My Computer is Burning!

[J0k3r]

Hello people how are you all? long time lurker here i think this is my 7th post! anyways have to say these forums are great lots of interesting topics some good coverage on E3 (especially booth babes!) and the new design is ace! anyways i thought i would start this thread as i am worried about something that i noticed last night, i have recently bought a new cooler for my PC the Zalman Copper flower cooler and i have it set to 2400RPM which is its maximum speed. I had my PC on for about 12 hours straight since i was doing a lot of coursework using excel and word while downloading demos from fileplanet. I decided to take a half hour break after being on the computer for about 10 hours and when i came back i could smell something burning that smelled like metal. hoping it wasnt my computer i checked the temp using intel active monitor and it said 50c! in the morning when I checked it, it was a steady 30, this sort of thing happened a few weeks ago as well and i am a bit worried since i only used the computer for a few things and was not even playing games! if i did i think my CPU would have melted! does anyone else have this problem with this cooler? i dont think it is normal as my old intel cooler (the one that came with the processor) never heated up above 40 but was so loud i changed it to the quieter zalman. do you think i should get another cooler or is this something that happens time to time?

many thanks!

[Ciaran]

50c is about the average my pc runs at under load. Most people will tell you this is about as high as you want it, but its still a safe temp.

Do you have good quality thermal compound(artic silver etc.) on the cpu. When I had generic thermal compound on my old pc it used to smell funny when it got hot. A.S. will also reduce your temps.

[pscl227]

hey, i build pcs for a living, so some good trusty advice here.........intel cpus are stated to be safe all the way up to 80 Degrees C would you believe it. I've had many similar problems before with people smelling burning from their pc, usually ends up being the PSU (power supply unit), what to do is check the fan is still spinning (the one by the socket you plug your power lead into) if its not spinning turn off your PC quick, but if it is still spinning and the smell is definalty ocming from their also turn off your pc sharpish, and get a new PSU (around ?10-20) hope this helps

[J0k3r]

Hey thanks pscl227 and Ciaran i got a feeling that its the compound that is possibly causing the problem, since i got a new PSU as well (Zalman ZM400B-APS 400W PSU) which i dont think is the causing the smell as ive had it for a few months now, whereabouts can you buy the artic compound? do you have a link? thanks again guys

[pscl227]

www.overclockers.co.uk however i doubt it is the compound

[DjSatansfury]

TBH i dont rate the Zalman gear, you might want to check that out first, especially if the PSU is zalman.

The only time iv'e had burning was when my PSU ****ed, and the hard drive frazzled and died a death

[Super Stu]

Is that conjecture, Fifty Ballz, or do you care to back that up with something?

[Ish]

exploitation,

Thats an interesting choice of word...

[RuBiQ]

water cooling would be good if its 'burning'

sorry, ill get me coat