Strange Smell with New ATI 9600 Pro

[Mista Fadedglory]

I recently got a new video card (Powercolor ATI 9600 Pro) and since then I
have had a strange smell
from my pc. It is kindof like strong odor of plastic, but it also could be
dust that has gotten hot/burned and is giving off a smell. It IS strongest
when I put my nose by the new vid card. Could it just be "breaking it in"?

The smell is strongest when I first start up the comp, but it stays around
pretty much the whole time it's on. There isn't any over heating going on,
I have checked that. It is coming from my computer (there's no where else
it could be from). Everything with the computer is working fine.

I really feel weird about asking a silly question like this, but have any
others of you ever had a weird smell coming out of the computer?

 

[John Lewis]

I recently got a new video card (Powercolor ATI 9600 Pro) and since then I
have had a strange smell
from my pc. It is kindof like strong odor of plastic, but it also could be
dust that has gotten hot/burned and is giving off a smell. It IS strongest
when I put my nose by the new vid card. Could it just be "breaking it in"?

The smell is strongest when I first start up the comp, but it stays around
pretty much the whole time it's on. There isn't any over heating going on,
I have checked that. It is coming from my computer (there's no where else
it could be from). Everything with the computer is working fine.

It could be the GPU cooking if Powercolor forgot to add thermal
grease. If you can put your finger on the back of the board directly
under the GPU and it is very toasty, then that is the culprit. It
should only be mildly warm. I assume that you checked that the
fan on the video card was turning at a good lick ?


John lewis

 

[Mista Fadedglory]

Thanks John for the reply. I actually can touch the back of the card and it
is warm , but not hot. I actually didn't realize that I could do that so at
least I know that my card isn't melting down. Just kind of weird. I
appreciate the help though.

 

[Xeon]

I bought my 9800 pro about a month ago and for about 2 days, I smelled the
same, hot, burning plastic smell. It has since stopped and I can only
assume, since it is 1) NOT over clocked, and 2) there are 6 fans, not
counting the one on the gpu there is no over heating issues. Plus my Asus
probe doesn't sense any over heating issues. Not to mention I still get kick
ass frame rates playing BF, DC,MOH., quake III, and other high end games. I
would say dont worry especially if you can touch the card

{SFU}Xeon

 

[Andrew MacPherson]

I bought my 9800 pro about a month ago and for about 2 days, I
smelled the same, hot, burning plastic smell

IME it's not unusual for new electrical devices -- especially hot ones --
to make a distinctive "stuff evaporating off a fresh circuit board" smell.
I assume this is the same thing, so it ought to go away after a few days.

Andrew McP

 

[Mike P]

I rebuilt a computer for a guy last year and you wouldn't believe the dust
in it. The guy smoked and even though I cleaned the dust out, having the
computer running in my basement made the whole room smell like smoke to the
point my wife accused me of starting smoking again and not going outside. I
wouldn't worry about the plastic smell as long as it goes away in a few
days, I've noticed it before, one time as soon as I opened the staic wrap
the smell was awful but it went away.

Mike

 

[Asestar]

I recently got a new video card (Powercolor ATI 9600 Pro) and since then I
have had a strange smell

Like John said, Powercolor DO use some really cheap/dried out thermal
compound on the gpu. My advice is: Take out the card, remove heatsink/fan.
Clean the bottom plate with nailpolish remover, do the same to the gpu,
carefully. Then apply some paste to it, and reinsert the heatsink. You
should be fine none the less.

 

[DreamMaker]

It could be the GPU cooking if Powercolor forgot to add thermal
grease. If you can put your finger on the back of the board directly
under the GPU and it is very toasty, then that is the culprit. It
should only be mildly warm. I assume that you checked that the
fan on the video card was turning at a good lick ?


John lewis

If your "smell" does'nt goes away that migth be your power supply that
come to it's limits. I did ask the same question a few days ago. And
had the same answer that i give you here...

I guess that your system has maybe 2 drive 2 cd-rom plus some authers
pci card. then, you should be considering that you need electricity
power.
i had a 300w psu once and one time i was playing splinter cells pt and
i did'nt notice the Strong smell as it was smelling already before.
So, a friends went to visit me and he ask me what was burning... you
see

Plus i heard that a power supply failure can cause short cut in you
system, so i would suggest that you stop using your video game until
you get a minimum of 450Watts psu.

bye.

 

[dk_sz]

I recently got a new video card (Powercolor ATI 9600 Pro) and since then I

have had a strange smell

It's PCB and similar anti-fire-coating material.... It also fries your
brain..
So you either have: Fire in da house |OR| fried brain. Take your pick

best regards
Thomas

 

[Mike P]

CHeck the amperage of the 3,5,12 volt rales, not all 300w ps are created
equal.
A good 300w will outperform a cheap 350w easy
..
Mike

 

[Cuzman]

" It's PCB and similar anti-fire-coating material.... It also fries your
brain. So you either have: Fire in da house |OR| fried brain. Take your pick
"


This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs......