Slight (burning?) smell when GPU is under load

[pteradox]

I recently installed the Arctic Accelero Twin Turbo II cooler unit onto my Sapphire HD6870 card. Since then, when it is under load (temp >55C or so) I can smell a very slight smell if I put my face to the exhaust fan in the back (or smell the inside of the chassis). It isn't nearly enough to carry to where I sit. It smells familiar, sort of like a hot stovetop might, which is what worries me, the last thing I want is my card to burn out or potentially damage my main board. It isn't noticeable when it is idle (~40-45C).

The card isn't especially hot (always under 70C even under load) and like I said you can only smell it if you really try but it's there. Is this something to worry about or is it fairly normal? I suppose since it is a new heatsink there could be components that might take a while to "settle in" or something of the sort.

 

[ashleymark]

I recently installed the Arctic Accelero Twin Turbo II cooler unit onto my Sapphire HD6870 card. Since then, when it is under load (temp >55C or so) I can smell a very slight smell if I put my face to the exhaust fan in the back (or smell the inside of the chassis). It isn't nearly enough to carry to where I sit. It smells familiar, sort of like a hot stovetop might, which is what worries me, the last thing I want is my card to burn out or potentially damage my main board. It isn't noticeable when it is idle (~40-45C).

The card isn't especially hot (always under 70C even under load) and like I said you can only smell it if you really try but it's there. Is this something to worry about or is it fairly normal? I suppose since it is a new heatsink there could be components that might take a while to "settle in" or something of the sort.

Have a look at the GPU and CPU heatsinks look for a build up of dust last check the PSU power cable is firmly pushed all the way into its socket.

 

[RussK1]

It's not only the core temp you should be concerned with... circuitry like RAM and VRM come to mind. The only way to be certain is a High-Temperature IR Thermometer.

EX: HERE.

More HERE.

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Sounds like capacitors are popping / frying. Can be anything from your Mobo to the GPU to the PSU. You need to identify the smell and exam that area closely, worst case you catch fire suddenly, best case computer fries and just dies.

 

[pteradox]

Sounds like capacitors are popping / frying. Can be anything from your Mobo to the GPU to the PSU. You need to identify the smell and exam that area closely, worst case you catch fire suddenly, best case computer fries and just dies.

Sounds wonderful... I've been using the same mobo and PSU for about two months now so I don't believe those are the issue here. If it's what you suppose then it's almost certainly the GPU, but I'll remove it and run it under some stress just to ensure.

 

[pteradox]

I removed the GPU and sure enough, while running my CPU under load (~50-55C which is about as high as it gets), there was no distinguishable smell. I also took a picture of the board of the GPU (there's a small glare from the flash). The capacitors appear to be in good health. I will continue to try to solve the problem, however, do you believe any components are in immediate danger? If they are not, I will continue to use it regularly and monitor the smell/condition of the board components. If things get better then it was, as I hope, just a minor temporary issue. If things get worse then I can discontinue use immediately.

edit; after further review, I'm fairly certain that the capacitors on the GPU are OK. Most are a good 1/3 inch from the heatsink, a few closer to 1/4 inch, but in either case that's a bit far for the heat to travel through air, and certainly doesn't seem to be unintentionally close. In general, no part of the board other than the processor seems to contact the heatsink, there exists a very small possibility that a component near the middle does (can't see too well there) but those don't tend to rise high enough off the board.

I've dusted off the biggest clumps I could find and cleaned off some excess thermal paste that was where it shouldn't have been and hope that'll solve it. I'll wait and see if the issue resolves itself, but of course further input is welcome.

 

[smeezekitty]

Are the VRMs on the card touching the heatsink either directly or through thermal pads?

VRMs may or may not have sensors on them but they can definitely overheat regardless of core temp.

 

[pteradox]

Are the VRMs on the card touching the heatsink either directly or through thermal pads?

VRMs may or may not have sensors on them but they can definitely overheat regardless of core temp.

I can see most of the card and confirm that no component I can see is touching the heatsink. In the middle, it's hard to see due to the RAM heatsinks as well as the plate that touches the processor, however I don't believe any component there rises high enough above the card to touch the plate (no component rises higher than the processor, and the plate is flat so it shouldn't touch anything).

So I'm fairly sure that absolutely nothing is touching the heatsink other than the processor and the small section surrounding it (which has always been in contact with it even with the old heatsink).

edit; I will note that the (crappy) installation manual recommended I install VR heatsinks, which I didn't quite heed. But, I haven't seen any installation video do so (I believe the VR heatsinks are a new addition as of recent months) and I didn't have them before so unless the card was getting hotter I can't imagine why I'd need them now.

second edit; After multiple, well, smell tests, I think the scent is coming from the 1/3 of the board closest to the back of the tower (aka near where the output ports are). (picture) As you can see, there are several capacitors as well as a heatsink that came with the board... whatever is making the smell seems to be on that portion of the board.

 

[Tom Tancredi]

RMA the card then. Smell comes from heating up and starting burning of materials. As I said this is a fire risk (heat / electricity short = fire) and risk that could backlash across the entire computer (ever put the car battery cables to close to each other - not think your computer, it isn't just the battery they gets fried but the entire elextrical system connected to it).

 

[ashleymark]

Be sure to give a strong blow along the lenght of the heatsink into the card until the dust is all out same for the grill under your psu if the psu is at the bottom of the case. Good Luck.

 

[pteradox]

RMA the card then. Smell comes from heating up and starting burning of materials. As I said this is a fire risk (heat / electricity short = fire) and risk that could backlash across the entire computer (ever put the car battery cables to close to each other - not think your computer, it isn't just the battery they gets fried but the entire elextrical system connected to it).

I've had the card over a year and have put it through some pretty rough stuff, so it'd be odd that something is wrong with the card itself now but then again, smells are never a good sign. First I'll put the old heatsink back on, if that doesn't fix it I'll look into the RMA situation. Thanks for the tips.

 

[pteradox]

Be sure to give a strong blow along the lenght of the heatsink into the card until the dust is all out same for the grill under your psu if the psu is at the bottom of the case. Good Luck.

I've narrowed it down to the GPU so I don't think the PSU is an issue at all. The heatsink is brand new too - there's a thin layer of dust on the card itself, though I'm not sure if that's enough to cause this problem. I can go buy some compressed air and give it a good clean to double check.