Spilled water in PC tower, like a dumbass.

[chargerjake]

First off, allow me to share three thoughts: 1) Fuck. 2) I don't have any money. 3) I think I fucked up my graphics card.

 

So your first question is probably: Jake, how the hell did you manage to get water in your PC? My PC sits on the ground and I have absolutely no fan on the top vent of my PC case (NZXT Source 210). I was trying to grab a water cup that had approximately 5-10oz of water in it, or for you metrics out there that's 150-300mL. A little bit of it came out into the case and down the side panel, the majority was on my carpet, which of course is the least of my concerns. The PC was ON at the time. Immediately after I spilled the water, I lost my video. At that point, I immediately powered off and unplugged the PC, and just to be safe, I switched off the PSU. I let the entire thing air out for an hour almost, and I'm now sitting down writing this. After inspection, I did not seem to have any water inside my CPU, Motherboard, RAM, PSU, or Hard Drive. My graphics card looks like it caught a few drops and that's probably why my video dropped. There was about 3 seconds between when I lost video and the PC was off. I did not hear any sizzling or smell anything burning. The water was on the back of my GPU's PCB. Does anyone know what I should do?

 

P.S. I'm not really in the mood for jokes, and don't call me a dumbass because I already know I am and have finished blaming myself for that.

[The Official Czex]

First off, allow me to share three thoughts: 1) Fuck. 2) I don't have any money. 3) I think I fucked up my graphics card.

 

So your first question is probably: Jake, how the hell did you manage to get water in your PC? My PC sits on the ground and I have absolutely no fan on the top vent of my PC case (NZXT Source 210). I was trying to grab a water cup that had approximately 5-10oz of water in it, or for you metrics out there that's 150-300mL. A little bit of it came out into the case and down the side panel, the majority was on my carpet, which of course is the least of my concerns. The PC was ON at the time. Immediately after I spilled the water, I lost my video. At that point, I immediately powered off and unplugged the PC, and just to be safe, I switched off the PSU. I let the entire thing air out for an hour almost, and I'm now sitting down writing this. After inspection, I did not seem to have any water inside my CPU, Motherboard, RAM, PSU, or Hard Drive. My graphics card looks like it caught a few drops and that's probably why my video dropped. There was about 3 seconds between when I lost video and the PC was off. I did not hear any sizzling or smell anything burning. The water was on the back of my GPU's PCB. Does anyone know what I should do?

 

P.S. I'm not really in the mood for jokes, and don't call me a dumbass because I already know I am and have finished blaming myself for that.

 

Dry the components for another 24 hours then reassemble and test. 

[W-L]

-SNIP-

 

Basically at this point since everything is broken down dry all the parts physically and let it air dry for a day or two if you notice corrosion or any residue on the PCB's at all you should clean it off. Ideally using 99% isoproyl alcohol and bathing/cleaning it can be done to displace any water and clean off the PCB.

[Br3tt96]

Dry the components for another 24 hours then reassemble and test. 

Exactly what this man said. Just make sure all the water has evaporated.

[chargerjake]

Dry the components for another 24 hours then reassemble and test. 

 

Basically at this point since everything is broken down dry all the parts physically and let it air dry for a day or two if you notice corrosion or any residue on the PCB's at all you should clean it off. Ideally using 99% isoproyl alcohol and bathing/cleaning it can be done to displace any water and clean off the PCB.

 

Exactly what this man said. Just make sure all the water has evaporated.

 

Thank you all for your help, I'm probably going to leave them for 36-48 hours just to be safe. I have literally no source of income so if I did fuck up my GPU I have no idea how I'm going to pay for a new one.

[The Official Czex]

Thank you all for your help, I'm probably going to leave them for 36-48 hours just to be safe. I have literally no source of income so if I did fuck up my GPU I have no idea how I'm going to pay for a new one.

 

Go for it. If you borked it already, you might as well try to get it working...

 

Best of luck to you.

[atrash]

Like others have said, disassemble it, soak up any water drop visible on the card using kitchen towel or anything. Leave it to dry for at least 24 hours. You can put it in a bag of rice just to be sure. 

[SImoHayha]

Like others have said, disassemble it, soak up any water drop visible on the card using kitchen towel or anything. Leave it to dry for at least 24 hours. You can put it in a bag of rice just to be sure. 

Rice doesn't do anything. If anything place it into a alcohol bath

[failblox]

Let it dry out for at least 24 hours and make sure it's 100% dry before turning it back on again.

