Question Very faint burnt metallic smell from PSU in newly built pc. Weird paint on battery-looking component (Corsair CX550)

Dec 24, 2024
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No smoke from my PC and my temps are very good. I can smell a faint slightly burnt metallic smell from my PSU when I go up close and sniff, but previously it had spread and accumulated in my room. There is also this weird black paint on this battery-looking thing, I don't know what that is and if it is normal. PSU: Corsair CX550.
I have since turned off my PC and unplugged my power supply.

BUILD (built 4 days ago): https://dk.pcpartpicker.com/list/jcp4sp
Windows 11
Have like 800 gigs left on the SSD
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New PSU? Source?

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Disk drive(s)? Make, model, capacity, how full?

One concern being that the PSU may not have sufficient wattage to support the build.

= = = =

Not unusual for electronics to emit some initial oders when new and first "heated up".

The smells should decrease very quickly and be gone soon thereafter.

Just keep a close eye and nose on on the PC and if anything else occurs then the system should be shutdown, unplugged, and inspected thereafter.
 
New PSU? Source?

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Disk drive(s)? Make, model, capacity, how full?

One concern being that the PSU may not have sufficient wattage to support the build.

= = = =

Not unusual for electronics to emit some initial oders when new and first "heated up".

The smells should decrease very quickly and be gone soon thereafter.

Just keep a close eye and nose on on the PC and if anything else occurs then the system should be shutdown, unplugged, and inspected thereafter.
updated
 
New PSU? Source?

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Disk drive(s)? Make, model, capacity, how full?

One concern being that the PSU may not have sufficient wattage to support the build.

= = = =

Not unusual for electronics to emit some initial oders when new and first "heated up".

The smells should decrease very quickly and be gone soon thereafter.

Just keep a close eye and nose on on the PC and if anything else occurs then the system should be shutdown, unplugged, and inspected thereafter.
image.png
Is this black weird paint/melted thing anything to be worried about though?
 
Not uncommon to have drips and drabs of heat glues etc. inside PSU's.

May have already "burned off" if that was indeed the source of smell.

Watch for any further signs of heat, swelling, moisture/liquid.

= = ==

I will suggest that you use two or three online calculators to determine the appropriate/applicable wattage for the build.

550 Watts may not be enough for peak power demands.
 
Not uncommon to have drips and drabs of heat glues etc. inside PSU's.

May have already "burned off" if that was indeed the source of smell.

Watch for any further signs of heat, swelling, moisture/liquid.

= = ==

I will suggest that you use two or three online calculators to determine the appropriate/applicable wattage for the build.

550 Watts may not be enough for peak power demands.
The calculators all determined the wattage was enough. I'll turn my pc back on again and see what happens