Sour smell from GTX 280

[AntiHeroUK]

I am not 100% sure the 280 is the cause, however the smell has only come about since I installed the 280.

I run folding@home over on another site so my GPU is full load a lot of the time, but with any cards I have had before there hasn't been any problem like this. I have my 3870 back in, to check that it's not coming from some other component in my system.

Temperatures were all below 80C on the card so I wouldn't say it was overheating. Yes some of you may think these are high, but cards like this are designed to run much hotter.

If it is the graphics card, I'll get an RMA started asap, and get a refund. A replacement is unlikely as OcUK have stopped stocking the 280s now.

At first I thought it was a dead mouse above my room, but after an inspection of the roofspace I was able to rule that out

Has anyone ever experienced anything similar?

 

[k4p84]

both of mine run mid 70's during gaming so i agree they are not overheating.

a little though, the cards usually have a protective plastic over the ,say 'XFX' stickers. same you get protecting your new phone screen etc.

have you made sure you took all of them off?

ED

 

[AntiHeroUK]

No protective plastic covers over mine. I'll leave this 3870 running folding for the rest of the day and if the smell doesn't return I'll be certain it's the 280.

It's a shame as it's a great card but I can't put up with the smell.

 

[JN]

Might be worth stripping the card down and replacing the thermal paste on it?

 

[AntiHeroUK]

Although that is a good idea, does that void BFG's warranty? Generally I wait for a while before I replace the thermal paste. I waited a couple of months before I replaced it on my 3870

 

[JN]

Although that is a good idea, does that void BFG's warranty? Generally I wait for a while before I replace the thermal paste. I waited a couple of months before I replaced it on my 3870

Hmm probably best that someone else confirm - but I'm pretty sure that BFG aren't so strict on replacement of coolers. TBH its highly unlikely that anybody would notice anyway. Goop is goop after all.

 

[AntiHeroUK]

True. I will have a look and see what paste I have. I'll also contact OcUK and see what they believe the best course of action to take is. If they will honour the warranty after I have replaced the paste then I will give it a go.

 

[SwaleSmith]

Hmm probably best that someone else confirm - but I'm pretty sure that BFG aren't so strict on replacement of coolers. TBH its highly unlikely that anybody would notice anyway. Goop is goop after all.

thing is there paste goes hard is a little like putty! sometimes the thermal pads rip so If they need raplacmant it will give the game away...be careful when undoing the screws not to scratch them.

 

[AntiHeroUK]

Since I swapped to the 3870 the smell has returned, so it's not the graphics card. I have the task of dismantling my rig and sniffing round each component to figure out what is causing this awful smell.

Possibly dust that is heating up a lot? I have also seen reports of fans that are about to give up producing a bad smell. Wish me luck

 

[sprento]

On a sid note, once I was installing a heatsink and couldn't figure out why it was so hard to screw on. Eventually I managed to get it secure and started up the computer. As I was *****ing about, I got a very distinctive whiff of burning plastic and instantly turned off the pc. Upon inspection I discovered that (like a moron) I had forgotten to remove the plastic cover from beneath the heatsink - DOH !!!

 

[Rastalovich]

Check all ur cabling that they aren't melting against anything.

Check all the caps, especially any non-solid ones, that they aint oozing something honey-like.

Any increase in voltage ?

 

[AntiHeroUK]

Dusted the whole case and every component in there. I have also removed some old boxes that sat in the corner of my room and now the smell has completely gone. I have no idea what caused the smell but thankfully it has gone and it wasn't the 280 which is now happily folding away again

Thanks for all the suggestions guys

 

[Aquarius]

Check the power socket,

 

[AntiHeroUK]

Just when I thought the smell was gone it has returned. This is really starting to get on my nerves

Seems to only occur when I have been folding for a number of hours...

 

[JN]

I think its those.....socks.....tucked away in a corner.

 

[charlie-j]

Is it the PC, have you checked every part of it?

 

[AntiHeroUK]

I think its those.....socks.....tucked away in a corner.

Sadly not mate

I have checked everything in my computer and can't find the source, but it does seem like it is definitely coming from it...

Will leave the PC off tonight and see how the room smells in the morning

 

[Aquarius]

i think it come from your PSU

 

[AntiHeroUK]

That is a possibility, but unfortunately I gave my spare PSU to a friend, so I have nothing to swap my current one out for to test with.

I'll leave my system off overnight and boot up in the morning and if the smell returns in a few hours I will try to get a hold of another PSU.

 

[Diablo]

No beans for tea for you?