Somethings Burning...

[GarethG]

Yeah well as the title puts it something is burning but i realy dont know what it is.

Somethimes when i open an application the pc 'kicks in' fans get more active as with the hdd etc but sometimes the pc sounds to be going in overdrive and as it does I begin to smell something burning. I have no idea what it could be, I have taken the pc apart and give the heatsinks a clean (just incase) but i found nothing browning.

If anyone has ever seen a problem like this before could you point me in the general direction for the find/fix

Cheers Gaz

[Dooms]

Burning smell is never good :/

Only time ive had the problem its been the PSU dying (and it soon blew) but lots of other people have found that its just dust burning.

[GarethG]

Yeah iv had someone else mention the psu and it soon breaks afterwards. Thing is tho if i quickly hit the power button and then reboot the pc it isnt burning no more?!?

Very strange im not quite sure whats burning if it is dust or a component.

[nichomach]

A burning smell immediately makes me think "wonky PSU". Can I ask what brand you use, and whether you have another that you can swap in to test? Also, have you checked your temps?

The fact that it seems to rectify itself after a reboot makes me think that your PSU's straining when you place any load on the system and that something is going to go pop quite soon, and quite expensively. Dust probably wouldn't be affected by a restart.

[Steve]

Dust probably wouldn't be affected by a restart.

Ace statement, truly ace!

I think PSU or perhaps part of the voltage regulation on the motherboard.

[GarethG]

Id love to tell you the brand of this psu but the way its mounted in this case its very hard to see the lable.

Would u recommend i just get a new psu now while things are still intact ?

[iMc]

I'm 80% sure it sounds like a PSU problem. If yours a generic make and its been running for a while then it could well be its on its way out.

Deffo be a good idea to see if you can get hold of another, even just to do a test.

[Steve]

If the PSU just came with the case and you didn't buy it yourself, then whether it is the PSU or not, you're better off getting a newun. Cheap PSUs are notoriouly pants.

[GarethG]

Iv just also realised that when it does this 'burning' its always when i boot the pc up for the first time from cold.

This has only happened to me twice so far but both times its been in the morning booted from cold.

[Steve]

And what strains the PSU most kids? Spinning everything up at startup.

[nichomach]

I'd recommend double-checking your temps using something like MBM. If they look OK (and from the sound of it, you've been pretty thorough checking your heatsinks etc), then I would recommend spending some money on a decent PSU, yes. Better that than the damn thing fritzing out and taking the rest of your PC (or indeed your house... ).*Shameless Antec pimpage*

[GarethG]

hehe cheers peeps

Looks like ill just use it as an excuse to spend money i aint got on a shuttle muahaha =]

[GarethG]

If u were interested in the temps im currently getting they are:
Case 46*C
Chipset 42*C
CPU 45*C

Nice and hot

[iMc]

That case one is pretty high, very rare that its higher than the CPU.

[iranu]

If u were interested in the temps im currently getting they are:
Case 46*C
Chipset 42*C
CPU 45*C

Nice and hot

Chipset and CPU don't seem too bad. I'd be surprised if the CPU ran 15°C hotter on load (and even then should be within spec). Case reading looks dodgy and is most likely false.

I would recommend taking the PSU out (ensure everything is off and unplugged) and giving it a good sniff cos if it is the PSU, the burny smell will definitely be noticable. Check the wires and their end connectors comming out of the PSU for damage/burning aswell. Don't open the PSU unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing!

Also worth checking the mobo for any signs of burning too.

[GarethG]

i will do just that when i get abit of free time cheers

Ill post a reply of my findings (if any) here but untill then safe computing!