I've got a bit of a situation with my PC's power supply unit (PSU). Overall, the system has been running smoothly—temperatures are normal and there haven't been any crashes. However, I've recently noticed a faint smell of burning or hot plastic, especially when the system is under load. Upon inspection, I found some tiny dark marks on the PSU power connector pins, which don't look like melted plastic, just a bit of discoloration. Additionally, I heard a faint crackling sound once early on when I first set up the PC. I'm currently using an older power strip that's been in service for about two years, primarily for household appliances. I'm not sure whether the issue lies with the PSU, the cables, or if the power strip is causing some resistance under load. Is it safe to continue using this setup in the short-term, or should I replace the PSU, change the power strip, or do both?
2 Answers
Yeah, definitely stop using it and replace the PSU as soon as you can. You don't want to risk damaging your whole setup or worse.
I highly recommend taking the PSU out and not using it until it’s replaced. The burning smell and discoloration on the pins are serious signs and could lead to a fire hazard if you keep using it.
Exactly! I've seen cases where ignoring those signs leads to bad outcomes. It's definitely better to err on the side of caution.