Plastic burnt smell

[NoNameExe]

Hi here is my config 1 years old :
Thermaltake berlin
Msi h97 pc mate
I5 4460
Kingston hyperx fury 2x4gb
Msi gtx 750 ti tf
Recently I installed the Tx3 Evo cooler. My temps are fine, 30 celsius in idle. Everything runs fine but I get a strange plastic burnt smell coming from pc. He is not coming from the PSU, but the smell is coming from the fan-side area of the new cpu cooler. There are not signs of burnt stuffs like condenser or cables.
What could be the problem?
Any help is appreciated. (and sorry for my bad english).

 

[riccardi50]

If it is coming from the heatsink then I would take it off and inspect it carefully. If something is burning, you should be able to see from where. Also, see if there was something that accidentally got put on top of the CPU when the new heatsink was installed, like a piece of lint or something. That would certainly cause a smell.

 

[NoNameExe]

Hi and thanks for your time. When I opened the case I found the 24-pin connector that was not completely plugged in the motherboard for about 2 millimeters and now I fixed it. Can this cause the plastic burnt smell? Did my PSU damage something? Am I paranoic? 😛
My voltages (3.3, 5 and 12) were fine.

However I uninstalled the tx3 evo and sent it back for missing screws. Now I have my CPU without any cooler. I am waiting for the new cooler. Should I cover it for 3/4 days?
Thanks.

Edit : I didn't find extraneous body on the top of my CPU.

Edit 2 : After some searching I think the smell was coming from ozone formations from electric sparks or arcs in the 24 pin connector.

 

[mjslakeridge]

I wouldn't worry about covering the CPU for just a few days, because you will want to thoroughly clean off the old thermal paste and apply new thermal paste when you get the new cooler.

 

[Bearmann]

It sounds like it was that loose 24 pin connector. I thought maybe you had left the clear plastic wrap (that comes on most heatsinks) on the bottom of the heatsink when you installed it.

 

[NoNameExe]

Ok. I am now waiting for the new cpu cooler. I hope I fixed the problem plugging-in the 24 pin connector that was causing bad smell. Did you ever have problems like this?

 

[NoNameExe]

Up. I removed the 24 pin connector and now I can confirm at 100% that the smell (like plastic/metallic burnt) is coming from it. The pins aren't burnt or bent. The plastic cover is ok. Should I be worried?
I didn't try to turn on my PC after I have fixed the connector.

 

[riccardi50]

Up. I removed the 24 pin connector and now I can confirm at 100% that the smell (like plastic/metallic burnt) is coming from it. The pins aren't burnt or bent. The plastic cover is ok. Should I be worried?
I didn't try to turn on my PC after I have fixed the connector.

I think you nailed it. If the connector wasn't plugged in tightly it could have been arcing some and burning the plastic some. It still should be fine and I would go ahead and try it once you get your heatsink.

 

[NoNameExe]

Ok. I installed the new CPU cooler and all works fine. I replugged-in the 24 pin connector but I still get a slight metallic plastic burnt smell from the connector (i think it is ozone).
It isn't a strong smell but it is strange.

Up.. Do you have any ideas? What could be the problem?

 

[NoNameExe]

Up. Any help is appreciated. My PC continues to emit a metallic and electric smell and I am going to be crazy for this....
Up..

 

[Vic 40]

Is it the connector from the psu that gives the smell? Than change the psu,doesn't sound good to me,wouldn't want to risk my system if i had that.

 

[NoNameExe]

Thanks for your answer. I can smell it around the motherboard like near cpu. When I unplug the atx connector I smell the "common electronic smell" like tv or monitor smell from it. My PC works very well, motherboards circuits and condensers are fine. I really don't know what is wrong.