RTX 3090 nightmare

[steeno78]

Hi guys ok I have an RTX 3090 zotac trinity oc. Worked fine on stock cooler for weeks, so decided to finish my build by waterblocking the card to complete my loop. Followed the install instructions to the letter and went to power on bit got nothing. I took the card out and reinstalled the original coolers after cleaning it up and got power and an output. So I tried the block again and it worked got great temps while testing it downstairs where I was building it, but when I moved the pc upstairs and powered it on, I got a spark from the card and the faint smell of burning. Any ideas what could be the problem and is my card now bricked?

[Shimejii]

Sounds like you either got a messed up instructions or you did not follow the directions properly, you got the wrong waterblock for the specific model of card, or something was wrong with the card to start and only showed up after a few uses.

 

Generally with these cards they are VERY specific waterblocks for each variation for the cards if they are non Reference. If you did get the proper card, then either something got bridged and zapped itself, or something was wrong with the card the entire time and it didnt fry itself until now and had nothing to do with you. 

 

I assume you bought the card second hand at this point, and ZOTAC does not cover warranties from 2nd hand sadly. If you did buy it with warranty, put the card back together and RMA.

 

You could send it into one of the few very reputable repair channels on youtube that do this type of repair. Usually the better route to go, but if you are not located anywhere close to them it may be a big paper weight.

[johnno23]

possibly bricked but if you are very lucky simply a small cap that burnt out. I dont know your location but in Asia so many little shops with an engineer that can measure the components and fix for a friendly price. IF you are in the USA then I just hope you can find someone who is prepared to try and track down the issue for you...repair costs generally are so high it is simply better to get a new card with full warranty.

if you can see any burn damage you could try zooming in as close as possible with a camera make a photo and see if the component can be identified via google and have a go at replacing it yourself if you are comfortable de soldering and soldering new componenets.

[JonS77]

Quote

 

I got a spark from the card and the faint smell of burning. Any ideas what could be the problem and is my card now bricked?

 

 

I'm very sorry, that is the clearest sign you could have as to it having died one way or another and is out of your hands. You can try to read the warranty conditions and see if your local Zotac warranty accepts such issue, and I know it's hard to hear, they probably wont. I'm very sorry, I know it must feel terrible. Regarless, just send it back to them anyway and see what happens, nothing else to be done.

[Shimejii]

4 minutes ago, Jon-Slow said:

 

I'm very sorry, that is the clearest sign you could have as to it having died one way or another and is out of your hands. You can try to read the warranty conditions and see if your local Zotac warranty accepts such issue, and I know it's hard to hear, they probably wont. I'm very sorry, I know it must feel terrible. Regarless, just send it back to them anyway and see what happens, nothing else to be done.

They will straight up refuse anything when it comes to 2nd hand, they wont even offer shipping and such, such is the Zotac Warranty experience from what ive seen. Unless you buy directly from them (and even then) or you know someone on the chain, its just not happening. 

[JonS77]

5 minutes ago, Shimejii said:

They will straight up refuse anything when it comes to 2nd hand, they wont even offer shipping and such, such is the Zotac Warranty experience from what ive seen. Unless you buy directly from them (and even then) or you know someone on the chain, its just not happening. 

 

Where I am, you can often just take the card with the original invoice to the store and they will usually take care of it. This is why, we always ask for the original invoce when buying second hand. But I don't know how it works elsewhere.

[steeno78]

ok guys I disassembled the water block and cleaned the card completely with 90% ethanol. I then hit the card with a heat gun just enough to dry out any moisture that may have resided on the board. Next, I put on new thermal pads, artic mx5 thermal past, and reassembled the original block. Crossed my fingers and hoped for a miracle. turned on my pc and it fired up straight away. going to run some tests and keep an eye out for any sign of sparks or smoke. I think maybe somehow water must have got on the board and into the connector for the light, the smell was maybe the water burning away on the board, but at this stage, the water block is going in the bin. if I have to choose fan noise or dead GPU, I'm picking fan noise every time. will keep you all updated on the outcome.

[Robchil]

4 hours ago, steeno78 said:

ok guys I disassembled the water block and cleaned the card completely with 90% ethanol. I then hit the card with a heat gun just enough to dry out any moisture that may have resided on the board. Next, I put on new thermal pads, artic mx5 thermal past, and reassembled the original block. Crossed my fingers and hoped for a miracle. turned on my pc and it fired up straight away. going to run some tests and keep an eye out for any sign of sparks or smoke. I think maybe somehow water must have got on the board and into the connector for the light, the smell was maybe the water burning away on the board, but at this stage, the water block is going in the bin. if I have to choose fan noise or dead GPU, I'm picking fan noise every time. will keep you all updated on the outcome.

this is why you presuretest a water cooling loop before you fill it with liquid.. 

 

[steeno78]

Done a 3dmarks Time spy stress test of 20 loops and the card run with no problems the highest temp on the card was 82 degrees Celsius so within working parameters. play a few games today and see how it held up and everything seems to be running fine. As I said I'm only guessing it was water, to be honest, but it's not guaranteed that was it. I never saw anything that made water the problem, I read that some blocks can cause shorts also so I have no idea