Strange smell: what's burning - CPU or PSU?

[Booster]

I recently upgraded my old Duron-based rig with an Athlon XP 1800+. I'm using a Thermaltake Volcano 8 cooler. The trouble is that I have this system on for about 20 minutes, and I feel some electrical smell, it smells like smth is burning inside the PSU or in that area. I got a weak 235W FSP PSU, but since I only have 1 hard drive, 1 CDRW and no extra stuff at all, the system worked fine with a Duron. I guess the Athlon requires maybe some 50W more power, but there should be still some unused power left.

So what should I do? Smell it and wait till it burns (don't see any smoke yet) or go out and get a new PSU?

PS Guys, answer quickly, please. I can't wait, I'm about on fire!!!

 

[holdencommodore]

Turn it off! Have a look inside the case and see if there's any burnt components (and see if you can locate where the smell is coming from). My guess is the PSU. You could open it up and check if there's any dust or blackened components in there...

Cheers

 

[Booster]

Originally posted by: holdencommodore
Turn it off! Have a look inside the case and see if there's any burnt components (and see if you can locate where the smell is coming from). My guess is the PSU. You could open it up and check if there's any dust or blackened components in there...

Cheers

Actually, I'm not stupid, I wouldn't have asked haven't there been any hope for me. You see, I hope that this smell is the HSF thermal pad burning in. It needs to melt, AFAIK. So could this be it? Of course, if the bloody thing continues to smell for several days, I'm getting a new PSU.

Plus, the voltage readings are OK:

+12V: +12.060 Volt
+5V: +5.000 Volt
+3.3V: +3.280 Volt

 

[holdencommodore]

As long as you removed the tape from the base of the HSF, I would not expect any burning smell, These thermal pads trun to their liquid state in a matter of seconds, and I never recall them burning.

 

[MrHans]

Get rid of that PS, pronto and dont run that machine til you have an adequate functioning one. If your PS goes out, you can possibly kiss your whole system goodbye. Just a thought...

 

[Booster]

Originally posted by: mrhans
Get rid of that PS, pronto and dont run that machine til you have an adequate functioning one. If your PS goes out, you can possibly kiss your whole system goodbye. Just a thought...

Well, thank you, but it works all-right and the smell is gone. But it's so loud! OMG I'm sure I'll be a deaf one soon. But then again, it's not too bad in my case. I guess this thread is over now. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[lemcc]

i would take the advice of mrhans and get rid of the psu
it may work for now but if it smells like its burning it is
psu's will go out slowly sometimes but when they go you dont want them plugged in to anything you want to keep
i lost a $1000 rig because i used a shitty psu but no more
i only buy quality psu's they cost $20 or $30 dollars more
and are well worth it if saves you the cost of replacing your computer
or your home

 

[zephyrprime]

Keep in mind that although your PS is 235W, only some of that is available as 3.3V to feed your processor. And your memory & video card probably use the 3.3v line also.

 

[AkumaBao]

I love that smell. Smells like burning glue. Just the capacitors overloading and leaking out it's white inards.

Yeah, 235W is a little too low. I think 350W would be more suitable.

 

[Cybordolphin]

I agree get rid of the PS.

I too have lost many a component to bad PS. You just can't get away with a crappy PS and the newer systems. You will eventually notice that you fry on board LAN, video cards, motherboards, etc..

It just has become a very esential part of a system now. Go spend the $60 and get a good PS.

JMO.