Huge problem

Joebeme2 · Post by **Joebeme2** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 12:13 am

Hi,

Today has marked the worst computer problem i have had. I turned on my computer today and started doing my normal activities (listen to music, chat online, surf web). Suddenly i start to smell something burning, i look down where the computer was and there was tons of grey smoke pouring out the back and the computer just shut off. I waited awhile before i attempted turning it back on, but when i did... the computer worked just fine. My friend comes over to look at it and everything seemed fine. We checked the chip and nothing was wrong. So i shut it down and we went out. Later on after he left, I turn it back on again to find more smoke coming out the back. I have no idea what is wrong! The only guess that i have is that maybe its the power supply which i recently replaced. Thanks in advance for your help. Here are my specs:

abit kt7a
1.4 ghz athlon with a millenium glaciator II
512 sdram dimm
ati radeon 8500
sound blaster live
450w p.s.u.
3 case fans
80 gb western digital hd
30 gb quantem fireball
Windows XP

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 12:20 am

Find out what burnt. Open it up and have a thorough look.

Don't turn it back on till you know.

I once put a floppy cable on and missed a pin, melted my connector, but the floppy drive was ok. Lots of smoke too.

Joebeme2 · Post by **Joebeme2** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 12:21 am

I forgot to mention that i did look for burnt items and i couldn't find anything.

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 12:24 am

that's odd.. hmm.. maybe it's the psu... couldn't be.. hmm

check again>

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 12:25 am

Hmm, well you could try having a look as you turn it on for a few seconds to see where the smoke originates.

Risky, but you did say you've turned it on a couple of times already.

A_old · Post by **A_old** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 12:51 am

the smell of burnt pcb/electronics is distinct..open it up, put it on a table and use your nose to find the burnt item. do NOT power it up until you know what it is. my friend's puter litterally burst into flames.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 8:54 am

9/10 times, it'll be the power supply burning up. Use your nose...as when electronics burn....you can easily find the source from smell, and you'll see something burnt up where the smoke originated.

It's risky turning it on to find the source...but if you do, leave the cover open, and look for the source...most likely the power supply. Don't touch anything....unplug to turn it off when it starts.

crazyr6er · Post by **crazyr6er** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 9:10 am

And keep a fire extinguisher handy

Joebeme2 · Post by **Joebeme2** » Thu Jul 04, 2002 1:17 am

I opened the case back up, turned the computer on, and i searched for the soure... i could see a flame inside the power supply! What can cause this to occur and how can i prevent this from happening again? I have to wait until friday now to return this power supply and get a new one.

Joe

Benign · Post by **Benign** » Thu Jul 04, 2002 1:19 am

What brand of PSU is that?

Joebeme2 · Post by **Joebeme2** » Thu Jul 04, 2002 1:21 am

It's a startech power supply. I picked it up at a local electronics store.

Benign · Post by **Benign** » Thu Jul 04, 2002 1:27 am

Well, It could've been a faulty connection, or a lose wire, that could've made contact with a postive/postive connection, etc.. I know that's not what I mean, but it's closest as I can explain it in typing..

I reccomend when getting your new power supply to get a known, reliable brand:

Sparkle
Antec
Enermax

Any of those 3 will serve you well....

Joebeme2 · Post by **Joebeme2** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 10:19 am

Well, I finally bought an antec truepower 430. The first day it seemed to be working great. I turned it on this morning and smelled something burning again and shut it off immediatly. What else could be wrong? Could it be overload from all the components? Here is what i have plugged in:

Ati radeon 8500
2 cd=roms (dvd&cdrw)
2 hard drives
sound blaster live value
ethernet card
millenium glaciator II hsf
3 case fans
win tv tuner
usb hub
microsoft sidewinder game pad

Thanks.

Joe

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 10:42 am

An Antec 430? Overloaded with what you have? Nope. Maybe what your smelling is the smell of a brand spanking new power supply.

Did you see any smoke?

Joebeme2 · Post by **Joebeme2** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 11:15 am

I didn't see any smoke but, that burning smell was the same as when it was on fire. I powered on my computer again and its working right now. I lowered my mhz to 1.1ghz instead of 1.4. I dont know why, just thought it might help. Thanks.

Joe

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Sat Jul 13, 2002 11:18 am

maybe it's not yer computer? when was the last time u showered?

is there alot of dust in the computer? clean those out... do you have a power surge protector?