Gigabyte 800W Odin GT Build Quality

[Gintok]

Greetings, first time poster, long time enthusiast and hopefully I'll stick around to contribute :)

I'm posting here as I've got several queries regarding this PSU. I've owned one in the past (not a positive experience actually) but I thought I was unlucky and given that this had the features I was after I bought another. Thing is this one seems really strange with all this paste just dripped onto random parts of the PSU.

I know some PSUs have a type of foam or paste, and this one does in some areas, but in this case it appears to have paste just dripped in on random locations. Here are some images, unfortunately they aren't the best but I can post some more up.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j254/Kranbone/PSU/1000113.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j254/Kranbone/PSU/1000114.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j254/Kranbone/PSU/1000116.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j254/Kranbone/PSU/1000120.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j254/Kranbone/PSU/1000121.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j254/Kranbone/PSU/1000122.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j254/Kranbone/PSU/1000123.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j254/Kranbone/PSU/1000124.jpg

I'm concerned this can cause the PSU to short out and may cause a system failure, or even worse, electrocution and fire. As you can see by the photos these are in numerous spots and it doesn't seem normal. Should I RMA this? The retailer doesn't want to touch it again and is making me to be over anal, however I think my concerns are valid.

[rty]

That's normal, don't worry about it. That's the glue they use to secure things inside the PSU, and I think it's non-conductive.

[Gintok]

But given the location of this paste I haven't noticed it on the previous model. Basically it's as if someone has sneezed and paste has come out. It's in the most random areas. Does the paste conduct heat?

Perhaps someone fell asleep on the production line? I say this because it doesn't look very uniform in where the paste has been applied, if that makes sense (check the second image for example).

[Travis]

LOL that's not like a normal CWT build.
They won't cause trouble since they're non-conductive and heat-resistant.

[Gintok]

Okay thanks for that. So we should be able to say the paste in question is safe, even if it's been poorly applied. Would anyone agree the standard was poor, I suppose better more paste than less right?

[Travis]

I guess misplaced caulk also causes trouble.

[Gintok]

I guess misplaced caulk also causes trouble.


That is my concern. My personal belief is that the way this has been applied is not normal or professional, in the sense that, it doesn't seem up to standard, but the retailer isn't keen on RMAing as he says "no fault".

Personally really keen to get more opinions. I haven't even plugged it in to be safe but in any case, the build quality doesn't seem of a very high standard for a premium psu and the paste has just been dripped over the fan and heatsinks of the PSU.

EDIT: Just did more research on caulking. Given that the paste is in the most bizarre and random places rather than seams, I am of the opinion that this was unintentional. Given this, does anyone feel I have a just cause to return it to the retailer. If you were the retailer would you deny my return claim?

[Zero82z]

The caulk won't have any negative affect on anything, so there's really no fault with the PSU. It's not electrically or thermally conductive, and is basically just an inert substance.

[MrWicked1968]

didn't Enermax use a caulk that was conductive in the early Infiniti offerings that caused them to fail after about a year?

[Zero82z]

didn't Enermax use a caulk that was conductive in the early Infiniti offerings that caused them to fail after about a year?
Yeah, but that issue was dealt with a long time ago.

[Gintok]

Why would they have used a caulk that was conductive in a PSU?

[HOOfan_1]

It was only conductive after heat cycling...they didn't know it when they first used it.

[Gintok]

It was only conductive after heat cycling...they didn't know it when they first used it.

So when it got hot it conducted electricity? Darn, considering I've got this gook on random components splattered in the strangest areas and dripped everywhere without thought, I have concern. Put it this way, would you be happy with the PSU or would you return it?

[Zero82z]

So when it got hot it conducted electricity? Darn, considering I've got this gook on random components splattered in the strangest areas and dripped everywhere without thought, I have concern. Put it this way, would you be happy with the PSU or would you return it?
The issue with the conductive caulk was discovered and corrected, and it is no longer something you need to worry about. Your PSU is fine and there's no reason to return it unless it doesn't work.

[Travis]

So when it got hot it conducted electricity? Darn, considering I've got this gook on random components splattered in the strangest areas and dripped everywhere without thought, I have concern. Put it this way, would you be happy with the PSU or would you return it?

The "white" and "gray" caulk that are widely used currently are non-conductive and heat-resistant. The conducting problem is with a "yellow" caulk being used several years ago.

[HOOfan_1]

If the PSU works...use it...if it fails, RMA it. Simple as that.

[Gintok]

I'd just like to say thanks for all the information. I feel a bit more confident in powering it on even if the paste was poorly applied or accidentally left in some areas.

[cheese007]

The white stuff is just fine, almost every PSU has it, no need to lose sleep over it.

[Gintok]

The white stuff is just fine, almost every PSU has it, no need to lose sleep over it.

Just fired the PSU up and it seems okay. There's a slight burn smell but I could be mistaken for a "new PSU/electronics smell". Given that it's 800W is there any recommended way of stressing the CPU bit by bit to make sure it's competent?

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Nope - just turn it on and use it. It's been burned in and load tested at the factory anyway.

[RSC]

This Gigabyte Odin GT 800w is rated @ what temperature, 25ºC? Does anyone know? I've been looking for this information but I can't find it anywhere...

[jonnyGURU]

At least 40°C. I remember that from the one I reviewed, although I don't recall if it's actually 50°C (not that being rated at 40°C vs. 50°C makes any difference).