When water-cooling goes bad (pictures!!!)

WJA96 · 22 Mar 2007 at 15:43

On Monday of last week I reseated my Northbridge waterblock. And I screwed it down a little too firmly it appears. By the end of last week there was a little 'gurgling' noise and then on Sunday evening a little blue pool appeared on my desk.

Oh-oh!

Anyway - I took it all apart yesterday and this is what I found;

The Block cover was cracked;

That was bad enough - about £5 for a new cover (in acetal this time) but when I looked at the bare motherboard I noticed this;

and that - if you are interested - is what Feser One looks like when it crystalises on the bottom edge of the motherboard.

You will doubtless be unsurprised to learn that the Firewire port no longer works. I'm going to brush it with a soft toothbrush and see if I can dislodge it (it brushes off like dust).

Oh well - I think there were some nice motherboards on Clearance this week

kchakkar · 22 Mar 2007 at 16:05

Thats why I avoid plexi-glass or cheap plastic components. My res is made from pure copper and my blocks and pump has acetal/derlin with a copper base.

touch · 22 Mar 2007 at 16:09

is it so bad that you need a new mobo?
you've surely got another firewire port? and by the look of it you wernt even using that one?

WJA96 · 22 Mar 2007 at 17:22

touch said:
is it so bad that you need a new mobo?
you've surely got another firewire port? and by the look of it you wernt even using that one?

The on-board sound is dead too. It's a toss-up between an X-Fi or a new P5N-E SLi.

masslac · 22 Mar 2007 at 17:23

o lawd

WJA96 · 22 Mar 2007 at 17:23

kchakkar said:
Thats why I avoid plexi-glass or cheap plastic components. My res is made from pure copper and my blocks and pump has acetal/derlin.

Yes, my blocks are all acetal now too, but it's easy to be wise after the event

Fireskull · 22 Mar 2007 at 17:26

Damn, ive heard is best to use some de-ionised water to clear off that crap you have on your motherboard

WJA96 · 22 Mar 2007 at 17:28

kchakkar said:
plexi-glass or cheap plastic components

Degussa Plexiglas™ (That's the right way to spell it - I used to work for Degussa) is anything but cheap. The problem here was all me and my big screwdriver.

Acetal is much more robust though :rolleyes:

WJA96 · 22 Mar 2007 at 17:29

Fireskull said:
Damn, ive heard is best to use some de-ionised water to clear off that crap you have on your motherboard

It's supposed to be non-conductive as well! I wonder if I could claim against Feser?

Fireskull · 22 Mar 2007 at 17:36

WJA96 said:
It's supposed to be non-conductive as well! I wonder if I could claim against Feser?

Supposed to be lol :/ they usually lie, but have you added any additives or UV stuff to it? as they are conductive

Cob · 22 Mar 2007 at 17:49

Crap, dude.

Still, atleast it's not pink or lime green.

WJA96 · 22 Mar 2007 at 18:05

Fireskull said:
Supposed to be lol :/ they usually lie, but have you added any additives or UV stuff to it? as they are conductive

No - it's just neat Feser One.

WJA96 · 22 Mar 2007 at 18:06

Cob said:
Crap, dude.

Still, atleast it's not pink or lime green.

Yes - can you imagine the embarrassment of having pink or lime green 'mould' on my motherboard

Cob · 22 Mar 2007 at 18:11

WJA96 said:
Yes - can you imagine the embarrassment of having pink or lime green 'mould' on my motherboard

Uh-huh.

*checks barbs

WJA96 · 22 Mar 2007 at 18:14

Cob said:
Uh-huh.

*checks barbs

CompMan · 22 Mar 2007 at 18:16

This is why i stick with air cooling.

Cob · 22 Mar 2007 at 18:19

So what's the Feser One like?

Other than dusty when dry.

WJA96 · 22 Mar 2007 at 18:26

CompMan said:
This is why i stick with air cooling.

But dude - you've got an Abit 650i. Nothing to heat up, surely, with those overclocking numbers?

WJA96 · 22 Mar 2007 at 18:27

Cob said:
So what's the Feser One like?

Other than dusty when dry.

It glows very nicely under UV light and it seems quite good as a coolant. It doesn't smell like some of the water wetters I've used. It's brushing off nicely actually. I have reasonable hopes it might work 100% again.

Participant · 22 Mar 2007 at 18:31

May as well clean it up and attempt an RMA!