My computer is making a funny smell

Like ozone or heated plastic. Very unpleasant. I have opened the case like 3 times and I can't find anything heated or melty. It's got good ventilation and it's free from dust bunnies. I can't find any obstructions or burnt wires. It's working fine and not generating any excess heat. Any ideas?

Have you added any new parts to it in recent days? Started to overclock it? Ar there any bulging capacitors on the motherboard? (That's the smell I remember from Electronics class, right after you plug a capacitor into an outlet..)

I put a new motherboard in about 6-8 months ago, but nothing since then. It's not overclocked or any of that fancy sh*t.

Take the power supply apart and look in there. I've had power supplies start burning and smelling like that multiple times.

Ummm, has anyone heard of stored charge in capacitors?
Don't ever take apart your power supply unless you are absolutely sure of what you are doing.
Let PC Club or someone take a look at it and risk their health.

boogle wrote:

Ummm, has anyone heard of stored charge in capacitors?
Don't ever take apart your power supply unless you are absolutely sure of what you are doing.
Let PC Club or someone take a look at it and risk their health.

Eh, good thinking. I'm always taking stuff apart without much thought to safety issues. If that's the problem, he should be able to tell just with his nose without having to look inside.

Like Switch said, its probably the PSU. If its making a funny smell most likely the board (on the PSU) is starting to brown... youll be able to tell w/out really messing w/ anything.

PAR

I would agree that it's likely the PSU, the PC's number one source of malodorous moments. Put your nose by the outlet fan on the power supply. If you get a nice whiff of the smell, consider your power supply on notice.

Power supplies usually get no more troubleshooting by me than "does it turn on?" and "does it pass the whiff test?"

LilCodger wrote:

I would agree that it's likely the PSU, the PC's number one source of malodorous moments. Put your nose by the outlet fan on the power supply. If you get a nice whiff of the smell, consider your power supply on notice.

Power supplies usually get no more troubleshooting by me than "does it turn on?" and "does it pass the whiff test?"

Massive Concur.
I've had a power supply start smelling funny and then 3 hours later arc to the north bridge and kill the proc.
I'd suggest taking care of the problem soon.

Yep, that smell is usually the power supply or distended capacitors. Those will usually not generate a very strong smell though. If the power supply is where the smell is, change it quickly and use it a minimal amount until you do. If it blows, it can surge and take out other components of your system. I've seen it, it makes customers angry.

Agreed... Power supplies are an area you don't want to mess around with, in any sense of the word. Buy high-quality units, replace them instantly if they smell bad (except in the first couple hours), and don't take them apart.

IMO, there are three things to really splurge on with a computer... the monitor, keyboard, and power supply.

Meh, it's probably just gas.

But I'd recommend changing the PSU if that's the offending part of the system. You really shouldn't abide bad manners on the part of your hardware.

Well, you just have to tell your computer it stinks and it will always be picked on.

W... Why?

Oh. Strangey.