What you need to know
- Gigabyte will let people return or exchange GP-P850GM and GP-P750GM power supply units.
- These units were found to spark and fail in extensive testing by Gamers Nexus.
- Gigabyte claims that both PSUs are "reliable for real world usage" but has lowered the over-protection trigger point of each unit.
Gigabyte will allow people to return or exchange GP-P850GM and GP-P750GM power supply units. These units made headlines after Gamers Nexus and Aristeidis Bitziopoulos determined that the PSUs could fail catastrophically. In some cases, the PSUs would spark while other units arrived dead (via The Verge).
In testing by Gamers Nexus, half of all GP-P750GM units that were purchased or received from YouTube viewers failed. Gigabyte's response to the failing units seems to put the blame on the testing methodology rather than the power supply units:
We were made aware by third parties of concerns regarding potential issues of the GP-P850GM and GP-P750GM tripping at high wattages when tested via DC Electronic Load equipment for extended lengths of time repeatedly close to the 120 percent to 150 percent OPP trigger point. This level of extended testing could severely reduce the lifespan of the product and components of the GP-P850GM and GP-P750GM.
Gamers Nexus does not agree with Gigabyte, stating, "Gigabyte twists truth about exploding power supplies in dangerous way." Gamers Nexus states that for each power supply, it only triggered the OPP once, which shouldn't lead to failure.
The video from Gamers Nexus uses the word "exploding" in its title. The catastrophic failures may be better classified as violent sparks than explosions, but, in either event, the PSUs clearly can have serious issues.
Gigabyte is adjusting the GP-P850GM and GP-P750GM over-power protection (OPP) trigger points. The GP-P850GM now has a maximum of 1050W (down from 1300W), and the GP-P750M has a maximum of 925W (down from 1125W). The OPP trigger point is the line at which a PSU will protect itself when too much power is drawn.
The PSU maker will allow people to return or exchange either of the power supply units in question, even though it claims that "both before & after OPP adjustment versions are reliable for real world usage." Gigabyte outlines the terms and conditions for returns and exchanges in a post about its failing PSUs.
If you're exchanging your PSU or just in the market for a new one, make sure to check out our guide of the best power supplies.
