Smells like something in my desktop is burning???

Euklid

Euklid

Member
Hey!

I was playing on my desktop today. It was running all yesterday, last night, and today. And I noticed a smell. It smells like... dentist power tools... mixed with a little bit of burnt toast.

I tested graphic card. I thought that would be the problem because it has been giving me signs that it might be defected. But, I removed graphic card, and smell is still here.

I removed DVD-RW, which for a second, I thought that was the source. And I removed secondary hard-drive. But, when I turn computer on, the smell seems to be here still.

So... what I have left is...

MB: Asus P5QL
CPU: Intel Q6600 + Default heatsink/fan
HD: Seagate 7200 500GB
PSU: OCZ SXS 700W
CASE: Antec 300 (2 fans)

I will have to take apart two computers to find the source of this problem. But perhaps, you can help me instead?

Have you experienced burning-like complications with any of these parts? Right now, the strongest source of the smell seems like the hard-drive. And considering I had to send my HDD to Seagate for repair two months ago, I wouldn't doubt that it could be the one frying right now. But it makes me wonder why my computer would be loading fine if it was the HDD...

It's probably the power supply or one of the case fans... or even cpu fan...

But really, I don't know. And I've been breathing these fumes for the past few hours, so now I'm a little lightheaded... I'm pretty sure they're toxic. :D
 
The most logical problem is your power supply. I have seen plenty of bad power supplies and the smell you describe seems about right. If it was the CPU, HDD, or MOBO then your computer probably wouldn't start at all. If you have a extra PSU try it and see if the smell continues. If it doesn't then there is you problem.
 
Ok, I just stuck my nose near the HDD. And it smells like it's coming from the HDD. It smells really toxic. But still very pleasant. Sort of makes me want to sniff it again...

But when I stick my nose to PSU, it is nowhere near as potent as the HDD...

I think it is the Seagate. I will boot computer without the HDD and see if the smell disappears. And then I will try PSU. But I don't want to change PSU just yet. I have all my chords tied together, and to replace PSU, I would have to move my entire setup around. That would take sooooo long. Don't want too... lol


Anyone have a Seagate 7200.11 500GB burn on them?
 
Yes I've seen a harddrive burn as well
HardDrives have electronics under them all open (usually, but many are enclosed too, or they have a plastic jacket on them)
Anyway, it was one electronic component on the corner of the underneath of the harddrive that touched the metal frame of the case.

I took it out, and could see the black burn mark, and the hard drive itself was toast ;)
Please remove the Hard Drive and check yours
 
kimsland said:
Yes I've seen a harddrive burn as well
HardDrives have electronics under them all open (usually, but many are enclosed too, or they have a plastic jacket on them)
Anyway, it was one electronic component on the corner of the underneath of the harddrive that touched the metal frame of the case.

I took it out, and could see the black burn mark, and the hard drive itself was toast ;)
Please remove the Hard Drive and check yours
Click to expand...

Yes I have seen something similar to that. It happened to a buddy of mine he showed me the the hard drive where it had burned. Better check it that is a fire hazard.
 
It happens some times ago with me also I have problem with my hard drive, I have rechecked it and its working fine with me.
 
I've yet to have a hard drive smell as if it were burning, but it's not uncommon for power supply to emit a slight odor. Is it very new? PSU's tend to have this burning smell for a little while as they...burn in? :P (whatever, after their initial use)

I would just make backups of anything to be on the safe side then continue using the computer as usual. Maybe run some stress tests on various components to help try and isolate the smell, but if nothing's messing up, probably not much to be done.
 
I was mistaken! I looked around my hard-drive, but I didn't see any burn marks. So I removed the hard-drive, and I ran the computer just as [PSU, Mobo, CPU and Ram] to see if the stink would be there. I ran it a few minutes like that. It wasn't as powerful, but the odor was still there.

