I'm running an Intel Core i5-13600KF, RTX 5070 Ti, and an ASUS H610M-E D4 motherboard. The system previously used a 12400F and RTX 3070. After running Cinebench R23 for about two minutes, I noticed a strong burning smell coming from the CPU area. I shut the computer down and checked the GPU power connector and PSU, but neither smelled burnt. The VRM area is difficult to inspect because my DeepCool AK620 blocks access.
The computer worked normally after cooling down, but the smell returned when I played a CPU-heavy section of Cyberpunk 2077. Other games did not trigger it. HWiNFO showed the CPU package staying around 66–86°C, while the reported Vcore VRM temperature climbed from roughly 54°C to 98°C over four minutes without leveling off. CPU power peaked around 140W, and there was no throttling or critical-temperature warning.
I have stopped gaming on the system and ordered an MSI B760M-A PRO WIFI DDR4 motherboard. Was replacing the motherboard the right move, or could the smell be coming from the CPU, cooler, power supply, cable, or something else? Should I avoid powering the current system on until I identify the source?
4 Answers
The H610 board is a very basic platform and may have weak VRM cooling for a 13600KF, especially under sustained all-core loads. A B760 board with a stronger VRM and proper heatsinks is a sensible upgrade, but it does not prove the motherboard is the source of the smell. The cooler, VRM heatsink contact, thermal pads, or a damaged component still need to be checked.
A VRM reading near 98°C is very hot, but many VRM components are designed to tolerate temperatures around 105–120°C and should throttle or shut down before immediate failure. The temperature itself does not identify the source of the odor. Also check that the cooler’s protective film was removed, that its mounting is correct, and that nearby plastic, cables, or motherboard components are not contacting a hot surface.
Do not rely only on software temperatures or the fact that performance was normal. A component can smell electrically hot before the system throttles or crashes. With the power disconnected, inspect the motherboard closely and check for any signs of melted insulation, browned PCB areas, damaged VRM parts, loose connectors, or debris. If you cannot locate the source, have a repair technician examine it rather than continuing to run benchmarks.
Stop using the computer until you inspect it properly. A burning smell can come from a motherboard component, power connector, cable, PSU, or even something inside the case, and continued testing could turn a repair into a fire or destroy other hardware. Remove the cooler and, ideally, disassemble the system enough to inspect the VRM area, sockets, cables, and PCB for discoloration, softened plastic, or residue.
The smell seems strongest around the CPU area, while the GPU and PSU have no noticeable odor. It only appears during sustained CPU-heavy workloads, but I agree that I should avoid further testing until I can inspect everything safely.
The system may have handled normal gaming for months because most games are not as consistently CPU-intensive as Cinebench. That does not mean the board has enough thermal headroom for sustained heavy CPU loads.