Now I've opened it up and looked inside and as far as I can tell all the fans are working just fine so it's not a heat related problem (i.e. overheating).
The smell seems to be coming from my less-than-a-year-old power supply, on which the fan is also working. I think it's probably some dust inside the power supply, although I've never had this problem before, even when the fan died last year and the whole power supply stopped working. I did nothing to my computer before the problem began last night. There are no strange noises from the computer that might indicate a fan rubbing on something it shouldn't.
I don't think it's an electric burning smell and nothing seems to actually be smoking or burning (!). It smells more organic than electric, which is why I'm going with dust.
Now, why would this smell suddenly start to emenate from a computer that's been sitting in a dusty room for nearly a month now and that I have done nothing to? Is there anything I can do to stop it short of removing the power supply which I know cannot be examined by an amateur? The computer itself does not seem to be particularly dusty- I vacuumed it before I moved.
Is it very stupid to leave the computer on as normal (not while I'm outside the room, as a precaution) and let the dust 'burn away'? The smell is rather pungent but not impossible to live with, especially with the windows open.
Thoughts?
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
If the smell is that powerful, I suspect that this is more than just dust. There just aren't that many extremely hot items inside a computer case. It's good that it's not the "electric" smell associated with burning insulation. But an organic burnt smell (like toast) that sticks around for a long time is not a good sign either.
If you are doing so already, I recommend being VERY diligent about back-ups of your important files. Keep the backups OFF of the computer somewhere (CD Rom, whatever).
Given that the smell is strongest near your power supply, I suspect you're probably losing some component in there and the PS is likely to die at some point.
The other things that get hot enough to cause a smell (if dusty) under NORMAL usage are the CPU and probably only a small number of other components.
It's also worth noting that a fan will continue to work for awhile even while it is dying. The fan may turn slower from friction and not make a weird noise until it finally dies.
I'd say the best thing you can do is just be prepared to replace whatever burns out. If the smell continues for more than a few days, and it becomes annoying (winter is coming, windows will be shut), take the thing in for repair.
Some of the stuff in there, if burning, gives off toxic fumes.
There's also a risk of fire. I wouldn't leave it on if I were you. It probably would be okay -- we don't hear of that many computer fires, eh? -- but why take the risk?
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Hm... okay.
The smell is not overpowering. I smelt it last night but only from near my computer. Now, with the window open, I can really only smell it with my nose approaching the computer. However, I do have a bad sense of smell. I am 90% sure it is the Power Supply.
This Power Supply is (relatively) new. As I said, I replaced it myself last year when the older one gave up the ghost. I can't quite believe that it would die before reaching its first birthday. However, with a little reading I have established that power supplies like to die rather a lot, especially if the supply is cheap. (Mine was about $25-30 canadian dollars which I'm guessing not exactly very top-of-the-line.)
I do have backups of files (since a lovely little escapade a few years back) but not of programs so if the computer explodes it will be rather interesting.
Thanks for your help. I'm going to keep my eye (and nose) on the situation.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
One possibility is that you are using too small a power supply. If the computer is drawing more amps than the PS is rated for, it'll overheat. Shortening its life.
Cheap components mean lowered reliability too.
Yeah, it's probably just going to die someday. Maybe not today, maybe not ever, but when that day comes...
Heck, you've already replaced it once, so you know how.
:-)
The good thing is it'll probably not take out any other components when it goes.
Good luck!
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
I know a guy who had a power supply go out and it took out his hard drive...
Make backups.
Posted by Treason (Member # 7587) on :
Are you sure you just didn't forget and use it as a toater? I mean, maybe you were really sleepy one morning...
Posted by tern (Member # 7429) on :
You might as well get a new power supply - I recommend getting a True Power one, that actually delivers it's rating.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
A bug might have crawled in your power supply and died.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
The smell seems to have died down a little. I'm still monitoring it, though.
Storm- that could be it, come to think of it. I imagine roasting bug would smell like that. Actually, I initially thought it was a fly in one of my lamps. (You know: "No! Harry, don't go towards the light!" "But it's so beaitifu-AAARRGH..."). There are ants in my room, and spiders, and centipedes, one of which I defenestrated the other night. Exactly how long would an ant fry though, I mean... they're so tiny. It would explain the sudden smell with no strange fan noise.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
You could always take the power supply out and shake it. Or maybe just blowing some canned air inside it would move the bug(s) around enough to get them off whatever hot surface they're on.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote:Originally posted by Bob_Scopatz: we don't hear of that many computer fires, eh?
Used to happen all the time on the Original Star Trek series. They'd blow up the computer by asking it really hard or confusing questions, and sparks would start to come out and smoke would spew, and the computer voice would change from calm to high and panicky and halting.
It's dying words would be something like "Does...not...Compute!"