I got tired of looking for the culprit, so I continued to play games on that computer. After about 5 minutes of running the game, the power in the computer shuts off! I guess a safety switch must have clicked. Now when I turn the computer on, it starts for 1 second, and immediately powers off. It won't stay on. So I am pretty sure it is the power supply.

I had purchased OCZ SXS 600W in Feb 2009. Three months later, I RMA'ed it because of a loud noise. They sent me an OCZ SXS 700W as a replacement. It was working great for the last few months. And today it started to smell, and now it seems to have died.

Looking into the power supply, I see a white goo everywhere. I think a capacitor blew up or something.

As for the smell, the longer my computer was on, the worse it got. It definitely wasn't a 'burning-in' lol. :D
 
Euklid said:
So I am pretty sure it is the power supply.

Looking into the power supply, I see a white goo everywhere. I think a capacitor blew up or something.
Click to expand...
Yes its the Power Supply blown
They are not repairable, you will need to replace it
Also check the motherboard for any debri (unlikely, but still check)
You may want to use a can of high compressed air on the motherboard as well (with the dead Power Supply out first)
 
Euklid said:
I was mistaken! I looked around my hard-drive, but I didn't see any burn marks. So I removed the hard-drive, and I ran the computer just as [PSU, Mobo, CPU and Ram] to see if the stink would be there. I ran it a few minutes like that. It wasn't as powerful, but the odor was still there.

I got tired of looking for the culprit, so I continued to play games on that computer. After about 5 minutes of running the game, the power in the computer shuts off! I guess a safety switch must have clicked. Now when I turn the computer on, it starts for 1 second, and immediately powers off. It won't stay on. So I am pretty sure it is the power supply.

I had purchased OCZ SXS 600W in Feb 2009. Three months later, I RMA'ed it because of a loud noise. They sent me an OCZ SXS 700W as a replacement. It was working great for the last few months. And today it started to smell, and now it seems to have died.

Looking into the power supply, I see a white goo everywhere. I think a capacitor blew up or something.

As for the smell, the longer my computer was on, the worse it got. It definitely wasn't a 'burning-in' lol. :D
Click to expand...
you may want to check your power source aswell, two psu's from a reputable company blowing is pretty bad luck. You do have a surge supressor or UPS and not just have the power supply plugged into the wall or a power strip correct?
 
bomberboysk said:
you may want to check your power source aswell, two psu's from a reputable company blowing is pretty bad luck. You do have a surge supressor or UPS and not just have the power supply plugged into the wall or a power strip correct?
Click to expand...

This is the first one that blew up. The other one was defective from the get-go, it made an annoying high-pitched sound, but it never blew up.

And also, I would think that perhaps this is somehow a problem with the power strip that is powering my desktop, 2 x 22" LCD monitors, and printer... but when I look at the OCZ Technology Forums, I am not the only one.

Tons of people have experienced 'high-pitched whistling' in the [OCZ SXS 600W]. And just a day before my [OCZ SXS 700W] blew up, a person posted the exact same problem -- burning-smell, and now my desktop won't power on -- about their [OCZ SXS 700W].

Defect is defective. That's all there is to it.
 
Euklid said:
This is the first one that blew up. The other one was defective from the get-go, it made an annoying high-pitched sound, but it never blew up.

And also, I would think that perhaps this is somehow a problem with the power strip that is powering my desktop, 2 x 22" LCD monitors, and printer... but when I look at the OCZ Technology Forums, I am not the only one.

Tons of people have experienced 'high-pitched whistling' in the [OCZ SXS 600W]. And just a day before my [OCZ SXS 700W] blew up, a person posted the exact same problem -- burning-smell, and now my desktop won't power on -- about their [OCZ SXS 700W].

Defect is defective. That's all there is to it.
Click to expand...
Well, whining in a psu is just coil whine that happens on more psu's than you would imagine.

Sucks that youve had to rma it twice now. Id suggest asking them for a gamexstream when you rma it;)
 
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