Brand New Computer, burning smell

The Risky · 17 Feb 2012

Hello!
I recived a brand new computer yesterday.upon opening the box, i felt a burning smell like a wire has been burning or a circuit has been fried.At first i ignored it but now im getting worried.The computer has been on for 15 hours or so with a 2 hour break and it wont go away.Any ideas?

Also a question about the PSU.On it, there is the on/off switch, but theres also a small black switch that i can regulate.what is it for?right now its on mid.

Sardonicus · 17 Feb 2012

Return it for an exchange or refund. Why take a chance.

Darkelk · 17 Feb 2012

If that button on the back changes power settings for the device. Don't flick it. it can blow up the power supply.

Also I'd check to see if the connections are in the right place on the motherboard, I once plugged a FireWire connector into a usb connector years back and slow roasted the usb in the usb port.. :/

bobkn · 17 Feb 2012

The Risky said:

Also a question about the PSU.On it, there is the on/off switch, but theres also a small black switch that i can regulate.what is it for?right now its on mid.

Fan controller?

(Some PSUs have a switch for selecting the mains input voltage, but that'd be obvious.)

As regards the odor of burning, that appears to be a little worrisome. If I get it with my system, it'd be masked by the odor from my laser printers.

The Risky · 17 Feb 2012

Could the smell be originating from the PSU?

Darkelk · 17 Feb 2012

Well, it certainly is possible. It's possible it could be a number of things. Chances you have warranty on it. Take it back and complain. I know in my shop we'd fix it straight away with warranty.

seavixen32 · 17 Feb 2012

Don't hesitate. Take it back for a refund or exchange.

timlab1955 · 17 Feb 2012

Take it back

TVeblen · 17 Feb 2012

Take it back.

That burning smell can be caused by any electrical component that is cooking itself. The plastic on wires is the most well known (from over current fault), but blown capacitors smell like that, and blown integrated circuits too.

I got a real good whiff of that smell the day a southbridge controller on a motherboard shorted out. That was not a good day.

It's not normal. It's not good. It doesn't matter why. Take it back. Get a good one.

flashdrives · 17 Feb 2012

I also had a similar problem. When I let it checked by a computer technician. They found out that the my CPU fan is ruined and its wire was disconnected. As a result, the CPU is getting hot (without its fan). And so, I was recommended to change the fan. And that was really expensive (having its warranty expired!).

You can also do the same. Take it to the technician or ask for some warranty of it.