HD3870 + X1800XT = dead

[legoman666]

yup. My first leak ever in over 4 years of using water cooling. I use two cards for triple monitor sweetness. Well, one of my clamps apparently wasn't tight enough and water dripped onto the x1800xt, then onto the hd3870. The system didn't start acting screwy until the 3870 was soaked. Then after that it took me a day and a half to realize the coolant was leaking. By that time, the x1800xt was completely dead and my hd3870 was artifacting.

Well today after work is when I noticed the leak, so i set about fixing it. I tightened a clamp and used a blow dryer to dry off the two cards. I even took the water block off the HD3870 to dry under the block because the card was soaked (the x1800xt wasn't as wet, not under the block anyway).

Unfortunately, the system no longer even recognizes the x1800xt and the 3870 is artifacting while booting, then causes constant VPU crashes once it gets into windows. Coupled with random lock ups and power downs, I think its safe to say both cards are FUBAR.

I have a fan pointed at the case and I will let it dry over night and all day tomorrow, but I really don't have my hopes high.

Tis a sad day in legoman666 history. That x1800xt has served me well over the years and my newer HD3870 was great also.



Pics!
Drips #1
Drips #2

outline of pool on 3870
Artifacting #1
Artifacting #2
Artifacting #3

Fried decoder chip

 

[Tempered81]

awe man. that sux.

Be careful with that juice!

 

[SickBeast]

What caused teh leak? :Q

Watercooling always did make me nervous...

 

[legoman666]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
What caused teh leak? :Q

Watercooling always did make me nervous...

90 degree elbows that had a too small OD for the 1/2" ID tubing I was using.

 

[legoman666]

omg pics

 

[thilanliyan]

Oh man those elbow connections do not look good. WTH were you thinking putting something like that in your system??!!! Lesson learned I hope.

If you were using distilled water with an additive I doubt it would have shorted...I had my system leak, onto a 8800GTS and the card was fine after blow drying.

 

[legoman666]

Originally posted by: thilan29
Oh man those elbow connections do not look good. WTH were you thinking putting something like that in your system??!!! Lesson learned I hope.

If you were using distilled water with an additive I doubt it would have shorted...I had my system leak, onto a 8800GTS and the card was fine after blow drying.

I was using about a 4:1 fluidXP:distilled water mix. I was surprised it shorted.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

time for some Cheeze & Dew

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: legoman666

Originally posted by: thilan29
Oh man those elbow connections do not look good. WTH were you thinking putting something like that in your system??!!! Lesson learned I hope.

If you were using distilled water with an additive I doubt it would have shorted...I had my system leak, onto a 8800GTS and the card was fine after blow drying.

I was using about a 4:1 fluidXP:distilled water mix. I was surprised it shorted.

Sorry to hear about your components. Doesn't seem that FluidXP is a great performer to begin with though - Watercooling Solutions

I suppose next time you should do 100% non-conductive liquid if that's possible.

 

[tuteja1986]

Time to send it for a warranty and hope to that dude inspecting your card is some junior level 1 technician :! hopefully not very skilled or experienced

 

[AzN]

Think of it this way. At least you can get new graphics card.

But I feel your pain. I've burned up 2 AMD CPU's back to back 7 years ago.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: legoman666

Originally posted by: thilan29
Oh man those elbow connections do not look good. WTH were you thinking putting something like that in your system??!!! Lesson learned I hope.

If you were using distilled water with an additive I doubt it would have shorted...I had my system leak, onto a 8800GTS and the card was fine after blow drying.

I was using about a 4:1 fluidXP:distilled water mix. I was surprised it shorted.

Even if the water was distilled, how long would the water would remain "pure" before picking up minerals and sediment from the tubing, reservoir, water blocks, radiator and pump? Aren't the impurities in water, not the water itself, the reason for electrical conductance?

This is more of a question than anything else.

 

[legoman666]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: legoman666

Originally posted by: thilan29
Oh man those elbow connections do not look good. WTH were you thinking putting something like that in your system??!!! Lesson learned I hope.

If you were using distilled water with an additive I doubt it would have shorted...I had my system leak, onto a 8800GTS and the card was fine after blow drying.

