Weird computer problem

[Left]

This is going to sound weird, but when I plug a device that charges into a USB 3.1 slot rather than a USB 2/3 slot, the computer starts to smell hot, kind of like a mild oven smell that's being blown near me through the fans. I concluded that maybe the power supply was getting overworked. So I overclocked my graphics card just a little because I thought that by doing so, it would raise the power needed for the computer, thus making the power supply hot and the computer smelling hot, confirming my theory. It didn't, and the computer ran rock-solid even with a 10% overclock on the graphics card, showing no symptoms whatsoever of problems. But twice when I plugged my device which charges, a Sony speaker, into the USB 3.1 slot, the computer smelled hot.

The Sony speaker is now plugged into a USB 2 or 3 slot. Can't remember which. And no computer problems.

Specs:

i5-7600K
6 USB devices total in use right now
8GB DDR4
GT 730 Fermi overclocked by 10%
7200RPM hard drive
350 watt power supply

 

[BlackFlag]

350w on a power supply might be on the edge when used to charge a USB 3.1 device. USB 3.0 and 3.1 both support the USB Power Delivery specification, which supports a maximum of 20 volts at 5 amps for a total of 100 watts of power.

 

[chevyontheriver]

350w on a power supply might be on the edge when used to charge a USB 3.1 device. USB 3.0 and 3.1 both support the USB Power Delivery specification, which supports a maximum of 20 volts at 5 amps for a total of 100 watts of power.

That probably draws more power than a 10% overclock on a graphics card. So the diagnostic attempt to push the power supply by overclocking the graphics card might not have answered the question.

The other possibility is that the main board is melting a bit. Might be a preliminary to releasing it's magic smoke. I would avoid trying it again. I'd stick with USB 2 for this device or charge that device only from the wall.

 

[Left]

I got some wrong information stating that 3.1 could only draw 15 watts. Which is why I thought I could reproduce it with an overclock.

But the whole 100 watts thing seems to be backed by more factual info, and is probably what's happening here.

 

[BlackFlag]

I got some wrong information stating that 3.1 could only draw 15 watts. Which is why I thought I could reproduce it with an overclock.

But the whole 100 watts thing seems to be backed by more factual info, and is probably what's happening here.

The TDP of a GT 730 Fermi seems to be around 49 watts, I doubt you could overclock it enough to overload the PSU

350w is pretty low these days and you seem to run multiple USB devices on it.

 

[Left]

The TDP of a GT 730 Fermi seems to be around 49 watts, I doubt you could overclock it enough to overload the PSU

350w is pretty low these days and you seem to run multiple USB devices on it.

Yeah. I wasn't trying to overload the power supply though. I was just trying to gauge, maybe not in the best way, whether it was close to its max.

But it actually seems it's much more complicated than that. Meaning, I'm not entirely convinced that it's at its max or that there's something wrong with it, yet the wrong USB device in the wrong slot may just about throw it over unintentionally.

 

[High Fidelity]

Download Speccy and check your system temperatures when it is and isn't exhibiting the symptoms you're explaining.

 

[High Fidelity]

Also, as others suggested, 350 W is really quite low. Your PC likely doesn't need much more, but it's still quite low wattage for a PC built for gaming.

 

[Left]

Yeah, I'm not sure where to go from here. I could always remove my graphics card to free up 50-55 watts power tops, but I'm not sure I want to do that just yet.

All I know is that while playing a game, and with nothing really weird going on, most of my parts are at about 55c in temps.

 

[BlackFlag]

You might well be under the recommended PSU wattage with the setup but then we get into how many amps the 12V rails get under load, so it indeed gets more complicated
Do you know the model of the PSU and its specs?

 

[Left]

Do you know the model of the PSU and its specs?

I'm afraid I don't. All I know is that this power supply isn't one of the top Tier brands. It's either a middle of the line, or a junky, power supply.

 

[BlackFlag]

I'm afraid I don't. All I know is that this power supply isn't one of the top Tier brands. It's either a middle of the line, or a junky, power supply.

Well, I'd suggest upgrading the PSU or not charging the device on the 3.1 USB.