Mouse peed on GPU and now corrosion is visible

[Thriliya]

So a mouse went inside with the help of the open slot just above the GPU. It peed and pooped around on the upper surface level of the GPU.

If you look closely you can see corrosion is visible in the screws. The GPU still works. But I'm afraid the corrosion might kill it very soon if it reaches the core PCB inside. I have a hand rub available with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol. Should I use it in the affected area and clean the card by opening it parts by parts. Or is it just okay to leave it just as it is and let the corrosion spread!? (Which I personally think isn't a good idea) And I really won't be able to buy a new GPU soon (the market is very bad rn here) if something gets messed up. So expert's opinion wanted. Help please!

GPU: Gigabyte RX 580 8GB

Thank you in advance!!

 

[64K]

I don't know what to do about the rat pee corrosion but you should blow the dust out of your PC while you are at it.

 

[Deleted member 185158]

Not sure about using hand rub.... just some old electronics cleaner and an old tooth brush, or use someone's you don't like and return it. Be gentle and let air dry. Easy as 1 2 3.

Might as well do the entire gpu, if you have the nuts, remove the cooler, then the fans off and throw the heat sink into the dishwasher. If the fans are that nasty, maybe see if you can purchase new ones. Then a nice re-paste and you'll be set until your next monthly cleaning.

 

[The King]

90-99% or higher Isopropyl alcohol is recommend safe to clean electronic equipment.

Note sure if that cleaner is safe for your GPU.

Using 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean a substance, like adhesive, off metal or plastic components is safe, but it should never be used on circuit boards or any other electrical components. To clean electrical components, only 90% or higher should be used.

 

[Deleted member 185158]

90-99% or higher Isopropyl alcohol is recommend safe to clean electronic equipment.

Note sure if that cleaner is safe for your GPU.

I guess hand cleaner is a no no!!

70% No Good!!

Oh hey.... Don't tell @Bones to Not put his motherboards into a dishwasher. He's got methods and MADNESS!!!!

edit: sorry I have all these gif smilies. Maybe mods can insert them to the forum??

 

[Thriliya]

I don't know what to do about the rat pee corrosion but you should blow the dust out of your PC while you are at it.

Ik it looks terrible. Not much of a cleaner tbh. Just the GPU corrosion is now giving me a headache as I don't want to lose it at the moment. I'll try to clean as much as I can this time though promise

 

[silentbogo]

Isopropyl alcohol best saved for later. First, I'd start with a little scrubbing in distilled water with a dab of dish soap. Dry it, then clean with IPA.
I do it pretty much for any liquid damage. Saved quite a few lappies soaked in beer/coffee/champaign/cat pee. Judging by the pics components aren't badly corroded, and PCB is more or less intact(especially if it's still working).

 

[Lei]

@Thriliya

Get the purest isopropyl alcohol, fill a plastic bag and dunk your gpu in.

 

[Vario]

@Thriliya

Get the purest isopropyl alcohol, fill a plastic bag and dunk your gpu in.

If you did this, be careful to ensure any of the rat crud doesn't simply dissolve and then collect underneath any of the soldered on components, you'd really want to flush the board with alcohol. I did something similar with a graphics card that had excessive thermal paste (preapplied arctic mono vga heatisnk paste must have been conductive) interfering with the circuitry around the die, I used 92% isopropyl alcohol and a soft brush, it took a number of cleans before the thermal paste was no longer affecting the circuit, even when it was no longer visible. The dissolved paste would migrate to other circuits and then as the alcohol evaporated, would leave a white film that must have interfered with the circuitry. I eventually got it all off and the card worked great for many years.

 

[P4-630]

So a rat went inside

Not used the case side panel I guess?

 

[maxfly]

You gotta train that sucker to stop using your rig as his outhouse man!

 

[P4-630]

If you got rats IN your home you got issues imo...

 

[mclaren85]

Why do you need to blur some areas?

 

[delshay]

So a rat went inside with the help of the open slot just above the GPU. It peed and pooped around on the upper surface level of the GPU.

View attachment 260477

If you look closely you can see corrosion is visible in the screws. The GPU still works. But I'm afraid the corrosion might kill it very soon if it reaches the core PCB inside. I have a hand rub available with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol. Should I use it in the affected area and clean the card by opening it parts by parts. Or is it just okay to leave it just as it is and let the corrosion spread!? (Which I personally think isn't a good idea) And I really won't be able to buy a new GPU soon (the market is very bad rn here) if something gets messed up. So expert's opinion wanted. Help please!

