Wash my video card? (400k of pics)

I have watercooled my computer, and in tthe setup I have this monster radiator. In order to fit the radiator on the back of my case, I cut a small hole in the top of the case, and at the bottom of the radiator the steel o-clamps rubbed on my AIW Radeon 9700. It seems to have rubbed a small hole in the PCB(which I don't think is causing the problem). I have also noticed some of my water & antifreeze had leaked onto the PCB because I had noticed some greenish liquid on the power connector, and some stickey stuff on the card. The card works somewhat (when I turn on the computerr with the card in, it shows the POST mesages all garbled up). I took out some rubbing alcohol and cleaned it off hoping that it would solve the problem. It doesn't seem to have helped. I have also tried a different video card, a PCI card, and it works just fine. (click on thumbs to enlarge some)




(all three pics are of the hole, that stuff around it is the glue from the sticker that was there)

Here comes a question of myne. Do you guys think I could throw my video card in the dish washer or something? Or wash it with soap by hand? I don't know how well it would dry though, because theres that huge philips decoder on the front side of the card filled with holes. I suspect that the card may no longer be good. I have access to a hair dryer, & one of those superheated paint stripping dryers.

It looks to me that I will be buying a new video card, but I am looking to those extreme guys out there for tips on fixing my card, or washing it, or perhaps taking the top of the phillips decoder off so I can dry it properly, so that I may be able to use it once again.

No. Don't do that. It would be a bad idea.

Dumass_Freakboy said:

I have watercooled my computer, and in tthe setup I have this monster radiator. In order to fit the radiator on the back of my case, I cut a small hole in the top of the case, and at the bottom of the radiator the steel o-clamps rubbed on my AIW Radeon 9700. It seems to have rubbed a small hole in the PCB(which I don't think is causing the problem). I have also noticed some of my water & antifreeze had leaked onto the PCB because I had noticed some greenish liquid on the power connector, and some stickey stuff on the card. The card works somewhat (when I turn on the computerr with the card in, it shows the POST mesages all garbled up). I took out some rubbing alcohol and cleaned it off hoping that it would solve the problem. It doesn't seem to have helped. I have also tried a different video card, a PCI card, and it works just fine. (click on thumbs to enlarge some)




(all three pics are of the hole, that stuff around it is the glue from the sticker that was there)

Here comes a question of myne. Do you guys think I could throw my video card in the dish washer or something? Or wash it with soap by hand? I don't know how well it would dry though, because theres that huge philips decoder on the front side of the card filled with holes. I suspect that the card may no longer be good. I have access to a hair dryer, & one of those superheated paint stripping dryers.

It looks to me that I will be buying a new video card, but I am looking to those extreme guys out there for tips on fixing my card, or washing it, or perhaps taking the top of the phillips decoder off so I can dry it properly, so that I may be able to use it once again.

Click to expand...

You need to wash it wish alcohol and a papertowel.
Gently
LOL

I predict this will not end well.

Sounds like the card is already down for the count. Best of luck to you.

You were modding your case, when it wasn't empty? Shame on you...

T-nm said:

You were modding your case, when it wasn't empty? Shame on you...

Click to expand...

hunh??
I always empty my case when i'm modding it. I just didn't leave all of the details because tthis is a video card forum, not another forum, such as modding or something.

Kckazdude said:

I predict this will not end well.

Sounds like the card is already down for the count. Best of luck to you.

Click to expand...

Thanks, and I think it is dead, but was hoping a good scrubbing on it's backside with a dish washing brush and some soap would solve the problem.

UnrealCpu said:

You need to wash it wish alcohol and a papertowel.
Gently
LOL

Click to expand...

I have already cleaned some of it with alcohol using the pad that comes in the little package.

Dumass_Freakboy said:

hunh??
I always empty my case when i'm modding it. I just didn't leave all of the details because tthis is a video card forum, not another forum, such as modding or something.


Thanks, and I think it is dead, but was hoping a good scrubbing on it's backside with a dish washing brush and some soap would solve the problem.

I have already cleaned some of it with alcohol using the pad that comes in the little package.

Click to expand...

You probbly scrubbed off most of the trace lines judging by that pic.

