Help, my computer smells like shi*

[kysg]

Originally Posted by p3n1x420

it was me, i farted....constantly

this is so outa line

[BloodTotal]

It doesn really smell like human feicies, but it smells so bad that it is very unpleasant

I really don't want to open it up and go through that whole thing, too much work for something so crappy, I can probably sell the whole rig for like $70 CAD or something to anyone that wants it

[kysg]

Originally Posted by BloodTotal

It doesn really smell like human feicies, but it smells so bad that it is very unpleasant

I really don't want to open it up and go through that whole thing, too much work for something so crappy, I can probably sell the whole rig for like $70 CAD or something to anyone that wants it

do you plan to buy a new rig????

and like they said could not hurt for the thermal paste if anything it helps isolate between the CPU and the PSU, because the bad smell could potentially be the vid card, mobo, cpu, psu, and bad thermal paste, since vid card aint the issue, leaves mobo, cpu, and psu, mobo doesn't have any flaws so that leaves psu and thermal paste. and lastly before you sell stuff you may want to RMA some stuff because I don't think you want to be selling bad smelling stuff to people.

[3870x2]

The only piece of hardware that could smell in his computer in the way he explains it is if his motherboard is burning, and its possible that with the airflow, the very slow burn of the motherboard, could be making this smell literally like crap, w/out affecting any of the performance.
However, since you say it has been smelling like this for a while, im kinda stumped...

[BloodTotal]

Should I call ASUS, OCZ, and AMD? And try to get something out of them

[intel igent]

lol they'll give ya nothin'!

have ya tried febreeze?

[russianboy]

Could it be a blown capacitor? When I was little, I connected a capacitor to a powersupply...it blew within five seconds, the smoke was pretty nasty.

It was a dry, papery smell btw.

[silkstone]

Open up your powersupply (while it's not plugged in) and see if anything has crawled in a died. but after a few months it should be mummified and not smelling anymore! I agree with the previous advice, pull it all out of your case and put it on your desk, check the rear of your mobo to check nothing has been burning. leave it running till it gets got and take a wiff around each component, just don't sneeze.

[intel igent]

the least i would do is take it apart and clean it.....

[FordGT90Concept]

All I can say is that if it were a computer component, your computer would not be functioning anymore. Besides the "new computer smell" that goes away after a few weeks, they only stink again when they die a tragic death.

Something has to have crawled up inside and die. Or something is living in there and is regularly taking a crap. Dismantle it entirely and locate the source.


On second thought, it could be a dead/dying case fan. That could cause a lot of stink after prolonged use and wouldn't cause any noticable software failures.

[mc-dexter]

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

........................On second thought, it could be a dead/dying case fan. That could cause a lot of stink after prolonged use and wouldn't cause any noticable software failures.

if it was something as simple as that... a year or so later, surely it would of stopped working by now if that was the case, he should just take our advice and clean it, something as simple as a new paint brush is a great tool for that

[ShadowFold]

So wait.. Do you have any paste on the CPU at all?

[Namslas90]

I have encountered "smelly" PC's at least 5 times. It's either the PSU, A Fan, Or maybe even the "Power Strip"/UPC. In each case I encountered the component mentioned above was either getting too HOT or was ready to "blow" at any moment.

Most recently it was another PSU. Looking inside the PSU, I found a component under the circuit board the that had been arching to the PSU case and burning ozone, thus creating the "smell". Replacing the PSU also solved a re-starting issue.

[Grimskull]

NEVER EVER open a PSU or a CRT monitor... you will do serious damage to yourself if you do.. .even if its turned off and unplugged from the mains!

[ZenZimZaliben]

Your dog probably sprayed into it. What you should do is competely disassemble the pc and clean everything with rubbing alcohol. Completely submurge the CPU heatsink and any other heat sinks you can remove.

My mother had a cat that like to pee in the computer and it stunk so bad once it was hot. That was the only way I could get the smell out.

Dont be afraid to fill the sink up with some warm distilled water with a few drops of vinager and completely submerge the entire motherboard and let it soak for an hour. Then let it dry for a day or more and use a blow dryer before and after letting it set. (be sure to remove all heatsinks and anything that is removable.)

Animals pee when used to mark, is much more oily then regular pee and is harder to remove.
This is why no animals are allowed in my computer room, ever. They know that room is off limits and going in there and getting caught is a bad thing for them.

[silkstone]

Originally Posted by Grimskull

NEVER EVER open a PSU or a CRT monitor... you will do serious damage to yourself if you do.. .even if its turned off and unplugged from the mains!

The Caps in the PS ain't that big, they don't hold enough charge to do serious damage. Although they can give you a nasty shock if they're fully charged. So it's probably not advisable, or just check the caps with an electrical screwdriver. oh yea, also keep small children, pets and anyone with a pacemaker away too

In physics lab we used to get the biggest caps, fully charge them and shock other classmates. Man that was almost as fun as throwing liquid nitrogen around the lab and watching people freak.

[FilipM]

I had this smell for a while and then my Northbridge cooler went bust on my previous mobo...the fan died... I replaced the whole HSF on the NB (MSI K8N Diamond mobo) and the smell started to go away and eventually there was no smell at all anymore.

[DaMulta]

take it all apart and the battery too. and wash it all with just water.

then let it dry out before u turn it on again.

[BloodTotal]

The Caps in the PS ain't that big, they don't hold enough charge to do serious damage. Although they can give you a nasty shock if they're fully charged. So it's probably not advisable, or just check the caps with an electrical screwdriver. oh yea, also keep small children, pets and anyone with a pacemaker away too

In physics lab we used to get the biggest caps, fully charge them and shock other classmates. Man that was almost as fun as throwing liquid nitrogen around the lab and watching people freak.

genius

[BloodTotal]

Guys, I cleaned the whole thing out a week ago with compressed air.

I have also read a lot of articles, and it appears that the Thermal Paste on the CPU has worn out, and I need to put some new thermal paste on.

[mrhuggles]

question: umm, does it smell really bad like maybe burning electronics or plastic or something, or does it smell umm........ biological?

[Asylum]

I still say its one of your fans!!

[mc-dexter]

Originally Posted by BloodTotal

Guys, I cleaned the whole thing out a week ago with compressed air.

I have also read a lot of articles, and it appears that the Thermal Paste on the CPU has worn out, and I need to put some new thermal paste on.

i have used a few cpu's with no paste on what so ever, not a very good idea without the right hsf, just thought i'd note that for some of you, lol, but yea its never smelt bad in any way by my experiance, the only time i've smelt a really bad smell is when i blew my old athlon 1700+ (socket A) and thats only cause i gave it my brother back, whilst i forgot i hadn't connected the power to the fan... so yea... thats my thought on that anyways.

[mrhuggles]

i have had tons of brushless fans die on me, infact every single one i ever had i think...

[DrGreenThumb]

Originally Posted by BloodTotal

I wish I could stream video to you guys, I am going to run it for a little bit, then turn it off and smell every component

what are you smoking