PC Electrical Fire Help?

[Coputernewbie]

Long story short, I was writing a paper when in an instant my PC turned off. I didnt think anything of it because my PC often freezes and I get a "OS cannot be found" error. Turning it back on I smell something burning and the lights in the case start to flicker. I immediately unplug it. I turn it back on a few days later and it starts, with no video. I have three theories: my ~5yr old PSU gave out, my GPU wasnt sat correctly in the PCIE slot, or bad power source. I would like to diagnose anything broken and replace them, but should I rebuild to be safe?

Specs:
i5 4590
gtx 970
8gb ripjaws x series ram
60gb ssd
500gb hdd
gigabyte b85m-hd3 Mobo
650w 80+ bronze PSU
Win 10

To elaborate, before this happened I dusted my pc, forgetting the PSU. I had removed the GPU to dust the fans but it was utterly spotless, zero dust. I thought it was okay because I still gamed. So i put it back in. After the fire I pushed on the card and it clicked, sitting a little further into the PCIE slot. Now when I turn it on, it looks like the fans are trying to spin but jiggle, stop and repeat.

I also wonder if my roughly 5 year old PSU finally gave out because its original from when i first built the computer.

Or it could be that the outlet the PC is on is over used. Both spaces have power strips plugged in. Each of the strips have three things each on them, one being my computer.

Please let me know if you need any more information. Thank you.

 

[smorizio]

some 970 have had vrm fires (evga units). there cause by no cooling pads and the vrm going poof.
http://wccftech.com/nvidia-gtx-1080-evga-catches-fire-video/

 

[InvalidError]

"PC often freezing" is not normal. My own PC crashed only once in five years, apart for the few weeks where I tried using a salvaged i7-2600k in it which turned out to be unstable and it crashed every 3-10 days. Went back to my i5-3470, no crash yet.

My first guess would be the PSU. What is the brand and exact model? If it got packed with dust and the dust caught on fire, that could certainly cause some serious issues.

 

[Coputernewbie]

"PC often freezing" is not normal. My own PC crashed only once in five years, apart for the few weeks where I tried using a salvaged i7-2600k in it which turned out to be unstable and it crashed every 3-10 days. Went back to my i5-3470, no crash yet.

My first guess would be the PSU. What is the brand and exact model? If it got packed with dust and the dust caught on fire, that could certainly cause some serious issues.

It wasnt a physical fire but i see what youre saying. Its an Antec Earthwatts EA-650watt GREEN 80+ bronze

 

[InvalidError]

I've used an EA-650 for about six years, still looked good as new on the inside when I set it aside due to the fan going bad. The only problem I've had with it is a random shutdown or two when I forgot to clean my case's PSU intake filter for too long.

If there was the "smell of something burning" then something must have been melting/burning/smoldering somewhere even if you can't see it.

 

[Coputernewbie]

I've used an EA-650 for about six years, still looked good as new on the inside when I set it aside due to the fan going bad. The only problem I've had with it is a random shutdown or two when I forgot to clean my case's PSU intake filter for too long.

If there was the "smell of something burning" then something must have been melting/burning/smoldering somewhere even if you can't see it.

That sounds pretty likely. Like I said, I was meaning to dust it and it had been longer than usual since I dusted everything. Weird how it still turns on. I still dont get what happened to my GPU, and I wonder If i should rebuild from scratch. Any suggestions on how to proceed? Thank you for the help so far.

 

[InvalidError]

If you can test components in a different known-working PC, you can try doing that. The other option is to strip the system to the bare minimum (MoBo+CPU+RAM, plug the monitor on IGP output, reset CMOS to re-enable the IGP if you manually disabled it before), check if that boots, then add the other stuff one piece at a time to find which part(s) are preventing boot.

 

[Coputernewbie]

If you can test components in a different known-working PC, you can try doing that. The other option is to strip the system to the bare minimum (MoBo+CPU+RAM, plug the monitor on IGP output, reset CMOS to re-enable the IGP if you manually disabled it before), check if that boots, then add the other stuff one piece at a time to find which part(s) are preventing boot.

Okay. Do you think i should toss the PSU either way?

 

[InvalidError]

I'd open the PSU to give it a thorough clean and look for visible problems with it. If there are no signs of overheated components, bulged capacitors, discolored spots on the board, etc. then it may still be fine.