Check your PC inside for rust

[Duran]

as long as it works who cares. when it stops it'll be RMAed/replaced

 

[b3mor]

Good question.

Most ASUS motherboards come with 8 - 16 phases now, each phase = 1 x Choke.

Higher number of chokes = Better power management = Lower heat = Longer lifespan.

Iron's ability to hold an electrical charge will decrease when rusted, due to it's chemical properties changing, so yes, theoretically it can change the products lifespan and performance for each choke affected.

Does that clarify your question B3mor?

As I said above though, for this to happen you really do have to have the system under a specific environment for a period of time.

Yes, thank you. TBH I think it is likely that the motherboard will have been replaced by the time this issue is likely to cause any trouble. As far as I am aware the surface rust will actually prevent the metal underneath from rusting, so I think the surface has simply been exposed to adverse conditions briefly which started up a bit of surface corrosion. I don't think it will continue to get worse and therefore isn't worth worrying about. But hey, I'm no expert!

as long as it works who cares. when it stops it'll be RMAed/replaced

Exactly, if it breaks within an unreasonable time frame Asus will be obliged to replace or repair the faulty components.

 

[JonJ678]

Good questions - As far as I'm aware to make those chokes airtight would cause problems with conductivity (Plastic isn't a conductive material) thus a charge wouldn't be held and the chokes would not perform the task they're designed for.

Lacquering then soldering it to the board would go badly, but there's no reason not to lacquer it after soldering. The "plastic" would then coat the solder join and cause no conductivity problems. The choke is primarily inductive, so builds up a magnetic field around itself in response to alternating fields. Coating it with plastic would have no effect on this.

As far as I am aware the surface rust will actually prevent the metal underneath from rusting, so I think the surface has simply been exposed to adverse conditions briefly which started up a bit of surface corrosion.

Iron rusting is not a passivating or self limiting process, unlike aluminium oxidising. The rust forms a poor contact with the metal and flakes off, allowing the layer below to corrode. In the case of alumium, or anhydrous (dry) oxidation of iron, the oxide layer adheres to the surface and slows the rate at which oxygen ions can access the metal, in which case it is indeed self limiting.

I second the above though, this just isn't something to worry about.