Chemical Smell Coming from Graphics Card
Posted by Barron_Arrow@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 18 comments
My kids complained about a chemical smell coming from the PC that I built for them. It's pretty strong, hard to describe, sort of a rubbery burny smell. Other than the smell, everything seems to be running fine. I opened the case and everything was really dusty. I cleaned out the dust, and then let the computer sit open for About an hour. My kids and I took turns smelling different components of the computer to see if we could figure out where it's the strongest. The smell seems to be coming from the graphics card. If something is going bad on the graphics card is there any way to save it? Are there any fixes I can try or is it likely a lost cause?
--MrWolf--@reddit
Burned rubber/plastic smell, can be a component that burned, ICs have that smell when burned. Chemical smell, like oils or new car smell, could be normal.
Barron_Arrow@reddit (OP)
Thanks, it's not new. I built it for them for Christmas in Dec 2022.
--MrWolf--@reddit
I would remove the suspected video card for a close smell and inspection. If it smells but you can't see anything, then you could disassemble the cooler and try to find any burned IC, you are looking for something the size of a needle puncture hole on top os any IC or maybe something more obvious. You should reapply new thermal paste. Search for some videos about apply thermal paste to your video card model, to see if you would be comfortable doing that, before dissasembling the video card.
Barron_Arrow@reddit (OP)
Disassembling and applying thermal paste to video card definitely makes me nervous, but less nervous than having to buy another one! I Did take the card out originally and smelled it and didn't think the smell was coming from it, after reinstalling it on the computer it seems like it's coming for that card again. I wonder if it's actually coming from a capacitor somewhere around the card? I'm off tomorrow I'll do a deeper dive and find out.
--MrWolf--@reddit
Do visual inspection and if needed take some photos with flash of the area, you can zoom it and sometimes it helps seeing difficult to access places.
Barron_Arrow@reddit (OP)
It turned out to be the webcam! My kids turned it on today and the camera got really hot and started smoking. Thank you for your help in solving the mystery.
--MrWolf--@reddit
Nice to know you found it. Test that USB port to se if it still works.
Barron_Arrow@reddit (OP)
The kids are pretty rough on the ports. I'll try something cheap to start, thanks for the suggestion.
IndicationOther3980@reddit
are the parts all new ? i had this problem once and it turned out to be the PSU. room filled up with smoke too but the PSU wasn't faulty. if the parts are used it could be anything TBH.
but to answer your question if the GPU is working you could try changing the thermal pads to high quality ones (NOT the blue crap ones u find on Ebay) and replacing the thermal paste with a good quality one that doesn't pump out syy157 or Maxtor ctg9 come to mind.
Barron_Arrow@reddit (OP)
It's about 21 months old now.
IndicationOther3980@reddit
defiantly clean it and change the thermal paste
Msgt51902@reddit
I had a sata power connector go all melty once. Check all power connections.
Barron_Arrow@reddit (OP)
I will, thank you.
May-Eat-A-Pizza@reddit
Check if you can see any capacitor being bulged like this:
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Bulging-Top-Vent-of-Capacitor.png
bpatterson007@reddit
Despite the smell is it running fine? Could be thermal pad/paste failing on the GPU. How are it's temps? It's not the PSU?
Barron_Arrow@reddit (OP)
I pulled the fan off of the psu, past looked fine and the fan and psu smelled fine. I was worried too that it might be the thermal paste on the gpu . I'll be sure to check the temps and report back.
MrShortCircuitMan@reddit
Check your system temp . Try Speedfan https://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
Barron_Arrow@reddit (OP)
I will and report back, thank you.