storage devices did damage that can’t be fixed.
EVGA’s Answer
When u/sgircys called EVGA again, the company admitted that the pin layout had changed, but they wouldn’t repair the broken storage devices. An EVGA official said that their guarantee does not technically cover any loss or damage that their goods may have.
What I Learned
This event should serve as a harsh warning to PC fans:
Pin Layout Awareness: When replacing or upgrading hardware, you should always be aware of changes to the pin layout.
Compatibility Is Important: To avoid catastrophic fails, make sure that the power supply lines fit the new layout of the PSU’s pins.
Save a copy of your data: Back up your data often so you don’t lose important things when you least expect it.
This problem only happens with EVGA’s current GQ range, which is good news. But it shows how important it is to be careful and do a lot of study when working with PC parts.
Keep learning and being careful, fellow makers! 🖥💡
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