do you smell something burning???

[hulkster]

ive been working on my cab pc for a while now..tweaking software, adding games, etc.  i had finally gotten everything all fixed up and worked out, and ready to put back in my cab.  i powered it up, and there a few things i wanted to change, but no big deal.  ill just play some games right now i thought to myself.

i fired up street fighter 3, worked great.  i played some tekken 2, no problems.  i started browsing through my list of games and i then chose to play some smash tv.  (the pc has been on for a good 30 min), i press start, and all of sudden i detect a distinct burning smell.  i stopped immediately and went to look at the pc, but i didnt see any smoke or anything, but in fear i just turned the pc off completely.  the smell was pretty bad and smell kinda like rubber, but of a more computery type rubber if ya know what i mean.    i didnt have time to look at it, but im wondering if anyone can give me some tips as to what to check first?

im hoping its just dust buildup in the power supply or something and i can just clean that out and be good as new.  of course it may be an actual part, but my question is, why would it just start burning all of a sudden like that?  its fine one minute, and then probably in about 5 seconds of starting up smash tv i smell the burning.  my pc is open, so i guess it could be wiring getting caught or something.  any suggestions?

[Shattered]

I had a similar issue once, when a CD-audio cable was touching the video card.   Heat buildup, had melted the plastic and it smelled similar to what you described. 

[hulkster]

I had a similar issue once, when a CD-audio cable was touching the video card.   Heat buildup, had melted the plastic and it smelled similar to what you described. 

hmmm...that is a strong possibility.  i will check that when i get home.  i mean, i had it running while i was working on it for a long time without any problems/smells, but as soon as i moved it, this happened.  im guessing i have a cable in the way.  thanks for the tip.

[dstone]

I was called down to our tech services area at work to troubleshoot a burning smell very similar to what you describe. I get there, turn the machine off ( ) and begin to disassemble it. A bunch of ants had crawled into the machine and had died. They were all over the hard drive and, surprise surprise, inside the power supply, where I suspect they were burning. Naturally, I had to crack a joke about 'debugging' the computer (this was a programmer's machine, after all).