There was an issue with my PC...
There was an issue with my PC...
I was just browsing YouTube on my PC when it stopped working. I assumed it was due to a power outage since they're frequent in my area. When I tried to restart it, the lights flickered briefly and then the shutdown occurred with smoke coming out. Opening my balcony revealed my room smelled like burnt plastic for about half an hour. No visible damage, but the PC started again. I updated my build two years and five months ago—swapped the graphics card and added a 16GB HDD. Thanks for any advice. Edited April 19, 2022 by Tinlor
Inspect every cable and connector, especially where a cable connects. They often become the most vulnerable part. If the device powers up and then shuts off instantly, it suggests overcurrent protection or a short circuit issue. Without obvious signs of harm, the safest step is to remove all parts from the power supply unit and test the PSU independently (follow instructions for bridging the 24-pin connector so it activates without the mainboard). If the PSU starts on by itself, gradually reattach components one at a time until it stops working. By this stage, further damage is unlikely since you can't trigger more harm.
Also inspect the power cable at its connection point, inside the plug, and examine the ventilation openings for any signs of damage or melting. It's likely the odor you notice comes from a rubber sleeve covering the glass fuse; if it breaks, shards won't escape the power supply case. Burned plastic components like mosfets or transistors may have a strong burnt smell. The suggestions provided are useful—verify cables for each part, disconnect them, and inspect pins and connector housings for melted plastic.
Did you wipe down your PC after assembly? Verify the PSU is functioning. If not, consider switching to a different one. Also look for signs of burnt components as mentioned by @mariushm.
No damage occurred, the PC started up and it wasn’t a new installation. I used this setup for roughly five months, and the machine was assembled two years prior. I’ll include these details in the topic description. Appreciate your response.
Nothing appears damaged and the computer still powers on. However, I'm nervous about making any changes. Appreciate your response.
Everything appears functional so far. All parts are being recognized correctly. It seems a non-critical component might have failed without causing a short circuit. Running should be safe, though you may notice issues when under stress. A tiny capacitor could have blown, or one of the USB or SATA connections might not be operating at full capacity. Other minor problems like a slow port or a broken connection are possible.