CPU started smoking

[Designful]

After completing the build, I start up the computer to see the CPU start smoking slightly. As soon as I saw it (I have a glass window on the side of the case), I shut it down hoping it didn't cause any damage. I also noticed a red led on the motherboard I don't recall ever seeing before.

Since I was just moving parts around and not building the PC for the first time, the CPU has been used a bit. Could it be that I didn't apply any thermal paste to it?

I have an i5-3570k with H100i Cooler. Asus P8b75-M mb. I'm 99% sure it wasn't anything else that was smoking but just in case I also have a gtx 980ti and 750w psu that has all been used together previously.

I'm 99% sure I installed the cooler correctly, however upon start up it had reverted to it's default RGB settings (Red instead of White) so I'm unsure whether it does that normally when unplugged or I made a mistake.

 

[Kevern_11]

Could be a bad mobo. Probably not a thermal paste issue though because it wouldnt smoke immediatly. In fact its most likely nothing related to cooling because it will take a bit for the CPU to get hot. How long did it take to start smoking after you booted it.

 

[Designful]

Could be a bad mobo. Probably not a thermal paste issue though because it wouldnt smoke immediatly. In fact its most likely nothing related to cooling because it will take a bit for the CPU to get hot. How long did it take to start smoking after you booted it.

Not long at all. I watched it, saw the red led and noticed the default RGB coloring of the cooler. Seconds later i saw a little smoke, reacted accordingly. Few seconds after that I could smell something had burned.

It happened this morning. I have yet to try turning it on again, or take anything apart. What mistake could've I had made for it to smoke? I don't think I was dumb enough to install the CPU incorrectly and if I was would that be the cause possibly?

 

[Shaun o]

Well like most electronic parts if you run a current the wrong way around a circuit, you fry it within a few seconds.
If you put the cpu in the cpu socket, you would of known it was in the wrong way.

When you attempted to lock down the retention arm of the cpu socket.
The only other thing would be if you bought a board for a different version of the Intel cpu you had.

Or that the cpu cooler was fitted wrong.

If you had an ASUS board the red Light means a power problem to the Cpu.

So it would tell me the wrong type of cpu was put in the wrong type of cpu socket.
Check what revison of the Intel cpu you have is, and the cpu socket number of the board and if it supports the cpu you have.

As the power points on each on the underside of the cpu are in different pin out configuration.
For each socket version number.

That would cause the smoke you saw as + and - power feed might of been sent backwards through the cpu.

Either the board is damaged, or the cpu. or at worst both.

 

[JimF_35]

Most modern CPUs have thermal throttling to prevent over heating when the heat sink is installed improperly. I am with Kevern on this one. It is/probably your VRMs on the mother board. I would look for charring around these. If there is then you have a good case for an RMA.

 

[Designful]

Well like most electronic parts if you run a current the wrong way around a circuit, you fry it within a few seconds.
If you put the cpu in the cpu socket, you would of known it was in the wrong way.

When you attempted to lock down the retention arm of the cpu socket.
The only other thing would be if you bought a board for a different version of the Intel cpu you had.

Or that the cpu cooler was fitted wrong.

If you had an ASUS board the red Light means a power problem to the Cpu.

So it would tell me the wrong type of cpu was put in the wrong type of cpu socket.
Check what revison of the Intel cpu you have is, and the cpu socket number of the board and if it supports the cpu you have.

As the power points on each on the underside of the cpu are in different pin out configuration.
For each socket version number.

Both LGA 1155. I've used this build before so the compatibility isn't an issue.

 

[Designful]

Most modern CPUs have thermal throttling to prevent over heating when the heat sink is installed improperly. I am with Kevern on this one. It is/probably your VRMs on the mother board. I would look for charring around these. If there is then you have a good case for an RMA.

I have used this mb for over a year now and it has functioned flawlessly. I will check though for charring when I get home as I am at work currently =). I am uncertain of the quality job I did building since it was late at night and I was very tired when doing it so I think there was a mistake on my end.

 

[Designful]

UPDATE: I found out it wasn't exactly the CPU, but the watercooler. One of the wires I had plugged in wasn't exactly in all the way causing it to smoke (they have clips but fucking never stay locked). I'm now doubting the integrity of whether the cooler is working (judging by Corsair Link it's not) so yeah. Thanks for the answers, I was scared to death I fried my CPU/Motherboard!

 

[Kevern_11]

Never heard of that happening, interesting

 

[JimF_35]

Never heard of that happening, interesting

He could be talking about the wire in the header connector coming free of the connector and shorting on the wire next to it. I have had this happen when resleaving wires. If you don't open the lock tab on the connector enough then the wire will not connect into the header properly and can come out.