This could actually be the closest to the truth. Everybody's considering electrical faults but if the PC is on the floor under the desk, it could have a dead mouse in it. They smell really horrible. I had that with a fridge once.
Dead mouse? Better cancel the food order then!
When you don't want the truth, you will make up your own truth.
Edit: Obviously don't have your PC plugged in or on when you do this lol, and do read the warnings on the power supply before you would open it...
Okay, I am not going to say this is the problem but it could be its what happened to my old board...
Assuming you have checked all the Temps, on everything "CPU" "Chipset" "Motherboard" and everything is in limits I would also check the "Hard Drive Temps just for the hell of it, then it could be a number of other things...
Assuming you know your way around a computer, and have the repair tools and stuff I would start by checking every fan in the system ( Does it feel tight) not spin correctly if so then I would replace the fan, or re-oil it and put it back together use a peace of clear tape over the back of it after using oil only use https://www.amazon.com/Singer-Machine-Oil-4-Fluid-Ounce/dp/B000YZ1Y06/ref=pd_lpo_201_bs_lp_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=FSN3XEE79713JMR3F3QK or something designed for computers not WD-40 don't make a mess either... *** Also check the GPU fans, and PSU fans obviously..**
If this isn't the issue then I would start by taking everything out of the case (Yes I am serious) (Inspect everything look for burn marks on the Memory modules, and GPU, if this isn't the issue at all which its usually uncommon, then I would take out the Power Supply, Take it apart and look in it ( I am seriously here) although obviously make sure the power is off and you know what you are doing because it is a Shock Hazard and not designed to be opened by the consumer ( Check everything in there, look for bad capacitors... (If the power supply looks good then it likely is, you could also use a power supply tester too...
If the power supply isn't the problem, go ahead take a look at every (Hard Drive you have especially SSD's.) For burning or damage ( remove the CPU), and Motherboard if nothing is found else where as well as GPU Obviously, If you want to know what I think would be the failure right off would be the (Mosfet) on the Motherboard managed to get damaged somehow... If this happens it would describe the burning smell you are talking about and the board can be repaired with the right replacement parts http://www.the-computer-problems-guru.com/images/common-computer-problems-09.jpg Usually mosfet at least on the boards I use are covered with a "HeatSink" but it would describe the burning smell you are talking about, and eventually if this is the issue The computer will fail to turn on when clicked, and start turning back off usually and take a few tries beforei t comes back on... However before removing a heat sink from a mosfet you need to make sure you have extra thermal pads that would fit it properly it might be possible to put it back on usuing the same one if you are careful though...
If not that generally I would Inspect the whole motherboard by holding the board carefully at by its sides, and looking through it with a high powered LED light, and over the top etc, just make sure toi be careful that you are grounded so static electricity doesn't mess up anything although this usually doesn't happen you do need to make sure you touch metal...
On the other hand (Are you sure its your computer) (Not your monitor?)
I have 4 12 year old monitors, No joke they are still working only got shadow images sometimes, but had to replace the capacitors on the power supply of one board, and the "main board the capacitors on the other monitor because they started to fail at which point it became obviously eventually but sometimes takes its time before you know exactly its time you have to do something...
Could the smell be coming from there ?
On the other hand the outlet your PC / monitors is plugged in should be plugged into a UPS system, the battery changed at least every 5-8 years to prevent a fire and failure, as well as the outlet properly grounded, and wired no reverse polarity...
LOL now I should go over there and use my VPN make some accounts just to troll ... god that was funny but likely not what happened here ^^.
Although Rust does attract a lot of trolls and not really a MMO so I don't play that...
Although if your looking to do something like that its easy to buy one of these https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Tower-Case-Storage-Drawer/dp/B000IZBIRG Mod it put some tape over the screw holes before you screw it in lol. Can even throw a dust filter in front of it if you do it right to make it look like its not there.
Comments
When you don't want the truth, you will make up your own truth.
Okay, I am not going to say this is the problem but it could be its what happened to my old board...
Assuming you have checked all the Temps, on everything "CPU" "Chipset" "Motherboard" and everything is in limits I would also check the "Hard Drive Temps just for the hell of it, then it could be a number of other things...
Assuming you know your way around a computer, and have the repair tools and stuff I would start by checking every fan in the system ( Does it feel tight) not spin correctly if so then I would replace the fan, or re-oil it and put it back together use a peace of clear tape over the back of it after using oil only use https://www.amazon.com/Singer-Machine-Oil-4-Fluid-Ounce/dp/B000YZ1Y06/ref=pd_lpo_201_bs_lp_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=FSN3XEE79713JMR3F3QK or something designed for computers not WD-40 don't make a mess either... *** Also check the GPU fans, and PSU fans obviously..**
If this isn't the issue then I would start by taking everything out of the case (Yes I am serious) (Inspect everything look for burn marks on the Memory modules, and GPU, if this isn't the issue at all which its usually uncommon, then I would take out the Power Supply, Take it apart and look in it ( I am seriously here) although obviously make sure the power is off and you know what you are doing because it is a Shock Hazard and not designed to be opened by the consumer ( Check everything in there, look for bad capacitors... (If the power supply looks good then it likely is, you could also use a power supply tester too...
If the power supply isn't the problem, go ahead take a look at every (Hard Drive you have especially SSD's.) For burning or damage ( remove the CPU), and Motherboard if nothing is found else where as well as GPU Obviously, If you want to know what I think would be the failure right off would be the (Mosfet) on the Motherboard managed to get damaged somehow... If this happens it would describe the burning smell you are talking about and the board can be repaired with the right replacement parts http://www.the-computer-problems-guru.com/images/common-computer-problems-09.jpg Usually mosfet at least on the boards I use are covered with a "HeatSink" but it would describe the burning smell you are talking about, and eventually if this is the issue The computer will fail to turn on when clicked, and start turning back off usually and take a few tries beforei t comes back on... However before removing a heat sink from a mosfet you need to make sure you have extra thermal pads that would fit it properly it might be possible to put it back on usuing the same one if you are careful though...
If not that generally I would Inspect the whole motherboard by holding the board carefully at by its sides, and looking through it with a high powered LED light, and over the top etc, just make sure toi be careful that you are grounded so static electricity doesn't mess up anything although this usually doesn't happen you do need to make sure you touch metal...
On the other hand (Are you sure its your computer) (Not your monitor?)
I have 4 12 year old monitors, No joke they are still working only got shadow images sometimes, but had to replace the capacitors on the power supply of one board, and the "main board the capacitors on the other monitor because they started to fail at which point it became obviously eventually but sometimes takes its time before you know exactly its time you have to do something...
Could the smell be coming from there
On the other hand the outlet your PC / monitors is plugged in should be plugged into a UPS system, the battery changed at least every 5-8 years to prevent a fire and failure, as well as the outlet properly grounded, and wired no reverse polarity...
MurderHerd
Although Rust does attract a lot of trolls and not really a MMO so I don't play that...
Although if your looking to do something like that its easy to buy one of these https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Tower-Case-Storage-Drawer/dp/B000IZBIRG Mod it put some tape over the screw holes before you screw it in lol. Can even throw a dust filter in front of it if you do it right to make it look like its not there.