Ok guys first I like to say this is my first post. I have been browsing these forums for a long time the information has been great. Anyway so here is my problem. I have a Dell Dimension 8400 I have had this computer for over four years never had a problem with it. I play World of Warcraft on this computer since day one never ever had a problem before. One day when I'm playing I start smelling this weird burning smell like plastic it keeps getting worse. I open the box look for anything burning or melting don't see anything. The smell is the strongest by the powersupply and the p4chip / heatsink. So I figure to myself must be the powersupply. Run to the store upgrade to a 500 watt standard powersupply hook it up and the same incident happens again. That burning smell and the computer locks up. I open up the box look around the fans are all working but I noticed that the video card and near that area is really hot. Any idea's where I should go from here. Should I junk this thing I don't want this computer to burn my house down. Thanks for any help you guys can give me.
Something burning in my dell dimension 8400
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Welcome to Tech-Forums.net!
Could you please tell me what CPU and Video Card you have?
If the heat is coming from the CPU HS&Fan & Video Card, it could be the fact that after 4 years the thermal material on both the CPU & GPU have gone bone dry. More than likely the CPU had a thermal pad. The GPU probably had some sort of cheap Thermal grease. If it's the X800 XT you have in that, it's white garbage grease.
The fix could be after market cooling and High Quality thermal grease.
Could you please tell me what CPU and Video Card you have?
If the heat is coming from the CPU HS&Fan & Video Card, it could be the fact that after 4 years the thermal material on both the CPU & GPU have gone bone dry. More than likely the CPU had a thermal pad. The GPU probably had some sort of cheap Thermal grease. If it's the X800 XT you have in that, it's white garbage grease.
The fix could be after market cooling and High Quality thermal grease.
Sprayed with air lately?
Newegg.com - Memorex 32028021 Air Duster Unscented, 1 Pack
sounds like video card? what slot do you have? agp, pci, pci-e?
If it hasn't been air cleaned try that. Are you overclocked? You can download CoreTemp to check cpu temps. http://www.techist.com/forums/f78/real-temp-v-core-temp-196269/
good time to make sure everythings backed-up too
Newegg.com - Memorex 32028021 Air Duster Unscented, 1 Pack
sounds like video card? what slot do you have? agp, pci, pci-e?
If it hasn't been air cleaned try that. Are you overclocked? You can download CoreTemp to check cpu temps. http://www.techist.com/forums/f78/real-temp-v-core-temp-196269/
good time to make sure everythings backed-up too
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It's a Dell Dimension 8400. I doubt he's overclocking. I also doubt the Dell Dimension 8400 is compatible with CoreTemp.
Correct on both. Cant OC a Dimension 8400 and CoreTemp doesnt work. I have tried myself. Same system i have. The CPU is the 3.4 GHz Prescott if it is like mine. If the config is near mine it wuold also have a vanilla 6800 in there as well.
Wow this site is great fast reply's . Ok its a P4 3.2 with a 256mb nvidia gforce 6 series . I turned on the computer played warcraft again. I started smelling that smell It was coming from the video card. The computer locked up again. I turned off the computer and pulled all the cards out to look for burning or melting anything. I didnt find anything at all. The video card was so hot I couldn't even touch it. Maybe the fan took a dump . I don't want to spend the money for a new video card if its not the problem. Thanks again for all the help.
Also its a pci express and I am not overclocking. I do smell a slight smell too from the fan too but mostly from the video card.
Also its a pci express and I am not overclocking. I do smell a slight smell too from the fan too but mostly from the video card.
Yeah you got the GeForce 6800 in there. That is all that was offered at the time. I got the same thing myself but have since upgraded.
I would say the card is dead. I could send ya my old 6800 over. It still works and has a NVSilencer Cooler on it.
I would say the card is dead. I could send ya my old 6800 over. It still works and has a NVSilencer Cooler on it.
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My Dell Dimension 8400 just died on me about two months ago. Mobo fried. Bought it (computer)when Doom 3 came out. Not trying to be a computer grim reaper, but just putting that out there for you guys.
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