The question keyboard and mouse become unresponsive when the UPS emits a clicking noise because of voltage changes?
The question keyboard and mouse become unresponsive when the UPS emits a clicking noise because of voltage changes?
Hi everyone,
I assembled a new PC in June 2023 using only original components. Here are the details:
- UPS: Kstar 1500va offline UPS
- Processor: Ryzen R5 7600
- Motherboard: GIgabyte B650M DS3H
- Power Supply: Corsair RM850e
- RAM: Kingston Fury Beast DDR 5 5600mhz (32GB, 16GB x2)
- Cooler: Deepcool AG620
- Case: Deepcool CH560
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
From the very first boot, I observed that whenever voltage changes occurred, the UPS would make a clicking noise. My mouse would freeze for about 1 to 2 seconds, and when typing during those moments, the key would press down forcefully for a brief moment before returning to normal. This only happened during voltage fluctuations; otherwise, everything worked perfectly.
After noticing these issues, I purchased a PSU tester online to verify if the Corsair RM850e was faulty. The test results showed values close to standard, except for the power quality (PG) reading which was 110ms—outside the normal range of 100–500ms. The tester also emitted an alarm sound, suggesting a problem.
I then swapped it with another PSU, Antec Neo Gold 650W, and all measurements returned to normal, including the PG value (320ms) and no beeping from the tester.
Next, I tried using a different PC with another UPS, but the same clicking noise persisted. Eventually, I switched to a UPS that wasn’t showing USB disconnection issues, which helped reduce the freezes. However, whenever I changed the mouse or keyboard, the problem continued.
Changing USB ports from USB 2.0 to USB 3.2 Gen 1 seemed to lessen the freezes during UPS clicks, but switching the mouse/keyboard back to USB 2.0 caused the freezes almost every time the UPS clicked.
I’m worried about turning on the system, as it might damage other components. Any advice or assistance would be greatly appreciated. This PC was initially intended for gaming, and I’m hoping you can help resolve this.
Thanks in advance!
update the motherboard´s bios, but I think the UPS or the PSU or the combination of the two has to be the culprit
did you try installing the Antec neo gold 650 watt into the system?
did you connect the usb devices to the case´s front panel or the motherboard directly?
which other PC did you try?
specifications please
I changed the BIOS settings multiple times (F6, F8, F9a). The current BIOS version is F9a. Updating the BIOS didn’t make a difference.
I didn’t install the Antec Neo Gold 650 into my system; it was borrowed and I had to give it back. However, I have a cooler Master Elite 400w PSU available. I also tried booting this PC from my Kstar 1500 UPS, and everything worked fine.
I connected them via the motherboard USB 2.0 and 3.2 Gen 1 ports directly. One observation is that connecting to USB 2.0 causes those freezes with every click from the UPS, but using USB 3.2 reduces the frequency of freezes.
So far, I’ve tried two PCs:
My old PC.
Intel i3 10100
Gigabyte H410m S2h V2
PSU: Cooler Master Elite 400w
Corsair DDR 4 8gb 3200mhz
Friend’s PC:
Ryzen 5600g
MSI B450M PRO-VDH MAX
Team Vulcan Z 16GB (8x2) DDR4 3200MHz
PSU: Antec Neo Gold 650w
I returned this PC.
In both of these systems, connecting to the Kstar 1500 UPS had no issues.
It might be due to the UPS itself, or it could be that your power supply is quite sensitive to the quality of the electricity. Today’s power supplies are very efficient, but they require voltage and frequency that match the specifications. Basic UPS units often fail to provide the correct signal waveform, which usually means they can’t deliver the rated power effectively. Manufacturers warn that using non-signal waveforms can reduce the lifespan of the power supply.
The clicking sound usually indicates the UPS has switched to battery power and is now supplying energy instead of drawing from the grid. The problem often lies in a voltage level that’s still too high for the UPS but low enough to affect your power supply before it activates. This suggests the UPS might not be switching quickly enough for your specific setup.
A simple fix could be replacing the UPS with a new one, preferably a different model or brand. Even if your current UPS isn’t ideal, running a PC on it for long periods each year is unlikely. True-signal UPS units are more costly but have minimal switching issues over time, reducing the risk of damage from unstable power. Extremely high-end models can avoid this problem entirely.
I swapped the "Corsair RM850e" PSU for my spare "cooler master elite 400w" from another PC, which didn’t have these issues. Each time the UPS made that clicking sound, the mouse and keyboard would freeze and behave erratically as I described earlier. Should I think about getting a new Online/No break UPS or might there be a motherboard problem worth requesting an RMA?
If swapping the power supply resolved the issue, it strongly suggests the original power supply was faulty. It’s possible the voltage is unstable, such as 5 volts or 3 volts instead of the expected 12 volts. The CPU and graphics card operate on 12 volts, but USB devices might draw from different sources. Generally, there’s nothing in a power supply that can be easily repaired.
Sorry, I meant to say that my spare PC didn’t have any issues with the "Cooler Master Elite 400W". However, when I replaced the cooler master PSU with the Corsair RM850e in my new PC, the problem persisted. It’s similar to the situation when the Corsair RM850e was first installed. Regarding the voltages you mentioned, in my PSU tester the 3.3v displayed as 3.2v on the Corsair RM850e. Since changing the PSU didn’t resolve the issue, I believe your UPS units might not be sufficient for the AM5 platform. It could be that the switching of UPS is causing these problems, possibly with a transfer time of 4-8ms. I was considering a No break UPS as a potential solution. If it isn’t a UPS, then MOBO was another option, but I’m unsure how to check the motherboard.
The clicking noise indicates issues with the incoming power, suggesting your UPS may not react quickly enough. It might mean no UPS can fix it. The problem likely lies in the power supply, so consider resolving it or trying a different UPS. Please be polite and offer to lend one for troubleshooting.
I reviewed the pricing for the 'Kstar 1500va offline UPS' on this site, and if I found the right SKU, it comes to US $76, which is equivalent to 8,300 Bangladeshi Taka.
In the "Speciality" section of the webpage, the Kstar inverter is described as:
WAVE FORM: SINE WAVE (MAINS):
SQUARE WAVE (INVERTER),
CREST FACTOR: 3:01
From this, it seems the output would be a square wave, which could cause significant issues when connected to an ATX power supply.
It's conceivable that the Kstar provides a stepped approximation of a sine wave, offering improvement over a square wave but still falling short compared to a clean sine wave.
Premium quality inverters produce a genuine sine wave. Note: This isn't a 'sign' wave; it's a sign wave (or wave sign).
Here are typical voltage (red) and current (blue) output shapes for a true sine wave inverter.
A high-end 1500VA UPS from APC with a pure sine wave output exceeds $1,000, which is quite costly for most users on a tight budget.
Feeding a square wave inverter into an ATX power supply isn't recommended—it may lead to unusual phenomena like 'magic smoke' and could damage your equipment.