Faulty leaking radiator killed my Graphics chip

[LordGabeNisBae]

Hey peeps,

 

there has been a death in the family . My x79 system setup with a 980ti HOF and an ek XE480 leaked and ended up killing my gpu. I took the GPU out of the x79 rig and put it in the x99 rig and still no signs of life :'(. the radiator was top mounted and managed to leak straight on the back of the GPU  

 

From what I saw, the fittings themselves were not leaking but the water was coming from the other side of the radiator from the region between the end tank and the fins, so it was not an installation error from me... I have leak tested the Radiator using coloured fluid and it confirmed my suspicion regarding the leak present at the end tank-fins area.

 

What to do now? Should I contact EK regarding this fault becasue taking the Aircooler off the 980ti HOF voided the warranty(there was a warranty screw). I am really paranoid as this was a very expensive GPU to get and had been running happily for the past year or so with a predator 360 + 280 radiator loop.

 

~GabeN

 

[19_blackie_73]

contact ek, it's probably their fault. so just contact them and tell them everything that happened.

[MaxBunny]

20 minutes ago, LordGabeNisBae said:

I am really paranoid as this was a very expensive GPU to get and had been running happily for the past year or so with a predator 360 + 280 radiator loop.

If you really were paranoid you'd never have used a water loop to begin with. I'm too paranoid to use water cooling for these very situations, cause it's not like the water cooling company would buy me a new PC if something went wrong.

[LordGabeNisBae]

1 minute ago, MaxBunny said:

If you really were paranoid you'd never have used a water loop to begin with. I'm too paranoid to use water cooling for these very situations, cause it's not like the water cooling company would buy me a new PC if something went wrong.

but the bitspower block looks sooo good on the card. And it was not my fault... lets see what EK says regarding this  

[GermanPCBuilder]

6 minutes ago, LordGabeNisBae said:

but the bitspower block looks sooo good on the card. And it was not my fault... lets see what EK says regarding this  

Please give us an update after u have contacted EK

[Mick Naughty]

How did that kill the card?

[0ld_Chicken]

4 minutes ago, Mick Naughty said:

How did that kill the card?

What do you mean mick?  Water dripped directly on it from the radiator above... That's known to kill a card 

 

@LordGabeNisBae sorry you had troubles!  Sounds like the stuff that is my nightmares!  Let us know what EK offers to do for you and good luck!

[Mick Naughty]

1 minute ago, 0ld_Chicken said:

What do you mean mick?  Water dripped directly on it from the radiator above... That's known to kill a card 

I don't see how, unless the water was real old. Had two of mine get the backs covered in water. Also had it between the pins an the cpu. Even have the pump empty the entire loop onto an inside my psu.

[0ld_Chicken]

6 minutes ago, Mick Naughty said:

I don't see how, unless the water was real old. Had two of mine get the backs covered in water. Also had it between the pins an the cpu. Even have the pump empty the entire loop onto an inside my psu.

All while these components were powered on?  I think that makes you the luckiest person on these forums!  If I had to guess, it's because his fluid had been used for a year leading up to that, which definitely diminished the "non-conductive" properties of the fluid.  

 

We're your mishaps with new fresh coolant?  I've yet to spill a drop on anything critical, much less while powered on (knock on wood ).  You must be a wild dude Mick!

 

@LordGabeNisBae it might be too late since you already tried to power it on after the fact, but let it dry for days before trying to power it on after getting it wet.  Will improve your chances of success greatly

[LordGabeNisBae]

2 minutes ago, Mick Naughty said:

I don't see how, unless the water was real old. Had two of mine get the backs covered in water. Also had it between the pins an the cpu. Even have the pump empty the entire loop onto an inside my psu.

All I know is my 980ti was working this morning, and it isnt anymore  

[Mick Naughty]

1 minute ago, LordGabeNisBae said:

All I know is my 980ti was working this morning, and it isnt anymore  

So you took the time to dismantle the card and let it completely dry? along with the pci slots?

[LordGabeNisBae]

1 minute ago, Mick Naughty said:

So you took the time to dismantle the card and let it completely dry? along with the pci slots?

I took the card out, took the block off it, pat dried it with non-flinting tissue paper, then put the block back on, repasted the die with fresh MX-4 and installed it in my main rig: the X99 system that has completely dry PCI-E slots. The card was as dry as it is ever going to be as is the slot. As for the Rampage 4 extreme, I tested the slot with a GTX 480 and all slots are working fine. 

