Dangerous or Not? (pics inside) GPU PCB has white marks/residue around solder points.

[ElliotAndreyIkon]

I need some help.

Hope there is someone who co could tell me if this is dangerous and i should not stick it into my pc.

THis is a GTX 1060 SC 6GB that i just received in the mail yesterday. Purchased used off of a store on ebay.

I took it out of the box and after the initial inspection of the PCB i found some marks that resemble dried up water.
I have not put the card into my pc yet as the presence of those marks makes me a little worried.

 

i,ve looked for similar things in other topics and other forums, but didnt find anything definitive.

Someone says wipe it off with IPA someone says dont touch it and enjoy your GPU while it lasts, other people post pictures of

BLOWN GPUs, or components on their GPUs PCBs.

 

 

Id like to figure out whether i should just get my money back and get a different 1060 or if i should start brushing that PCB with short

bristles and IPA.

Id like to hear from someone who has seen this before or knows what it is and how to deal with this and whether to deal with this at all. 

Any help is appreciated.
 Below you'll find photographs of the said marks on the GPU.

[Raudi_]

It's safe, it's left over flux from manufacturing.

[Spotty]

Looks like it's just from the flux used when soldering. It shouldn't affect the card, but you could clean it off with isopropyl alcohol if you really wanted to.

[Godlygamer23]

It appears to be flux leftover from the manufacturing process. While the above comment states that it's safe, this is not inherent, depending on the kind of flux applied and where it's sitting at. If left on solder joints(and there might be some present), it can be corrosive and destroy the solder joints over time. Not to strike fear into you or anything. 

 

If it's non-active flux(non-corrosive to solder joints), IPA should be sufficient in removing it if it bothers you.

[BobVonBob]

It's on most 1060s, check out this image from TechPowerUp, some similar residue is on theirs.

https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-gtx-1060-6-gb.c2862#gallery-4

[ElliotAndreyIkon]

I certainly appreciate everyone's answers. You were very helpful. Now ill just have to see what the store will have to say, as i'd left the same question with them.

Will be sure to let everyone know if the card fries my desktop once i put it in, cause i think someone else might benefit from this info.

Although i feel much more confident after hearing from all of you.

Many thanks.

[ElliotAndreyIkon]

I got a reply from the store today and all they had to say was that the card was tested and was shown to be in good working condition. I will find out tomorrow or Tuesday when i hook it up.

[Godlygamer23]

2 hours ago, ElliotAndreyIkon said:

I got a reply from the store today and all they had to say was that the card was tested and was shown to be in good working condition. I will find out tomorrow or Tuesday when i hook it up.

If it really is flux residue, it might be a "no-clean" style. It's not required or designed to be removed once applied, and that may also be what's shown in the TechPowerUp photos of the 1060. That kind of flux isn't active anymore and doesn't need to be cleaned. 

[THraShArD]

I don't notice anything odd with the photos and seen worst

[ElliotAndreyIkon]

I have never even thought that anything like this may be found on a circuit board so i rushed to the internet in search of answers. Just wanted to borrow everybody  else's experience and make sure im on the safe side.

[GamerDude]

Yeah, seen that on various GPU's (both nVidia and AMD/ATi) through the years, even recall seeing it way back on either GF2 MX400 or GF4 4200Ti and my 9700Pro, never thought much of it as the cards were working as they should.

[Mick Naughty]

Don’t see anything out of the norm. Im sure your mobo and psu have something similar on them at some point. 

[ElliotAndreyIkon]

Thank you everyone, the card works great, nothing caught on fire after i installed it.