[Deagon]

you sure shorted it, it depends on which contacts you shorted if its ruined for good or just cause it stop working temporarily. There may be a chance though that if you shorted it could be dead and maybe even some damage to your PCIe slot

[atrash]

Rice doesn't do anything. If anything place it into a alcohol bath

 

Not sure if trolling or serious. 

[SImoHayha]

Not sure if trolling or serious. 

it doesn't.

 

RICE DOES BLOODY NOTHING.

 

Here

 

 

watch

[TDP_Equinox]

First off, allow me to share three thoughts: 1) Fuck. 2) I don't have any money. 3) I think I fucked up my graphics card.

 

So your first question is probably: Jake, how the hell did you manage to get water in your PC? My PC sits on the ground and I have absolutely no fan on the top vent of my PC case (NZXT Source 210). I was trying to grab a water cup that had approximately 5-10oz of water in it, or for you metrics out there that's 150-300mL. A little bit of it came out into the case and down the side panel, the majority was on my carpet, which of course is the least of my concerns. The PC was ON at the time. Immediately after I spilled the water, I lost my video. At that point, I immediately powered off and unplugged the PC, and just to be safe, I switched off the PSU. I let the entire thing air out for an hour almost, and I'm now sitting down writing this. After inspection, I did not seem to have any water inside my CPU, Motherboard, RAM, PSU, or Hard Drive. My graphics card looks like it caught a few drops and that's probably why my video dropped. There was about 3 seconds between when I lost video and the PC was off. I did not hear any sizzling or smell anything burning. The water was on the back of my GPU's PCB. Does anyone know what I should do?

 

P.S. I'm not really in the mood for jokes, and don't call me a dumbass because I already know I am and have finished blaming myself for that.

Take everything apart, remove CPU etc.. Air dry for at LEAST 24 hours.

Once air dried, take a toothbrush (New, preferably ) and some 99% Isoprophyl alcohol and gently scrub at the parts that look water damaged (Corrosion, etc). Let it dry a few minutes, and see if it turns on...

[TDP_Equinox]

Like others have said, disassemble it, soak up any water drop visible on the card using kitchen towel or anything. Leave it to dry for at least 24 hours. You can put it in a bag of rice just to be sure. 

RICE. KILLS.

So many people have ruined perfectly repairable computers and phones by putting it in rice, and I want to hunt down the person that first said it helped. 

IT KILLS.

[pebble guy]

Rice doesn't do anything. If anything place it into a alcohol bath

 

If you do that check the thermal compound beacause if you get it working it will be dsad to fry it there...(no it is not a beginner mistake @Slice did it with his old submerged GPU)

[Wishiwasdead]

thats pretty much how i up graded to my gtx 680s to gtx 780s lol... fuck water cooling....

[Jboss]

Good luck OP. I almost spat a bunch of water into my PC (top vent) by watching something funny as i was going to sit down..

[somik]

thats pretty much how i up graded to my gtx 680s to gtx 780s lol... fuck water cooling....

I still wonder who's idea it was to cool a PC with water. That's the last thing you want in your tower!

[chargerjake]

UPDATE: If anyone is still going to look at this topic, I've booted the PC without the graphics card last night and it works fine. I'm currently not at home and will check the graphics card when I get home.

[Wishiwasdead]

Yeah, if the only thing you fried was your GPU... then everything else should be working fine... including your on board graphics... good luck gaming on that though...

[Imabigmac]

I have had this happen to my PC twice, once I killed the GOU and the other time I got lucky. Basically dry out the parts and then try to turn it back on later if it is dead its dead. 

[TDP_Equinox]

I have had this happen to my PC twice, once I killed the GOU and the other time I got lucky. Basically dry out the parts and then try to turn it back on later if it is dead its dead. 

You'd think you would learn your lesson after the first time...

[Imabigmac]

You'd think you would learn your lesson after the first time...

Technically the second time wasn't caused by my actions, but regardless it went into my case. 

[Guest trucker2]

Personally I would go to an AllPhase or some electrical supply house and tell them about it and if there are any good sprays or products that would help.

25 years ago working in merchant vessel engine rooms they had something called eletri-clean we used all the times. You had to know which type to use. One was bad for windings.

[byalexandr]

Thank you all for your help, I'm probably going to leave them for 36-48 hours just to be safe. I have literally no source of income so if I did fuck up my GPU I have no idea how I'm going to pay for a new one.

Another thing, the water, even after it dries, leaves minerals behind since I doubt you spilled distilled water. Clean those up by wiping everything thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol, as some of those minerals are kinda corrosive over time, and are not good if you want to resell components and there are water stains.