LOL

Do you have any intelligence on computer hardware whatso ever?

UnrealCpu said:

You probbly scrubbed off most of the trace lines judging by that pic.
LOL
Do you have any intelligence on computer hardware whatso ever?

Click to expand...

You just got the forum jackhole award for today.

uhh.... yes...
I just graduated from seneca college with my network administration specialist diploma. Scrubbed off the substrate with a cotton pad?? what have you been smoking?

I have 7 computers in my room, and I run linux on 5 of them. I have my own samba server with a nice 800gb set up. I have my own webserver on the intarnet (intentional spelling, I know your gonna flame).

Don't judge a book by it's cover buddy.

If your gonna flame, go elsewhere.

Diluted Isopropyl(rubbing alchol) and a Q-Tip. Get a nice job. Lots of agility.

Dumass_Freakboy said:

uhh.... yes...
I just graduated from seneca college with my network administration specialist diploma. Scrubbed off the substrate with a cotton pad?? what have you been smoking?

I have 7 computers in my room, and I run linux on 5 of them. I have my own samba server with a nice 800gb set up. I have my own webserver on the intarnet (intentional spelling, I know your gonna flame).

Don't judge a book by it's cover buddy.

If your gonna flame, go elsewhere.

Click to expand...

OUCCCCHHHHHH! As burned as the poor graphics card!

UnrealCpu said:

You probbly scrubbed off most of the trace lines judging by that pic.

LOL

Do you have any intelligence on computer hardware whatso ever?

Click to expand...

That doesnt even make sense jackass... It's people like you that remind me of how idiotic people can be sometimes...

Just an idea, but whatever type of antifreeze you use doesn it have any instructions on the container for cleanup or does the company have a number?

mmm... I didn't think of that. When I get back from work, i'll check on it!

your pc was turned on and it developed a leak as well as a object dug a small hole into the video card

Well i would say it has a 98% of being dead as the damage was done while it was on and wet. During that time a short circuit was caused and it could have ruined any number of componets. Cleaning the card as you have been told to do and have asked will not fix any thing. The card will either work or it will be broken when they dont post and they are 100% connected correctly they are broken.

The thing that killed your card is either the short caused by the leak or the hole that was ground into the card it may have ground deep enough to short 2 diffrent layers since the card is madeup of layered pcb.

The suggestion to solve your problem is get a new videocard and take the following precautions...
1. Get clamps that dont dig into the pcb of your pc
2. Leak test the water cooling setup with no componets in the pc or it out of the pc.
3. Expect to be flamed any where you ask a serious question that is just what most children who think they know every thing do...

in conclusion It is my opinion that your card is dead and further cleaning is a waste of time. Your options are as folows buy a new card and be careful using the above precautions. Or see if you can rma it to the manufacture. (Now people who are preparing to flame me for suggesting it. STFU he already paied for the videocard he isnt getting a free card he is getting a working one back and yes he may have ruined the card himself but that is ati's fault for not making the card so he couldnt screw it up...).


Now you also may have ruined your chances at rmaing the card when you removed the sticker if you have it still put it back on and call ati and see if they will rma it or if you can use it for a discount on thier trade up program they will give you the cards value off a new card.

This is why I am NEVER going to use water cooling.

I let the system sit there outside the case for about 2 or 3 days, and it didn't leak. (or so it seemed). I put it all in, and came back from work about a week later on day, and the screen was all screwed up.

I have the BFG 6800GT (agp) in mind, and will probably be picking up one of those in the next couple of days.


I would like to pick up some nice clamps, but it's hard to find places that sell alot of that stuff around here in canada. I know of e-compuvision and bigfootcomputers... other than that... plus it's cuz I tried to fit it all inside my computer, when I have an Antec 3700AMB, and the heatercore is HUGE @ 12 1/4" by 5 1/2". (I mounted the heatercore on the back on the inside, and put the powersupply in two 5 1/4 bays (stupid of me in hindsight))

Oh, and I don't remember what I did with the sticker, so I probably won't be able to RMA it, but I might trade it in, if they let me (however the prices on their website are super-high, usually like $50-100 more than retail).