My PC shut down with a burning smell and won't turn on?

I need halp · Dec 20, 2016

Hello, I was playing The Divison and suddenly my PC shut down without warning, and there was a strong burning smell. I unplugged the PSU and checked the PC and the smell seemed to be coming from the CPU/top fan area, and now the PC will not turn on. Any suggestions or ideas what it could be? Thank you.

MSI GTX 970
FX-6300 CPU/default cpu fan
8gb ram

EDIT: Just tried to turn it on again, the LEDs at the front flashed for about half a second then it went dead again.

James Mason · Dec 20, 2016

blown capacitor on the motherboard somewhere.

If you take a high quality picture(or multiple focused in pictures) we may be able to see it for you. upload it here and the post the link: http://imgur.com/

Most likely your motherboard is dead, and hopefully nothing else.

I need halp · Dec 20, 2016

https://imgur.com/gallery/JlxNJ

^think that link should work, never used imgur before. It is fairly dusty.

James Mason · Dec 20, 2016

well, uhh the dust could catch fire, should definitely clean it out, and then once it's clean maybe retake the pictures, so we can see if it's hidden under the dust somewhere.

I need halp · Dec 20, 2016

How would you recommend cleaning it?

James Mason · Dec 20, 2016

Compressed air cans: https://www.amazon.com/Compressed-Air-Dusters/b?ie=UTF8&node=3012916011
You can find them in many big box stores or tech stores, possibly grocery stores.

Take it outside and blow that sucker out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQS9Tb8Wsdw

nerro120 · Dec 20, 2016

I think you may have had a thermal shut down to be honest, that heatsink is pretty clogged. Compressed air works wonders for dust, in short bursts.

mjslakeridge · Dec 20, 2016

Pretty dusty? That's like saying Labron James is a pretty good basketball player!

I use a small shop vac to blow out the dust in my computers. Some of the smaller ones allow you to reverse the flow so the air blows out of the hose rather than suck it in (by putting the hose end into the "out" vent in the shop vac). Do it outside if you can.

Is the 4-pin CPU power connector unplugged? Or did you unplug it for taking the pictures?

James Mason · Dec 20, 2016

mjslakeridge :

I think that's a 4/8pin plug with only one of the 4s plugged in.

mjslakeridge · Dec 20, 2016

Ah, I think I see it now when I zoomed in on one of the pics.

I need halp · Dec 20, 2016

Yeah it is plugged in, what James said.

I currently have no access to compressed air cans because all the shops are closed at the moment, I'll try to get hold of some tomorrow.

mjslakeridge · Dec 20, 2016

If it were me, I would completely dis-assemble everything, take the motherboard out of the case and do a thorough cleaning of everything. That includes taking the CPU cooler off, cleaning off the old thermal paste and applying new paste. From the amount of dust in there, it looks like the computer has been in service for quite a while.

That way you can check everything for signs of burning, including the motherboard front and rear.

I need halp · Dec 20, 2016

I cleaned it all out with compressed air, and it won't turn on at all, just like before. What should I do now?

nerro120 · Dec 20, 2016

Make sure everything is plugged in and making good contact with its proper location

I need halp · Dec 20, 2016

Everything is plugged in correctly and it won't start at all.

nerro120 · Dec 20, 2016

What make and model is the psu

I need halp · Dec 20, 2016

It's a corsair GS 2013 600w 80+ bronze ATX

nerro120 · Dec 21, 2016

Do you have another known good psu to test with?

I need halp · Dec 21, 2016

Unfortunately not, but tomorrow I'm going to have someone I know who's experienced with computers have a look and I'll keep the thread updated

My PC shut down with a burning smell and won't turn on?

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