Unpleasant odor detected on the computer, potential risk involved, origin unclear
Unpleasant odor detected on the computer, potential risk involved, origin unclear
I took out the GPU and connected the monitor straight to the motherboard. The odor remains, though it's less strong now compared to before. I saw this happen with my previous GPU too. Taking it out didn't completely fix the issue but it helped somewhat. To be honest, the GPUs themselves don’t seem to be the main cause—they smell the same whether on the board or not. However, it’s possible they might be contributing to the problem in some way.
Considering this topic again, you mentioned the GPU... My thought is it might be that the thermal paste has finally gone bad. It's extremely rare for it to deteriorate in the traditional sense, but over time it can start to smell unpleasant. I experienced this with an old Nvidia 256 GPU—it became as foul as a skunk had died inside if I turned it on. Still, if things go completely wrong, a GPU cap could be the reason. I’d advise extreme caution when handling it and strongly recommend keeping a spare or planning an upgrade.
My previous GPU was a GTX 1050 TI, and it wasn't that outdated. I acquired it in 2017. As mentioned earlier, I swapped it for an RTX 3060 about two months ago. If the issue is with the GPU, there should be some common problem causing both to behave similarly. Are there any typical concerns like this? The same applies to the PSU—I got that when installing the 3060. I've been using NZXT cam to track temperatures. What are normal readings? My CPU stays around 30°C when idle, and the GPU hovers near 45°C. Under load it climbs past 60°C, while the CPU's temperature isn't specified. That said, the smell becomes more apparent during heavy use, suggesting heat is likely a factor. Even when idle, it still emits some air, though less noticeably.
Your temps are more than normal and nothing to worry about here. It could still be a fan that's giving the smell but it's rare. To rule out the PSU you could try to take it out of the case, plug it back to the motherboard and devices from a distance and turn your PC on. Then you'll be able to identify the source of the smell between your PSU and the rest of the PC. Another stupid question, sorry, but could it be that you forgot to remove a protective plastic film on some parts ?
I’m pretty confident I’ve covered the basics about plastics. When the issue began, I checked the power supply and confirmed it’s not releasing any odors. I’m exploring other potential reasons, like the fact that my home uses two-prong outlets, which means I need a converter to connect my three-prong device. Could this setup somehow affect the performance or safety of my PC components? It might be worth considering if increased household electricity demand could influence things.
It’s not just the 2-prong to 3-prong plug setup. Have you been affected by this odor? Did anyone else notice the scent? Consider other components around your PC such as the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and mousepad. You mentioned the smell began around the time you installed the monitors—could it be related to both of them? Also, I’ve experienced some terrible-smelling cables; please verify your power and video cables.
It seems like this cable might be a lemon power cable. If the PSU isn’t shorting, it’s likely just a faulty one—possibly something @UnusualDevices mentioned could be a poorly constructed cable that needs replacing. Many of us in this community take PC makers for granted, assuming they won’t make quality mistakes. Wires often get ignored, but when they start burning or smoking, it’s a clear warning. Plastic burning in a cable is definitely not a good sign for a PC.