[SOLVED] Struggling with PCs smell problem for months, please help!

[wicked1001]

Hey,

Spec:
i7 7700
evga gtx 1080 ftw
2133mhz 16gb ram
msi h11om pro-vd motherboard
seasonic 750w fully modular PSU


For the last few months I have had many bad smells coming from my PC, not an insane burning/chemical smell but enough to really put me off using it much anymore.

I have upgraded the PSU twice, sent off my GPU for warranty replacement and a new case with brilliant reviews for airflow.

I have run out of ideas.. What else could it be? My last idea was the motherboard, but I don't understand how this component could give a bad smell.
Visually everything looks good, very clean inside case. Am I going insane?

Any help would really be appreciated.

Cheers

 

[SkyNetRising]

1. Run your pc until you start feeling the smell;
2. Disassemble your pc;
3. Check every component one by one and find the one that gives out smell.

 

[wicked1001]

1. Run your pc until you start feeling the smell;
2. Disassemble your pc;
3. Check every component one by one and find the one that gives out smell.

I've done this countless times annoyingly.
The smell always comes from the GPU/Motherboard area. I have been told my GPU is very power demanding though. But this is a new GPU that was only sent out yesterday. So must be something else.

 

[Zerk2012]

I would look at the motherboards Vram area for bulging caps or discoloration both front and back.

 

[SkyNetRising]

The smell always comes from the GPU/Motherboard area. I have been told my GPU is very power demanding though. But this is a new GPU that was only sent out yesterday. So must be something else.

So - take out your gpu and sniff it from all angles.
There's probably some flux residue on pcb. When pcb heats up, flux evaporates and produces smell.

If it's not gpu, then remove every component from your pc until only motherboard remains and sniff it thoroughly.

 

[wicked1001]

So - take out your gpu and sniff it from all angles.
There's probably some flux residue on pcb. When pcb heats up, flux evaporates and produces smell.

If it's not gpu, then remove every component from your pc until only motherboard remains and sniff it thoroughly.

I just tried this.. With and without the gpu in I couldn't get a direct smell location. Motherboard has no faulty looking parts either, all recently had thermals changed.

 

[wicked1001]

I would look at the motherboards Vram area for bulging caps or discoloration both front and back.

All looks good to me

 

[SkyNetRising]

Try running your pc without graphics card. See if smell reappears.

 

[wicked1001]

Try running your pc without graphics card. See if smell reappears.

Already have, no smells. GPU is brand new.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Already have, no smells. GPU is brand new.

Then obviously - your new GPU makes those smells.

 

[rickypicky5]

Are you sure when you sent your GPU out for warranty replacement they didn't send you back the original GPU?

 

[Joseph57]

Got a cat?
I know of someone who's cat sprayed into the side vent of the case....not a good smell.
I had to totally disassemble the entire pc and ran the case parts through several dishwasher cycles to clean it up.