Dealing with a Burning Smell from My Power Supply Unit
Asked by
TechieWizard34
I built my PC about three to four years ago with all new parts and have had minimal issues until now. This morning, I found my PC had restarted itself, and after playing a game for about three hours, it kept crashing. I noticed a strange burning smell coming from my power supply unit (Corsair CX750). I cleaned out any dust in that area, and there were no visible burnt cables. When the system is off, the smell isn't present. Should I try to see if the issue has resolved, or is it better to initiate a return for a replacement?
Answers
It’s likely a blown capacitor. Definitely stop using it and don’t inhale those fumes. RMA it right away.
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I’d just RMA it. Avoid the risk and get some peace of mind.
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Take the covers off and check all the connections to make sure everything is snug. It’s possible your PSU is failing, but beware! Opening a PSU can be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. If RMA is an option, just do that instead.
GamerGuru22: Yeah, definitely don’t mess around inside a PSU if you’re not experienced. You could get electrocuted!
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Yeah, RMA is the way to go. Waiting for a replacement is much better than replacing the entire PC later.
TechieWizard34: I’ve already sent the request! It really stinks to wait four weeks though since I need my PC for work, but I know I can't risk it.
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TechieWizard34: Since this was my first build and not a pre-built, I’m surprised that a PSU could fail this early. I checked again, and it still smells even when switched off, so I’m going ahead with the RMA.