I built my PC about two months ago, and recently, it stopped working. After some troubleshooting, I found a sticky substance on the motherboard. The residue doesn't seem to have come from outside, as there's no liquid leaking from the top of the case. I documented everything with pictures, which you can check out in my imgur album: https://imgur.com/a/7MlTU4z.
I sent my AIO cooler to the manufacturer for testing, and they claimed it wasn't their fault, stating it ran for 48 hours without leaking during their tests. However, it seems they tested it under cold conditions, which doesn't assure me there's no issue. The fluid seems excessive for just a couple of faulty capacitors but I'm not an expert.
Now I'm just frustrated since I've invested almost $1,000 in parts that barely lasted two months. The AIO manufacturer still has my parts for the moment, so I can't take any new pictures. What steps should I pursue from here? Is a chemical analysis of the residue a good idea, and how do I even go about that?
2 Answers
The viscosity you described does point away from coolant, which is generally pretty watery. If the manufacturer isn't taking responsibility, it's wise to pursue a more thorough analysis. If you can, document everything and keep pushing with MSI to escalate your claim; they've got a warranty to uphold.
If it's sticky and orange, that doesn't sound like standard radiator fluid. It could be a capacitor leak, which is more serious. Once you get the report from the AIO manufacturer, bring it back to MSI and escalate the issue. They need to see that the tests didn’t cover what might really be wrong.
I'll definitely push for that. Thanks for the heads up!
Thanks! I’ll keep all my evidence handy and reach out again.