Antec HCP-1300 + 4-Way SLI -PLEASE HELP!-

[Baasha]

I picked up a brand new Antec HCP-1300 from NewEgg and installed it on Friday.

My rig has 4x GTX-Titan SCs (stock clocks/bios for now), CPU @ 4.8Ghz, a bunch of peripheral devices (10 SSDs etc.).

I am using the ASRock Extreme11 Mobo on the 3.20 BIOS.

I actually picked up the Antec HCP-1300 after reading the HardOCP review of it.

The main issue is that the PSU comes with 5 PCI-E connectors (each with 2x 8-pin (6+2) connectors). However, only THREE (3) of these connectors are 8-pin on the side of the PSU (where it plugs in to the PSU). Two of them are 16-pin connectors that span two 12V rails.

So, with 4 GPUs, I am forced to use at least one of these 16-pin connectors spanning 2 12V rails.

Each of the 12V rails is rated up to 50A which is more than enough for the GPUs.

This particular PSU also has a 'weird' 8-pin connector hanging from the 24-pin MoBo connector - something that needs to be connected to the PSU (read NewEgg review section).

Here is the problem:

The computer keeps shutting off and then rebooting automatically when under stress (benchmarks & games).

The connection configuration is as follows:


1.) 12V1 --> 8-pin from MoBo cable; 2x CPU EPS 8-pin
2.) 12V2 --> 1 PCI-E for GPU (8-pin)
3.) 12V3 --> 1 PCI-E for GPU (8-pin)
4.) 12V3 & 12V4 (spanning 2 12V Rails) --> 2 PCI-E for 2 GPUs (2 x 16-pin)

Please see pic for reference:

I also tried 3-Way SLI and a bunch of different combinations - still crashes!

In fact, I just tried 3-Way SLI by using ONLY the three (3) 8-pin PCI-E connectors (removed the 16-pin connectors altogether) on separate rails (12V2, 12V3, 12V4 while connecting the mobo 8-pin, 2x CPU 8-pin, and peripherals to 12V1) and I still got crashes!

Does this mean the PSU is a lemon/dud?

If it can't even run 3-Way properly (without sharing the rails for the GPUs), it most certainly won't run 4-Way SLI.

I used to run the EXACT same setup (4-Way Titans @ 1.212V and OC'd, 3970X @ 4.8Ghz, same 10 SSDs and other peripherals) on an Antec HCP-1200 - it used to run all day without breaking a sweat. Played every game and ran every benchmark without a hiccup!

Really regret selling that HCP-1200!

Would really appreciate any help/advice with this.

 

[silicon]

Its possible the PSU is a dud but have you any other way to test it outside and disconnected from the computer? That would be the definitive test to test the stability of the individual rails. It sounds like to me from the description that 1 or more rails is going into current limit and causing the voltage to fall as the load increases.

 

[Anuextreme117]

This is clearly a wire issue, reseat the PSU and reconnect the cables.

 

[Anuextreme117]

I had the same problem before with a old Corsair PSU!

 

[Baasha]

Well I got a Corsair AX1200 just to test and everything works great. Except the AX1200 cannot do 4-Way SLI! :thumbsdown:

I RMA'd the Antec and got a brand new one - hopefully this one works.

I'm going to put the GPUs in 12V2, 12V3, and 12V4.

Let's hope...