Smell of burning plastic etc

[Graham.J]

Hi folks,

[frank spencer] I've got a bit of trouble. [/frankspencer]

If I'm doing anything 'taxing' for the computer, making a video or doing some photoshopping, I start to get the distinct smell of burning plastic, it starts to make odd 'clicking' noises, the monitor starts to flicker, then the whole thing turns itself off.

Any ideas what this could be?

I have a Pentium 4 3GHz with 512MB of RAM if it makes a difference.

Thanks in advance,

Graham.

[Muncher]

The clicking noises may well be the hard disk, depending on the sound, it's unlikely to be anything else.

What cooling setup do you have? Adequate airflow?

[Graham.J]

Just a normal CPU fan, that's all on the cooling front.

Airflow is ok I think, it's under my desk but there's a void behind and to the side of the tower.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

PSU. Ticking is the voltage regulators having a hard time most likely. Check the PSU fan is actually running.

[GreenV8S]

Perhaps one of the fans is seized. Look inside to make sure you have identified them all, and make sure that all of them turn freely when you poke them. While you're in there keep an eye out for signs of heat damage.

[mattley]

I'd check all the fans for any fouling from a cable that's moved or dust build up. P4's are meant to slow down if they get too hot so a slighly sensitive PSU looks to be the culprit. Sometimes the reference voltages can go a bit out which confuses the sensors.

Run the machine under load with the side off, and touch the Graphics card, Edge of the Heatsink RAM, chipsets, somethimes if anythings genuinly too hot it's obvious.

[zaktoo]

I'd second the power supply being the cause. Simple & cheap fix, so be happy

Ciao

Zak

[Graham.J]

I've checked my CPU fan which is fine, and the PSU fan is working, I've found the ticking noise to be coming from the PSU so I think I'll be changing that.

I checked the BIOS and the CPU is running a little warm (56deg) so I think I may get a new fan/heatsink and look at upgrading my case to get more ventilation.

Thanks chaps,

Graham.

>> Edited by Graham.J on Tuesday 20th December 15:32

[mattley]

Graham.J said:

I checked the BIOS and the CPU is running a little warm (56deg) so I think I may get a new fan/heatsink and look at upgrading my case to get more ventilation.

56C is nothing, I wouldn't bother. There's always the minimal risk of damaging the chip or HSF mountings, and if it seems to be doing it's job, I'd leave well alone.

[bigdods]

56deg is ok, my P4 ran for 6 months at 70+ until I bit the bullet and bought an improved cooling system. IIRC the P4 starts to throttle down at about 75 Deg so as long as you are below this you will be getting max performance.

PSU is the most likely and indeed in my experience the most common component to fail. You should be able to pick one up online for around £25, although after a series of budget PSU failures I recently changed to an Antec supply - cost a lot more but no problems since.

May be that your PSU is not up to the job and thats why its going south - there is a tendency for manufacturers to fit the smallest supply they can get away with - add a meaty graphics card and a big hard drive and it will toast the PSU in short order. I run a 500W PSU now as they arent much more expensive than the 300W jobbies that most people seem to favour.

Assuming its a standard ATX PSU then its a 5 minute job to change, they are a standard size and fit.