So, I had a bit of a mishap tonight. I knocked over a spitting cup of nicotine pouches while working at my desk, and it ended up leaking onto my GPU. I panicked and turned everything off immediately, but then I made the mistake of power cycling it, forgetting that the capacitors might still hold charge. Now, I'm really worried that I might have damaged my whole system because of that. The GPU didn't smoke or smell burnt, but it was leaking from one side, and the PCIe connector was really soaked when I pulled it out. I gave the GPU a good cleaning with isopropyl alcohol. What's my likelihood of recovery, and how long should I let it dry? Thanks for any advice!
4 Answers
Haha, funny post, even if it’s not so funny for you! Your best bet is to clean it up and then let it dry for a couple of days. Powering it on while it’s still wet could definitely fry it. Remember, it’s the electrical surges that can cause issues, not the liquid itself if properly cleaned.
You're probably in the clear! Just make sure you've cleaned the GPU properly with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry completely before trying to power it on. What exactly did you spill on it? Was it something that could harm electronics?
A cup full of spit I guess.
You really won't know until you try putting everything back together. Just remember, keep all liquids far away from your computer next time! A tip: store any drinks on the opposite side of your desk to avoid this in the future.
It's tough to say if the GPU is done for. I would recommend placing it in front of a fan to dry out for at least 24 hours. Also, have you tried booting your system without the GPU? That could help you see if everything else is okay. Just make sure you're using high-grade isopropyl alcohol, not the 70% stuff.
Yep, I used 91%! I've got it drying under a fan right now. I haven't booted without the GPU yet; I wasn't sure how to do that safely.
It was a cup full of saliva from nicotine salt pouches.