[SOLVED] PC smells quite badly

[xX_noob_Xx]

So, a couple of months back, i swapped out the PSU on my old computer for a new one since the fan was slowly but surely dying. Turns out the PSU was malfunctioning and it kind of blew up and fried my system. Great! I take the decision to get a new computer
since I can't really do much with an 11 year old laptop. I was planning to get the components and build it myself, but since this is my final year of school and with entrance exams on my doorstep I decide to get someone to build it for me. Well, things did not go so well. The GPU was faulty and it had to be RMA'd and a distinctive and quite frankly disgusting smell radiated from the back of the cpu coolers fan, which is also the only fan in my case. After some unbearable days of smelling whatever that smell is, I end up working
with a balcony door fully opened, with the smell ofcourse spreading throughout my room. It's been over 2 months now, and I believe that the radiator is what is smelling so badly. I took it out and tried rubbing it with some ethanol (tried to cover as much surface aread as possible), yet that god awful smell persists, even if it got a tad bit better after I did that. I have an H60 Corsair cooler. The smell is deffinately NOT that of something burning, but as I went through the pain of smelling a half burning PSU on my last computer before it inevitably died, for over 2 weeks, I am concerned whether or not that is just the new cooler off gassing or something unusual; And ofcourse if it is noxius in any way. Thanks in regard!

 

[aldan]

Uhm I am fairly certain there was a piece of ham stuck between one of the motherboards power cords and its plug... I am not yet certain if the smell is gone or not, but I feel like my room stopped smelling like dead rats, soooo I suppose that is a good sign? Idk how he managed to stick that over there but Jesus Christ how did he pull that one off. I will be monitoring the smell and if anything occurs I'll post an update.

your "builder"should have his ass kicked.

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

Even though I managed to remove yet another piece of ham from the computer. The smell has remained.. Or better I should say that the smell has shifted into more of an Ozone type smell... I can't say for sure mainly because I do not have the chance to smell ozone every day. I've also had some throat irritation these last few days, and honestly I am not a fan of dry coughing my guts out. I am getting quite desperate here, and provided I do not find a solution soon enough I might just send it to some small repair shop where hopefully they won't simply brush me off saying that there is no issue.

 

[xX_noob_Xx]

After I removed the 2nd piece of ham (even though there was no noticeable difference at the time) there has been now. The smell is pretty much gone, and I can only smell it whenever I stick my nose on the exhaust of the radiator. I guess 2 pieces of rotten and grilled ham were enough to make my entire room smell like crap... I'm glad that the problem was solved and would like to give a great thanks to all the people who took some time to drop a comment on my thread and help me out. <3

 

[SkyNetRising]

Pieces of ham hidden all over the place. Your "builder"guy really loves you.

It might be necessary to disassemble pc completely to find all the ham pieces.
Or just to replace pc case entirely.

 

[RAIDGoblin]

After I removed the 2nd piece of ham (even though there was no noticeable difference at the time) there has been now. The smell is pretty much gone, and I can only smell it whenever I stick my nose on the exhaust of the radiator. I guess 2 pieces of rotten and grilled ham were enough to make my entire room smell like crap... I'm glad that the problem was solved and would like to give a great thanks to all the people who took some time to drop a comment on my thread and help me out. <3

No problem

Glad it's solved now. smells can linger for a long time, I would imagine it will gradually get weaker over time and eventually it won't smell at all

 

[Flayed]

Uhm I am fairly certain there was a piece of ham stuck between one of the motherboards power cords and its plug...

It must be a power hungry motherboard