Bad smells and CPU spike

[kha.tran0223]

Hello all,

For about a week my computer starts to acting up. I started to smell something like a chemical, burning smell. It isn't super strong but it's there and it doesn't go away. It's sort of a gagging smell and elevate my heart beat, along with some dizziness.
The second problem that comes along is CPU spikes to 80-100% very frequently, RAM always stays at ~50%, without running any heavy load (~around 10 chromes tabs).

Here what I have done to diagnose:

1) Reset computer completely.

2) Remove and reapply new thermal paste.

3) Check RAM health through window memory diagnostic.

4) Check PSU via PSU tester.

5) The PSU is fine with the tester. (EVGA 750W B1). I bought a new one to test (Corsair CX 650W) and the system wouldn't turn on.

6) The temperature of CPU is below 60C BUT it used to be around 20-50C, now it's around 40-60C. Other temperature such as GPU or mainboard is within normal range, but definitely a little bit more elevated.

7) My system:
a. MSI Gaming 5. i7-4790K. Coirsair Vengenance 8GB (2 sticks for 16GB). NVDIA Geforce 970. EVGA 750W B1.
b. Cooler master hyper 212 EVO. 1-200m fan. 3-140m fan.


What else can I do to diagnose? I highly suspect the motherboard as I see a slight burn/crack on M.2 connector, but nothing else unusual as far as blown capacitors or else. I cannot identify where the burning smell at all no matter how close up I try to smell suspectible spot.
Is it worth it to buy a new motherboard or upgrade the system to newer LGA1151 platform?

Thank you all in advances.

 

[Karadjgne]

Pull the side off the pc where you have easy visible access to the mobo. Unplug the intake fans. Run Asus RealBench or WD tools on the ssd parked in that M.2 slot. Or run anything that's pretty intensive on the pc. If that 'burn/crack' on the M.2 is the culprit, it'll become obvious. If that's not the culprit, hopefully there'll be a strong enough stench to follow to at least a general area.

Upgrade is iffy. If it is the mobo, you'll need to find a replacement unless your current mobo is still under some sort of warranty (check on that). That's going to run $100-$200 simply due to availability. Far cheaper than a full upgrade. IF! You can even find one.
Everything you have is still quite viable, but reaching an age where upgrades are a decent option, so that's going to depend on your wants, needs and budget.

 

[kha.tran0223]

Pull the side off the pc where you have easy visible access to the mobo. Unplug the intake fans. Run Asus RealBench or WD tools on the ssd parked in that M.2 slot. Or run anything that's pretty intensive on the pc. If that 'burn/crack' on the M.2 is the culprit, it'll become obvious. If that's not the culprit, hopefully there'll be a strong enough stench to follow to at least a general area.

Upgrade is iffy. If it is the mobo, you'll need to find a replacement unless your current mobo is still under some sort of warranty (check on that). That's going to run $100-$200 simply due to availability. Far cheaper than a full upgrade. IF! You can even find one.
Everything you have is still quite viable, but reaching an age where upgrades are a decent option, so that's going to depend on your wants, needs and budget.

That's what I thought. Availability is an issue at the moment due to new generation motherboard on the market. It would cost the motherboard/processor and RAM to upgrade right? Everything else can be reuse into the upgrade.

 

[Karadjgne]

Yep, unfortunately it's all DDR4 or really old. Not much left to choose from.