Smoke pouring out of PC!!!

dekez

dekez

dekez

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This has literally just happened :eek:

I've recently got a Q6600, and was overclocking it. Nothing major, I'd worked up from stock to 3Ghz with 1.4V.

So I'm running prime and keeping an eye on temps, up to 71 on 2 cores(freezer 7 pro) thinking to myself, I might not have seated the HSF properly, it felt a little funny when I put it on.

Not going any higher than 71 though and prime going ok, I glance to my right and see smoke pouring (this is no exaggeration) out the top of the machine!!

I immediately hit the power button and wrench the plug from the back at the same time, looking back at the screen everything is still going fine and temps still at 71 just before I kill the power!

Now smoke is everywhere, smoke alarm is going off, I open windows and shut the alarm up whilst cursing myself for being such a twonk, then come back to inspect the damage. This is what I found:

wire1.jpg


P4 wire (I unplugged it) is completely fried, from the back:

wire2.jpg


And once I took it out:

wire3.jpg


Now this as you can see is a cheap auction site extension cable, I immediately start cursing the day I thought I would tidy up my cables!

Anyway I remove the HSF and CPU looks fine, no visible damage to the motherboard, I reseat the HSF and connect the PSU P4 directly (which is completely fine BTW). I start it up and it lives!!! My prayers have been answered. :D

So now I'm scared as hell to overclock the thing and my house smells of burnt plastic. Somehow I'm going to have to get rid of this stink before my GF gets back or she will go mental, as I often leave this rig on 24/7 for folding! :eek:

So anyone know what happened here? My theory is cheap cable not designed to take the extra current with the overclock?
 
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Lucky you was there to spot it, that could easily have happened in the middle of the night then god only knows what would have happened

its a blessing in disguise and remember , dont buy cheapo stuff for pc's :)
 
CSA said:
Lucky you was there to spot it, that could easily have happened in the middle of the night then god only knows what would have happened

its a blessing in disguise and remember , dont buy cheapo stuff for pc's :)
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Absolutely, I've well and truly learnt my lesson, hopefully this will serve as a warning to others too.

Voxination said:
Got this: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-022-AK

Works a charm and is sleeved (Not very well, but sleeved nonetheless.)
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Thanks, cheap as well. *smacks self in head for not getting one in the first place*

Muel said:
I kinda want that to happen to me now, sounded really good fun!
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lol, I nearly had a heart attack! Easy to recreate though - overclock + cheap cabling = smoke :p
 
Close one! Lucky it's not in the shed :eek: I have those akasa extensions running on my main rig and they are fine. Unfortunately that smell of burnt plastic will linger for a while :( But glad every works after :)
 
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Happy said:
I saw the thread title and your name and grimiced :p

Was either the folder had died or my Q6600 bit the dust/responsible for a small fire :eek:
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Ha ha, sorry to worry, just me being too stingy to buy proper cables!

gurusan said:
Use the 8pin connector!!!
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My previous psu only had a 4pin, and when I got my new PSU I only had the one extension cable so just used that as before. But yes will connect the other cable now.
 
This is why boards now have 8 CPU pin (2x4) - quads can pull too much amperage when OC'd, addin a cheap low guage cable and only using 1 of the 4 pin connectors...

Its another reason why overclocking 65nm quads on older boards like the P965 isn't a good idea... they aren't designed for the amperage.
 
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