Buyers Beware! Swiftech H20 120 - Leaking to Hell and Back!

nikebee · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:31

edit: crap, posted in GD, someone move this to Water or something please

edit2: maybe leave it in GD, since I only want some advice on who to contact?

Just a headsup, and some quick advice needed really.

My Swiftech H20 120 is leaking at the seems of the pump (not the pipes).

It's squirted a wonderful green bile over half of the components in my machine, and may very well have borked my BFG 8800 GTX

It appears to have been leaking for a while now, although that said none of it is wet. It's just dried goop...

The machine has a window on the side, but wasn't noticable until you actually physically went inside.

I opened up the machine as I've been getting random BSODs when the machine enters heavy load and fear this is the route of the problems...

What's the best (and safest) way to clean up the 8800 GTX, and my motherboard (EVGA 680i)...

For pics (currently still uploading)

http://www.nikebee.com/pics

I've got some UV ones as well in there that will help show up the water.

Do I contact OcUK about this or go straight to Swiftech, to be fair I'm not best pleased if this has borked a 250 odd quid Graphics card, and potentially the mobo as well.

The machine was built back in November/December time.

GeX · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:33

first point of call would the retailer

HeX · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:35

Then i'd e-mail swiftec and try and blag some goodies in compensation.

Jokester · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:35

Other thing to do is wipe it up, and remove as much of the residue as you can.

nikebee · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:36

HeX said:
Then i'd e-mail swiftec and try and blag some goodies in compensation.

Like a new 8800GTX and a new EVGA 680i please....

I somehow doubt they will be that generous unfortunately

But you never know, as this may very well have borked £500(ish) worth of hardware.

Firegod · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:36

Aye get back on to ocUK to sort out mate. That's your consumer right.

nikebee · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:36

Jokester said:
Other thing to do is wipe it up, and remove as much of the residue as you can.

Do I need to use anything specific?

helmutcheese · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:39

You can toally wash a Mobo is warm mild soapy water then rise very well and leave to dry 100%

I used to wash PCB's for years and someone did have same issue as you above on another forum.

nikebee · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:44

helmutcheese said:
You can toally wash a Mobo is warm mild soapy water then rise very well and leave to dry 100%

I used to wash PCB's for years and someone did have same issue as you above on another forum.

Would it be okay to do the same for a Graphics card also? (Presumably so...)

iraiguana · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:45

You can wash them, as long as the connectors have not been corroded like what happened with my last WC rig. Then dry it in a airing cupboard for a few days and should be right as rain!

helmutcheese · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:47

Yes but Google it to see others who have done it, the problem is you MUST rinse it 100% with clean water after you use some kinda soap and then MUST get it 100% dry (beware some chemicals make static or leave coating).

I did it for 15years and would not think twice about doing so to my Mobo or GPU if I had to.

You could clean it with ISO PROPYLN CLEANER and make sure its 100% dry before you refit, I have never damaged anything with it.

nikebee · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:50

Well the chances are that it's completely shagged the mobo or the graphics card anyway, so I doubt getting it more wet would do any more harm :rolleyes:

I may wait until tomorrow, give OCUK a ring and see what they recommend.

I don't want to do it, and have Swiftech or OcUK saying it was a ridiculous idea to try and clean it off like that - and then claim that that is what damaged it.

At least if I have one or the other company recommend this as a course of action, if something goes horribly wrong I can point the blame at someone else

helmutcheese · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:52

You may be lucky and the additive makes it not conduct elect as much as pure water, that was the case with peep I mentioned above.

Dont clean it yet, you may need proof for both OCUK and Swifttech.

nikebee · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:58

helmutcheese said:
You may be lucky and the additive makes it not conduct elect as much as pure water, that was the case with peep I mentioned above.

Dont clean it yet, you may need proof for both OCUK and Swifttech.

Indeed, although the photos should be more than enough proof.

I'm writing an email to Swiftech (seem to be a US based company, so I'm not wasting money on phone calls.... yet...) to see what they have to say.

I'll be phoning OcUK in the morning.

V|per · 3 Mar 2008 at 19:58

What was the coolant used by the way?

helmutcheese · 3 Mar 2008 at 20:02

nikebee said:
Indeed, although the photos should be more than enough proof.

I'm writing an email to Swiftech (seem to be a US based company, so I'm not wasting money on phone calls.... yet...) to see what they have to say.

I'll be phoning OcUK in the morning.

Thre photos could be anyones mate lol, they may want to actually see the hardware and repalce it.

nikebee · 3 Mar 2008 at 20:03

V|per said:
What was the coolant used by the way?

The stock coolant that came with the pump, unsure of the make sorry.

nikebee · 3 Mar 2008 at 20:05

helmutcheese said:
Thre photos could be anyones mate lol, they may want to actually see the hardware and repalce it.

Fair enough.

As I said, I'm waiting for advice from either company first.

MikeTimbers · 3 Mar 2008 at 20:17

Not the first, I'm sure I've seen someone else on here with the same issue.

uv · 3 Mar 2008 at 20:37

helmutcheese said:
Thre photos could be anyones mate lol, they may want to actually see the hardware and repalce it.

Hovis?

unlucky nb, now I keep glancing at my rig in case it's leaking all over the place :/