[0ld_Chicken]

2 minutes ago, LordGabeNisBae said:

I took the card out, took the block off it, pat dried it with non-flinting tissue paper, then put the block back on, repasted the die with fresh MX-4 and installed it in my main rig: the X99 system that has completely dry PCI-E slots. The card was as dry as it is ever going to be as is the slot. As for the Rampage 4 extreme, I tested the slot with a GTX 480 and all slots are working fine. 

let it sit for a day or two in front of a fan (with no block) and then try it again.  PCB can soak up liquid and it can get under components and places you can't see or reach.  You may still be able to save it

[Mick Naughty]

I know when mine had a leak with a single card, I had to reinstall drivers a few times before the card would register again. Havent killed a single component yet with any of these leaks but I normally put a space heater on the stuff to dry it out.

[LordGabeNisBae]

1 minute ago, 0ld_Chicken said:

let it sit for a day or two in front of a fan and then try it again.  PCB can soak up liquid and it can get under components and places you can't see or reach.  You may still be able to save it

It is currently hung upside down on a clothing line under my ceiling fan. lets see if life really does find a way lol, quote jurassic park.

 

I have sent an RMA ticket to EK regarding the radiator as it is pretty much brand new with a mention about the dead GPU. Lets see what ends up happening... I dont really have much hope for the 980ti HoF... but that card is soooo pretty  so if it survives, it will be a boon to me. I have been watercooling for about 3 years now, and it seems the gods of low temps have demanded a sacrifice finally. 

 

 

[0ld_Chicken]

25 minutes ago, LordGabeNisBae said:

It is currently hung upside down on a clothing line under my ceiling fan. lets see if life really does find a way lol, quote jurassic park.

 

I have sent an RMA ticket to EK regarding the radiator as it is pretty much brand new with a mention about the dead GPU. Lets see what ends up happening... I dont really have much hope for the 980ti HoF... but that card is soooo pretty  so if it survives, it will be a boon to me. I have been watercooling for about 3 years now, and it seems the gods of low temps have demanded a sacrifice finally. 

I don't think that is how it works... but I can prove nothing so we'll go with that for now   Now I'm wondering what they're going to take from me!

 

I'm subbed in to see what happens 

[Mick Naughty]

So you got a pic of the spot where the leak occurred?

[LordGabeNisBae]

6 hours ago, Mick Naughty said:

So you got a pic of the spot where the leak occurred?

I already have the system taken apart to try and save the components... but I have a video of the radiator leaking during the leak teset that I am sending out to EK. The White HoF card was drenched in red fluid and required a lot of rinses with isopropyl alcohol to get the red crap out. 

[Revan654]

I know early batches of the EK's XE line had leaking issues. Not sure how old that radiator is but it's worth bring up when talking to EK tech support.

[LordGabeNisBae]

Ok guys, Update on the situation...

 

Ek has yet to answer my message regarding my Rad and 980ti HoF...

 

But they answered the emails I sent to them today ,regarding my CPU waterblock, AFTER sending the Rad one... Are they ignoring that email???  

 

 

[0ld_Chicken]

35 minutes ago, LordGabeNisBae said:

Ok guys, Update on the situation...

 

Ek has yet to answer my message regarding my Rad and 980ti HoF...

 

But they answered the emails I sent to them today ,regarding my CPU waterblock, AFTER sending the Rad one... Are they ignoring that email???  

 

 

Doubtful, probably just an easier response to make.  Probably sent your rad question up the line to get an answer.

[LordGabeNisBae]

2 minutes ago, 0ld_Chicken said:

Doubtful, probably just an easier response to make.  Probably sent your rad question up the line to get an answer.

Lets hope so. if I dont get a reply I shall call them. 

[Mick Naughty]

Well if it's the weekend I wouldn't respond either. 

[LordGabeNisBae]

1 minute ago, Mick Naughty said:

Well if it's the weekend I wouldn't respond either. 

It is already monday night in Australia, where I am at, and it is already Monday morning in Slovenia where EK Hq is  

[Mick Naughty]

1 minute ago, LordGabeNisBae said:

It is already monday night in Australia, where I am at, and it is already Monday morning in Slovenia where EK Hq is  

And I'm sure you're not the only person to contact them. In sure there is a line ans priorites as with any company.