Computer smells of something burning!

drulesjr

Reputable
Jun 17, 2014
25
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4,530
I finished updating my computer today. I installed a new psu, an ssd, and a gpu. I also swapped everything into a new antec twelve hundred v3 case and added a few "silent" fans and a fan controller. Everything else I kept the same which ran fine before the update. Since I moved my OS to the ssd I had to reinstall everything had before. After everything was done installing and setup (about 1 1/2 hours) I wanted to try some games. I started with Mortal Kombat for about two hours and everything was fine. I then tried out Chivalry: Medieval Warfare. I made my own game and added 64 bots, about 15 minutes into the game my computer started smelling off something burning. I instantly shut down the computer. I then removed the side door panel and inspected for anything resembling burn marks. I pretty much felt over the entire computer and nothing felt hot, the hottest being the gpu and was luke warm at best. I then watched as I turned the computer back on. Nothing looked out of place, no sparks or any smoke. Everything booted up and ran normally. I have left it run for about 30 min as I am writing this and I smell nothing. If anyone can help me out it would be greatly appreciated.

These are the three new things I added with the case and fans:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti
120GB Vertex OCZ 460
EVGA SuperNOVA 1000W G2 ATX

P.S. I had fans set to 50% of maximum and temperature sensor was registering 26*C when I began noticing the smell.

 
Solution
Probably the new PSU heating up and cooking the lacquer off. But if it continues, it may be a sign of something about to fail. See if the smell is strongest at the PSU's exhaust grill.

drulesjr

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Jun 17, 2014
25
0
4,530
I forgot to mention that I also installed 2 BitFenix Alchemy Connect LED-Strip also. They were linked up to the fan controller and set to 100%. They were my first thought of the burning smell, but not one area of it was even warm.
 

drulesjr

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Jun 17, 2014
25
0
4,530
I smell it faintly from the back of the psu and no where else on the rest of the computer. The PSU breaking in does make sense, should I try booting the game back up, and if I do smell burning again should I just continue playing?
 

clutchc

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drulesjr

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Jun 17, 2014
25
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4,530
Alright so I ran the same game that caused the smell, the same way and the smell return about 25 minutes in. I ignored it and kept on playing, about 1/2 hour later the smell began dissipating and after an hour I couldn't smell it at all. You guys were right that things were just breaking in. Thank you guys for the help, it is very much appreciated.