View attachment 260476

GPU: Gigabyte RX 580 8GB

Thank you in advance!!

RAT pee.. Are you sure. Rat's are a fairly large rodent, or do you mean mice. Not sure if they pee is as corrosive as rat's.

 

[Thriliya]

The Question:

Not used the case side panel I guess?

The Answer:

So a rat went inside with the help of the open slot just above the GPU

RAT pee.. Are you sure. Rat's are a fairly large rodent, or do you mean mice. Not sure if they pee is as corrosive as rat's.

The smaller one. Probably the mice which could fit into that open slot entrance

Why do you need to blur some areas?

If you're talking about the serial numbers than of course I thought it would be wise to not publish them in a public forum just like them. What's harm in hiding than? If you're talking about the area below the GPU then I suggest you better didn't see it as the rat/mice made a mess there which I didn't properly clean yet.

If you got rats IN your home you got issues imo...

Indeed. Can't trap the bigger ones who's offsprings might be destroying things now. But it's officially a war now.

 

[P4-630]

The Answer:

Are you sure it was a rat?? If it's true it must have been a baby rat to fit through there....

 

[Thriliya]

Are you sure it was a rat?? If it's true it must have been a baby rat to fit through there....

Could be a rat or could be a mice. Not sure but it fit through so it went through. (Unfortunately I can't tell the difference between them perfectly. I get confused)

 

[delshay]

The Question:


The Answer:



The smaller one. Probably the mice which could fit into that open slot entrance


If you're talking about the serial numbers than of course I thought it would be wise to not publish them in a public forum just like them. What's harm in hiding than? If you're talking about the area below the GPU then I suggest you better didn't see it as the rat/mice made a mess there which I didn't properly clean yet.


Indeed. Can't trap the bigger ones who's offsprings might be destroying things now. But it's officially a war now.

Then that will be mice's. Rat's can grow nearly as large as a cat, that's why I questioned what you are saying. ..& yes mice can fit though that slot easy.

 

[Thriliya]

Not sure about using hand rub.... just some old electronics cleaner and an old tooth brush, or use someone's you don't like and return it. Be gentle and let air dry. Easy as 1 2 3.

90-99% or higher Isopropyl alcohol is recommend safe to clean electronic equipment.

Note sure if that cleaner is safe for your GPU.

Will thinner work? I went to the fixing store and they said they can provide me thinner which they themselves use to clean electronic boards etc.

 

[64K]

Mouse vs rat size comparison:

It was a mouse I'm sure.
Put out some glue traps and be rid of the pest in the future.

 

[Thriliya]

Mouse vs rat size comparison:

View attachment 260485


It was a mouse I'm sure.
Put out some glue traps and be rid of the pest in the future.

Yeah it was mouse most probably. It wasn't that big like the rat in the picture

 

[The King]

Mouse vs rat size comparison:

View attachment 260485


It was a mouse I'm sure.
Put out some glue traps and be rid of the pest in the future.

Spoiler: R.A.T

Will thinner work? I went to the fixing store and they said they can provide me thinner which they themselves use to clean electronic boards etc.

Not sure about the thinners. I have only used 99% IPA myself never tried thinners.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

I believe @Mussels has washed cards with a little soap and a whole lot of warm water and gentle scrubbing. A quick rinse with 90+% IPA and let it dry very thoroughly should finish the job.

If your oven has a "keep warm" feature, a little while in there can accelerate the drying process. Please note that there still can be water under components long after the main part of the card is dry.

 

[AM4isGOD]

Mouse vs rat size comparison:

View attachment 260485


It was a mouse I'm sure.
Put out some glue traps and be rid of the pest in the future.

Sorry but glue traps are very nasty.

The Humane Society International (HSI) considers the traps inhumane, since rodents can suffer broken bones, torn skin, suffocation, dehydration, and starvation if caught in them.

They are due to be banned in the UK
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/science...e suggests, glue,starvation if caught in them.

Please use something else if you can.

 

[R0H1T]

Mouse vs rat size comparison:

View attachment 260485


It was a mouse I'm sure.
Put out some glue traps and be rid of the pest in the future.

Well that one rat which ate through one of the doors in my house had giant ears & at least 8-10 inch long including the tail, this pic doesn't seem totally accurate