Smell from me Dell

Andym on 04/08/2018 - 19:01

Hi, I bought a Dell Inspiron Gaming PC Desktop Intel Core i5-8400 8GB RAM HDD + SSD GTX 1060 a few months ago after seeing a few recommendations here for them. The machine is really good, it is quiet, plays the latest games and I have had no operating problems with it. The one thing that seems to be a problem is it gives off this weird smell, that I can still smell on my clothes when I walk down stairs. It is not hugely overpowering but I still notice it as I'm quite sensitive to these things. It is like a very mild chemical type smell. Over winter I have been in an enclosed room and that is when I notice it the most.

I thought It could be from Thermal paste, cheaper grade boards or something going on with the CPU or Graphics card. The thermal fan on these PC's sits a bit off so I assume they used a not for purpose one on them.

Has anyone had this experience with the Dell or other computers? Is there anything you can do about it with Dell?

cheers
Andy :)

Computing Dell Inspiron

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Comments

  • BertieBrown on 04/08/2018 - 19:09
    +1

    My Mac's have a certain bouquet to them, particularly the old white plastic one, it doesn't permeate rooms or anything, it's just sort of there if you stick your nose to it and sniff, but it's one of those things that I'd thought would have sort of gone away, especially with the plastic macbook after 8 years. Is it possible that the computer is overheating? Do you smell it even when the computer hasn't been turned on for a while? I know that certain types of manufactured plastics and foams can have a sort of residual smell that can linger for a while after they've been used, sort of a bit like new car smell but after the stuff has been turfed.

    I wonder if it's not just plastic materials becoming heated within the computer and releasing some sort of odour?

    • Andym on 04/08/2018 - 19:11

      It doesn't seem to be as bad when turned off, so I assume it is something to do with heat. That is why I was curious if anyone with a similar setup may have had the same problem.

      • BertieBrown on 04/08/2018 - 19:19
        +1

        It would be interesting to know how an odour is measured. I suppose you'd use some sort of equipment to measure PPM of a chemical to determine quantity in the air.

        Sorry, I don't have a similar situation to compare, only to say that occasionally I notice the smell from my computers, but not really overpowering.

  • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 04/08/2018 - 19:34
    +1

    "Smell from me Dell"

    Whoever smelt it dealt it.

    • Kangal on 04/08/2018 - 19:43
      +11

      "Who denied it HP supplied it"

    • follow on 04/08/2018 - 19:46

      Smell from me Dell
      like corn on the cob

  • JimmyF on 04/08/2018 - 19:55
    +2

    that I can still smell on my clothes when I walk down stairs

    haha ok…. Sure its not you? How many hours straight had been gaming? Best to shower every 12 hrs! ;)

    or open a window

  • Ryanek on 04/08/2018 - 20:15
    +10

    If a smell from your Dell is making you unwell, from what I can tell, it's best you sell.

    • Kangal on 05/08/2018 - 08:30

      This stories been told before really well.
      The PC came from a truck, it fell. As you pinched it a pedestrian yelled. But before you could even whiff the smell… a ring on your front door bell! It's the coppers oh-well! Now they put you in a cold cell. Where you're gonna get back-pumped without a gel. Then you'll really feel like you're in hell. Because you lost your virginty whilst the guards played Adele.
      "rolling in the deep" ; )

  • dcep on 04/08/2018 - 20:53
    +1

    if it smells even when turned off … means something is off gassing

  • loropy9 on 04/08/2018 - 21:01

    I had an office grade HP once, but no smell sorry. Also we had a dozen new Dells at work some time ago, no smell at all. But these had no powerful GP to generate heat.

  • moo on 04/08/2018 - 22:22
    +1

    How often do you shower?

  • Andym on 04/08/2018 - 22:47

    Like all people who work with computers I make it my duty to have a bath once a year whether I need it or not.

    I have a feeling it might be the Graphics card as I have heard they are not on the high end of things when it comes build quality, but again it would be nice to know if anyone else had a similar problem.

    • Changskies on 05/08/2018 - 00:40
      +2

      hey mate, i had a similar experience when I had a faulty gpu; 290x back in the day. Mind you it is much hotter card and required heavy oomph! however i smelt burning chemical smell that was noticable. RMA'd to the manufacturer 'burn smell during max load' which was PITA; however in the end I got a new card. Invite someone to have a sniff - run free benchmark like 3dmark timespy and see if they can notice it too. if so, contact dell for DOA (if within period) or returns / replacement

  • ramb9 on 04/08/2018 - 23:31
    +1

    Are you talking about the new computer smell??? It should go away after a few weeks.

    • Andym on 05/08/2018 - 08:28

      I've had it for a couple of months now, so thought it would have gone by now.

  • singingwolf on 05/08/2018 - 08:18
    +1

    Our Lenovo's did that too - took 6 months to start dying down…

  • TransportPosters on 05/08/2018 - 21:02
    +1

    It's not the plastic of a cable/socket burning away slowly, is it?

    It happened to me last year with a hard drive cable and the PC had a flame come up inside. Luckily it just ruined a cable and covered the connectors on the HDD with soot which I was able to clear off. Even luckier that I was home using it when it happened and noticed the smell and smoke right away. Now I don't leave the PC on when I go out for more than 15 mins.

    I guess make sure all the cables are not touching other things and the connectors all seem fine. Maybe even try opening the case and smelling around to isolate it. Or will that void your warranty?

    • Andym on 05/08/2018 - 22:53

      No it is a more subtle smell, like chemicals or a solvent. As I said I'm quite sensitive to smell so it stands out. I've worked with thousands of computers over the years (20 years ago)but this is the first I've noticed this,this is the first personal computer I've owned with a higher speed graphics card though so maybe i'm just not used to that.

  • jerryd on 06/08/2018 - 10:59
    +1

    Could it be the capacitors in, for instance, the power supply that are slowly leaking (and causing other components to overheat)?

  • HighAndDry on 06/08/2018 - 16:41
    +1

    Sounds like excess solder flux slowly evaporating… though that should have disappeared by now. Maybe it's ozone from one or more of the components inside operating at really high temps?

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