I recently had a mishap with my gaming build where rubbing alcohol was accidentally spilled on it. Someone turned it on while it was still wet, leading to an electrical fire. Then, in an attempt to extinguish the flames, they poured water on it. Thankfully, I managed to pick up a Dell OptiPlex 7050 MT from eBay for just $100 to get back to work, but I'm concerned about my old components, especially the RAM.
I want to know if the RAM from my old build might still be usable in this new PC. It seems to meet the specs, and I'd love to use it again since I'm not used to working with the 8GB that came with my new setup. Also, I heard my SSD might have survived the incident—should I check that out too? Sorry for the long post, and if this question seems silly. I've just never gone through a PC fire before, and I hope I won't have to again.
4 Answers
Honestly, I'm with you on this. Clean it as best as you can and then let it dry for a day or two before testing. Just take the plunge and see if it works!
You could also consider using a contact cleaner spray. It's non-conductive and might help clean those hard-to-reach places a bit better.
Just a heads up, if the person who did that isn't you, they deserve some serious criticism!
The best answer I can give is a solid "maybe." First, make sure to clean the RAM thoroughly and let it dry completely—like for a few days with some fans blowing on it. After it’s dry, run some memory tests to see if it’s functional.
I’d suggest using some rubbing alcohol to clean it too, just in case there are any leftover conductive residues from the fire.
Thanks! I know I probably shouldn't have posted them dirty, but I just wanted to get some quick advice. It seems like it's really up to me to test them now.
Haha, trust me, that wasn't me! I've built four PCs since 2012, so I'm super careful. It was actually a female friend, and while I'm frustrated, I can't go overboard with punishment. It just bugs me to see my setup covered in soot; I'm a total neat freak!