I was using about a 4:1 fluidXP:distilled water mix. I was surprised it shorted.

Even if the water was distilled, how long would the water would remain "pure" before picking up minerals and sediment from the tubing, reservoir, water blocks, radiator and pump? Aren't the impurities in water, not the water itself, the reason for electrical conductance?

This is more of a question than anything else.

Yes, my coolant (the 4:1mix) was originally non conductive, but I'm sure it picked up aluminum and copper flecks from the water blocks, radiator, and reservoir. Plus when it pooled on the graphics cards it probably picked up dust and other electrolytes which all increased its conductivity.

Water itself is non-conductive, its the crap in it that causes the damage.

Originally posted by: tuteja1986
Time to send it for a warranty and hope to that dude inspecting your card is some junior level 1 technician :! hopefully not very skilled or experienced

I can't send the x1800xt back, its too old and I no longer even have the original cooler. I did however create a ticket for my HD3870 with Diamond. We'll see how that goes.

My hope is to get the 3870 replaced for free and to just buy a new used x1800xt so I can use the same waterblocks on the cards.

 

[nanaki333]

that happened to my dad's machine. it was only an x600 so it wasn't too much of a freakout. i tried letting it dry and using a blow dryer and it wouldn't work. i got some rubbing alcohol to clean it because the little mixture stuff that came with the kit left a gel like finish on it. after that, dried it off, and it worked fine.

 

[kmmatney]

There looks to be a lot of crud on the card - I agree with the last post - try cleaning it off with some IPA.

 

[will889]

Once cleaned you may be able to "bake" the cards on the oven to fix them (no joke) -- someone with experience doing that with cards and motherboard might be able to help you out with that.

 

[legoman666]

OK so i took the blocks off both cards and gave them both a good cleaning with some IPA. The hd3870 still artifacts, I called Diamond up and got a RMA number. I reattached the original cooler and everything, but I appear to have lost the back retention plate (that holds the main HSF on). I cannot RMA it until it looks stock, so I ordered a new hd3870 from newegg and a 2nd waterblock from performance-pcs.com. Once the new 3870 gets here, I will transfer the mounting bracket to the old card and ship it off. Then I will put the new block on the new card. Once the RMA'ed 3870 gets back, I'll be ready for some Crossfire hotness.

The x1800xt appears to function normally once I cleaned it off with the IPA, but I no longer have the original cooler so I don't know what I'm going to do with it.

If nothing else, this whole escapade was an excuse to buy another 3870.

 

[SilentRunning]

So, not having the warranty in front me, does Diamond warranty a video card that was damaged by aftermaket cooling?

I don't get why people think manufacturers should pay for their mistakes. :disgust:

 

[xTemperfiedx]

Thats the only reason I will never do Watercooling..EVER

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: legoman666
OK so i took the blocks off both cards and gave them both a good cleaning with some IPA. The hd3870 still artifacts, I called Diamond up and got a RMA number. I reattached the original cooler and everything, but I appear to have lost the back retention plate (that holds the main HSF on). I cannot RMA it until it looks stock, so I ordered a new hd3870 from newegg and a 2nd waterblock from performance-pcs.com. Once the new 3870 gets here, I will transfer the mounting bracket to the old card and ship it off. Then I will put the new block on the new card. Once the RMA'ed 3870 gets back, I'll be ready for some Crossfire hotness.

The x1800xt appears to function normally once I cleaned it off with the IPA, but I no longer have the original cooler so I don't know what I'm going to do with it.

If nothing else, this whole escapade was an excuse to buy another 3870.

Fluxoff works great if you want to try it. Just rinse it off with water afterward and use a heat gun to dry it. I always used that after soldering on components. Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I am a little drunk (ok, a lot drunk). Just keep the card away from electricity until it is well cleaned and you might be ok.

 

[SniperDaws]

im glad i live in the UK and dont need to use Water cooling, we get better results on air due to the fact that its fricking freezing and raining all the time.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
What caused teh leak? :Q

Watercooling always did make me nervous...

Me too- I have a friend who lost his rig to a leaky KOOLANCE cooler, just spooks me. So my case is a wind tunnel.