Unusual plastic odor coming from what appears to be a GPU.
Unusual plastic odor coming from what appears to be a GPU.
My computer emitted a burning odor recently. This happened following the installation of a new power supply. The smell disappeared after a short time.
Smoke and burning odors signal an urgent situation—“shut it down right now!” The source might be identified, though it could range from harmless to moderately concerning. Until clarity comes, I’d describe the scenario as “wildly unsafe.” There are numerous real-life safety concerns that demand immediate attention.
It's common for me to experience this. The GPU is overheating due to dust buildup inside the graphics card. Also, pay attention to the odor that appears while the computer runs—it happens when it's active, not when it's turned off. For clarity, imagine placing a mouse between two spinning motors; it would be crushed.