Slight burning smell - from new 3080 GPU

Harag

Gold Level Poster
I bought the PC below back in Jan 2021 but without the GPU (had a 1080) I finally got a GPU 3080 (Gigabyte) from PCS a couple weeks ago and now I'm off work started to play some games to make use of it :)

Currently playing AC Origins and my temps for CPU / GPU are both around 64-66'c. (according to HWiNFO64), GPU fans running at 1700 RPM.

All seems ok, but I've noticed a slight burning smell when I start playing the game. I think it's the GPU as I didn't notice the smell when I had my 1080 in there. I've had a look at the innards through the side panel, all the fans are going on both the card and the case, I can't see any wires touching the card.

The smell tends to come and go (or I'm getting use to it). After about an hour I don't notice it (or it's gone).

Is this normal for a new card? Should I be worried?


Cheers.

Case
CORSAIR OBSIDIAN SERIES™ 750D FULL TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12 Core CPU (3.7GHz-4.8GHz/70MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX X570-F GAMING (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PCIe 4.0) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
10GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3080 - HDMI, DP, LHR
1st Storage Drive
2TB Samsung 870 QVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (up to 560MB/sR | 530MB/sW)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 520 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 5000MB/R, 4400MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RM SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H115i PRO Cooler w/ PCS Ultra Quiet Fans
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Supplied on USB Drive
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 9 to 12 working days
Promotional Item
Get Assassin's Creed: Valhalla with select SAMSUNG SSDs!
Welcome Book
PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland
Logo Branding
PCSpecialist Logo
 
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Steveyg

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
I'd strongly recommend taking your system apart mate and have a very close and thorough look at all the components to make sure nothing is damaged. Burning smells from your case are obviously very very bad, I'd have a very close look at he GPU and PSU especially. I'd be worried personally and be sure you contact PCS about this as well
 

Frogbox

Active member
Total shot in the dark here, but have you recently had COVID-19?

I had it during July earlier this year, and I lost my sense of taste and smell. Shortly after it came back, I kept thinking that I could smell smoke. I spent ages and ages trying to find out where it was coming from, but to no avail.

It was only when I realised I could smell smoke when sat at a friend's house that I realised it was my senses going haywire. I had a friend experience exactly the same too, which passed after a couple of weeks.

Like I said, shot in the dark, but it might save you from chasing the phantom smell :)
 

Steveyg

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Total shot in the dark here, but have you recently had COVID-19?

I had it during July earlier this year, and I lost my sense of taste and smell. Shortly after it came back, I kept thinking that I could smell smoke. I spent ages and ages trying to find out where it was coming from, but to no avail.

It was only when I realised I could smell smoke when sat at a friend's house that I realised it was my senses going haywire. I had a friend experience exactly the same too, which passed after a couple of weeks.

Like I said, shot in the dark, but it might save you from chasing the phantom smell :)
Had a mate say the same thing too, says his smell comes and goes but anytime it comes it's generally burning smell he has. He had Covid 8 months ago and his taste and smell still comes and goes
 

Harag

Gold Level Poster
Thanks guys. Since Lockdown March (2020) I've been working from home and rarely go out now. I don't think I've had covid, but not really been tested for it, though I do feel a bit "under the weather" at the moment.

Hate to have anything wrong with the PC now, since I'm off for 2 weeks, so will keep both the covid thing in my mind and try and work out when I smell it. The PC is basically on for 18-20 hours a day.

At the moment when it's Idle (37'c CPU / 45'c GPU temps I don't smell anything.
 

Bhuna50

Author Level
Make sure when you put your new card in you didn’t run any wires over the processor / parts of the card that get hot. Make sure all wires are tidy etc and lead away from hot areas.
 

Harag

Gold Level Poster
It's been running a couple of hours now same temps and the smell seems to have gone. I'll open it up in the morning before turning it on and double check the cables, but they are quite tidy. I only had to put in the extra power one as it required two 8pins (not the extensions) and that is all fastened up with the existing one.
 
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