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loud pop smell of smoke, PC working ok though.. advice needed

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  • Power Supplies
  • Components
Last response: in Components
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March 29, 2013 4:48:26 PM

My computer has just given a loud bang and a smell of burning from inside the case and it shut down. The computer rebioots and all works ok. Ive look at everest and used other programs to find hardware faults or to see if running load crashes the system but all seems ok. ive read that its normally a cap going in the PSU. The smell seemed to come more from the GPU though.

With everything working ok should i still use the system or do i need to find the part and replace... if there is a damaged part even though all works ok??

Thanks

More about : loud pop smell smoke working advice needed

a b ) Power supply
March 29, 2013 5:02:53 PM

Probably safer to first find which capacitor (or whatever) on the video card failed, then you can do some research to find out how important it was.
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March 29, 2013 5:26:18 PM

MauveCloud said:
Probably safer to first find which capacitor (or whatever) on the video card failed, then you can do some research to find out how important it was.


Thank you for the reply
Ive had a look and cant find any surface damage, but im thinking it could be a cap under the heat sink and i didnt really want to go take it of due to the time/hassle. To be fair its been over 3 weeks and i use the PC evey day for 3D modeling and not seen any issues..... Whats the worse case sinario if i decide to just leave it?
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a b ) Power supply
March 29, 2013 5:36:57 PM

Worst case scenario would be a chain reaction of failures, possibly ruining everything else in your system and maybe even something bursting into flame. However, why did you say it had "just given a loud bang" if it happened 3 weeks ago, and if it happened 3 weeks ago, why didn't you ask about it then?
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March 29, 2013 6:00:49 PM

Sorry didn't mean to mislead 3 weeks to me is average time frame of me getting round to doing things. I didn't ask then as the system turned back on and i tried to find if i had a hard ware fault by going through some different software roots to stress the system and see if anything popped up. I final thought id ask due to looking into the fault and finding it could be a cap... thought went to the system going in flames (didn't know if that was an over reaction though) which you says a possibility, so think i better get looking for that damaged cap. If it is a PSU one and not graphics card is it really safe to pull the casing off should i just retuen it under warranty?
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a b ) Power supply
March 29, 2013 6:06:13 PM

Hi :) 

I REALLY cannot believe some peoples attitude to safety :( 

How many people in your house ?

YOU are RISKING ALL their lives...

Near one of my shops we had a flat TOTALLY burnt out because of a computer fire at 4,30 am.... Flat was a total write off, nobody hurt as they got out in time....but they COULD have been KILLED !!!!!

Turn it off NOW, and take it to a repair shop and get it diagnosed..... NOW !!!!!

All the best Brett :) 
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a b ) Power supply
March 29, 2013 6:07:01 PM

If it hasn't already caused such a chain reaction after 3 weeks, I wouldn't worry too much about it. However, you might avoid giving that video card to a friend or family member when you finally decide to upgrade it.
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a b ) Power supply
March 29, 2013 6:09:32 PM

MauveCloud said:
If it hasn't already caused such a chain reaction after 3 weeks, I wouldn't worry too much about it. However, you might avoid giving that video card to a friend or family member when you finally decide to upgrade it.


Hi :) 

You have NO idea if its the card or the psu or the mobo...it COULD STILL GO UP IN FLAMES AT ANY TIME....

All the best Brett :) 
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March 29, 2013 6:48:14 PM

Yea i understand what your saying. Im not overly worried in terms of the flat burning down as im the only one who uses the system and i unplug it from the mains after use so ill be set next to it if it did go. but the chance it could go up is still a worry. I think ill have to strip it and find the culprit. If i cant ill put it down to the PSU and sent it back under warranty.

Thank for your input though guys, i just thought it was weird how the system still worked where others with the same issue couldn't get anything out of their.
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March 29, 2013 7:51:34 PM

If you heard a loud bang in your car and smelled something burning would you get the faulty component repaired/replaced or shrug it off because it is still driving? Burning smells are not normal, and should not be treated as normal.
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March 29, 2013 7:56:58 PM

randomizer said:
If you heard a loud bang in your car and smelled something burning would you get the faulty component repaired/replaced or shrug it off because it is still driving? Burning smells are not normal, and should not be treated as normal.


No i agree, there's no burning smell now im not that daft. I will look at it first thing tomorrow, when you need your computer to do your work though and u have a dead line its hard to start pulling it apart, even if it could bite ya in the a*** by not doing it.
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March 29, 2013 8:15:49 PM

I think you have a reasonable excuse for negotiating your deadlines :)  (Yes, I'm aware that many clients will only negotiate to make them shorter)
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March 29, 2013 8:20:27 PM

Haha don't i know it. Deadline complete so i have some free time to have a look. im hoping it will jumps out at me when i open the case and have a look....... i know that wont be the case and it will be the last cap i look at :( 
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a b ) Power supply
March 29, 2013 9:00:23 PM

I would be very nervous that something is damaged which will eventually damage more components. As far as fire goes, I would just make sure it is turned off and unplugged when you leave the house or sleep.
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March 30, 2013 1:08:28 PM

Today i striped the pc down had a look at the motherboard ad graphics card, no caps look to have go on either so im guessing that its a case that the PSU went pop, its a Corsair 750AX 5 yr warranty. Can i demand a replacement from them? its about 18 months/2yrs old so i know its covered but with it still working would they take it back?
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a b ) Power supply
March 30, 2013 1:15:06 PM

monkeyman905 said:
Today i striped the pc down had a look at the motherboard ad graphics card, no caps look to have go on either so im guessing that its a case that the PSU went pop, its a Corsair 750AX 5 yr warranty. Can i demand a replacement from them? its about 18 months/2yrs old so i know its covered but with it still working would they take it back?


Hi :) 

Just tell them it went pop and smoke etc..... they SHOULD replace it as they wont want you suing them when your house burns down lol...

All the best Brett :) 
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a b ) Power supply
March 30, 2013 5:53:31 PM

"when"? It is quite unlikely overall.
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a b ) Power supply
March 30, 2013 5:54:33 PM

smeezekitty said:
"when"? It is quite unlikely overall.


Hi :) 

Are you psychic ?

No way you could know...

All the best Brett :) 

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a b ) Power supply
March 30, 2013 6:24:16 PM

No, are you? The vast majority of smoking electronics don't actually catch on fire.
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a b ) Power supply
March 31, 2013 5:54:34 AM

smeezekitty said:
No, are you? The vast majority of smoking electronics don't actually catch on fire.


Hi :) 

Total BS...

Ask your local fire brigade if that true..... IT IS NOT ...

Why do you think smoke detectors were invented ...

People DIE EVERY DAY IN ELECTRICAL FIRES.....

All the best Brett :) 

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a b ) Power supply
March 31, 2013 8:27:42 AM

And the vast majority of those fires were started by heating of the mains system.

That said, this argument is pointless so this is my last post in this thread.
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a b ) Power supply
March 31, 2013 8:29:16 AM

smeezekitty said:
And the vast majority of those fires were started by heating of the mains system.

That said, this argument is pointless so this is my last post in this thread.



Hi :) 

Tell that to the mother and son who almost died in a flat fire near me :) 

All the best Brett :) 
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