When things go wrong...

Drunkenmassacre · 9 Jan 2011 at 12:57

hey guys,

I have a little problem. My computer has been working fine, no issues what so ever. Until this morning. Que billowing blue smoke and the unmistakable smell of burning. Upon unplugging everything and taking the case outside, I found that both my graphics card and motherboard have melted (more specifically the PCI-E slot).

Now, what do you suggest towards replacements etc.? The graphics card is a brand new 6850, the mobo being an aging P5K SE.

I will be posting up pics later for those who wish to mock, I know I would want to!

Cheers for any help

RJC · 9 Jan 2011 at 13:01

Do you have a budget?

Your basketProduct Name Qty Price Line Total
Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor with FREE Lost Planet 2 PC Game - Retail £184.99
(£154.16) £184.99
(£154.16)
XFX ATI Radeon HD 6850 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with FREE MOH Game £143.99
(£119.99) £143.99
(£119.99)
Gigabyte P67A-UD3 Intel P67 Chipset (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard - (Sandybridge) £99.98
(£83.32) £99.98
(£83.32)
GeIL 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz VALUE PLUS Dual Channel (GVP34GB1600C9DC) £38.99
(£32.49) £38.99
(£32.49)
Sub Total : £389.96
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £9.50
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £79.89
Total : £479.35

Drunkenmassacre · 9 Jan 2011 at 14:20

to be honest, as much as I'd love a full new computer, I just can't afford it. I was wondering if I'd be able to claim on the household contents insurance for a new motherboard (as I have another board sat upstairs) and send the graphics card back for an RMA... saying that though, would it be accepted as the graphics card being the fault? Where do I stand on that?

Semple · 9 Jan 2011 at 14:29

I think it would depend on why the graphics card melted itself? And wouldn't claiming on your contents insurance increase your premiums? (maybe more than what a motherboard would cost?)

Drunkenmassacre · 9 Jan 2011 at 15:06

Not my premiums, but my parents, and they dont seem too bothered... I did bring it up, but we'll see

Looking at it again, it looks like there may have been a short between the mobo and the card, as the plastic seems to have come from the pci-e slot and attached itself to the contacts on the card. However, it was the card that stank of burning plastic (and still does).

See what I mean about the contacts?

EniGmA1981 · 9 Jan 2011 at 17:34

Wow! That's a serious meltdown!!

Could it be a PSU issue? I only ask this as it's gonna suck **** if you plug your PSU into your shiny new kit and blow it up!!

SupermotoMX · 9 Jan 2011 at 17:42

after seeing them pictures, i would not use the PSU ever again, just incase... mobo is now junk. so i would say replace these two as a minimum

Drunkenmassacre · 9 Jan 2011 at 19:19

Jees, I never thought it could have been the PSU... It's a corsair HX620W, still in its warranty (sp?) so I suppose I could just send it back...

N00bbuilder79 · 9 Jan 2011 at 19:26

Is your system water cooled or air cooled, the only reason I ask is because in the bottom picture on the bottom PCI slot there seems to be a green liquid and it also looks like there is some on the blue header (USB I think) at the top of the picture.

Ch3m1c4L · 9 Jan 2011 at 19:29

Id send the PSU back, where they can at least test it properly etc, may be fine but worth the £10 postage on it to either get a new one, or know for sure that its not going to break anything else etc.
Excess on house insurance will negate the point of claiming for mobo, it isnt worth nearly enough. May as well either pick up a second hand board in the MM, or a new P5K. Graphics card could probably go back under RMA, as your system was fine before, plugged this in and it melted it, so you should be able to say that it caused it, especially since your PSU is a good brand etc. Explain to OCUK the situation and see what they say.

Ch3m1c4L · 9 Jan 2011 at 19:31

N00bbuilder79 said:
Is your system water cooled or air cooled, the only reason I ask is because in the bottom picture on the bottom PCI slot there seems to be a green liquid and it also looks like there is some on the blue header (USB I think) at the top of the picture.

I assumed this was the melted plastic

If its proper fluid (feser 1 or something) it wouldnt cause this kind of damage anyway, ive had it all over my graphics ports and cards from when I cocked up the mobo block and it leaked everywhere, while it was on, and its totally fine. Except when it left residue in the SLI connector and it went all weird till I cleaned it lol.

Drunkenmassacre · 9 Jan 2011 at 19:34

It was liquid cooled, but that was spilt on it after ripping the guts out of my computer. Well spotted though!

Would it be worth trying to clean the crap off of the cards contacts? I'd assume not, but you never know.

Ch3m1c4L · 9 Jan 2011 at 20:00

while it may be worth it, and it might still work...probably not though. Without knowing what caused the problem I wouldnt like to put any of the components into another system, unless I was happy with that system possibly dying as well.

Purgatory · 9 Jan 2011 at 20:08

gv_of_e sorry to see your pc went up in smoke mate... Look at the bright side atleast no one got hurt in a house fire...

I would try cleaning up the graphics card if you can. I have a feeling it maybe okay and the motherboards PCI-E slot is the cause of that problem it looks like it started at the PCI-E slot, if you look it looks like it's the part that got hottest, maybe when you stuck the card in you ended up sticking something conductive down the PCI-E slot and in time it shorted it out.

I have used Brasso Metal Polish Wadding to clean electronic parts in past that have had some sort of damage done to them. Maybe worth trying to clean it with Brasso, just be gentle while doing it and take your time and make sure to clean off all the wadding and cleaner after with some Isopropyl alcohol wipes.

Drunkenmassacre · 9 Jan 2011 at 22:16

I know I should send the components off to the respective manufacturers and get them to check them over, as it would be cheaper than replacing the parts straight out, even if they charge me for sending non-faulty parts back. But I'm a lazy git and it seems a lot of effort.

If I were to try and send them back, do I get in touch directly with the manufacturers or the place I bought them?

Cheers for all your help guys

PS, how can I get rid of the smell of burning plastic?

Ch3m1c4L · 9 Jan 2011 at 22:26

get rid of smell by getting rid of burnt plastic.
Where to RMA too depends on when you bought them, if its over a year its all manufacturer, if its under a year send them back to ocuk or wherever.

Drunkenmassacre · 9 Jan 2011 at 22:31

Cheers Ch3m and co, you've been very helpful

Sparx · 9 Jan 2011 at 22:32

gv_of_e said:
I know I should send the components off to the respective manufacturers and get them to check them over, as it would be cheaper than replacing the parts straight out, even if they charge me for sending non-faulty parts back. But I'm a lazy git and it seems a lot of effort.

Effort will do you many favours in this scenario, i.e. save you a hell of a lot of money!

gv_of_e said:
If I were to try and send them back, do I get in touch directly with the manufacturers or the place I bought them?

When did you buy each individual component (gpu, mobo & psu)? Oc have their own warranty to a certain extent, otherwise it will be manufacturer warranty.

gv_of_e said:
PS, how can I get rid of the smell of burning plastic?

Leave it on a window sill or something with the window open to air! Don't think it will ever get rid of it though permanently..

Drunkenmassacre · 10 Jan 2011 at 22:51

The smell is in our computer room, thats the problem!

I've been in contacts with resellers etc, so lets keep the digits crossed!

Darkzy · 10 Jan 2011 at 23:08

you use a surge protecter right?? lol ..

and 1) Glum
2) yeah like the others said under 1 year OC UK (or wherever) if not manufacturer