Too Hot to Handle: Gaming Mouse Allegedly Burst Into Flame and Almost “Burned Down” User's Apartment

A redditor, u/lommelinn, experienced a shocking incident: their Gigabyte M6880X gaming mouse spontaneously combusted while their PC was in sleep mode. The user reported smelling smoke and discovering their mouse engulfed in flames, resulting in significant damage to their room, including a modular synthesizer, and leaving the room filled with black smoke particles. Fortunately, a larger disaster was averted.

The Gigabyte M6880X is an older wired optical mouse, powered by a standard USB 2.0 connection (5V at 0.5A), lacking an internal battery. Images shared by the user show the mouse's top rear panel completely melted, while the underside remained largely undamaged, a detail that adds to the mystery surrounding the cause. Damage to the desk and mousepad is also visible in the images.

The original Reddit post, titled "My Gigabyte mouse caught fire and almost burned down my apartment," quickly gained attention. Gigabyte officially responded, acknowledging the incident and assuring users that customer safety is paramount. They confirmed an investigation is underway and that they have contacted u/lommelinn to offer support and fully investigate the matter.

In a follow-up post, u/lommelinn expressed their astonishment, emphasizing that their PC was in sleep mode at the time of the incident and that subsequent voltage meter checks on the USB port revealed no anomalies. The cause of the mouse's unexpected failure remains unexplained.