Why do you think I killed my 3870?

"GMAN" <glenzabr@dontspammebro.xmission.com> wrote in message
news:fon5eg$cpv$2@news.xmission.com...
> In article <LIqdnSL1FKcENjPanZ2dnUVZ8smgnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk >, "Dr.White"
<w@sted.coma> wrote:
> >
> >"GMAN" <glenzabr@dontspammebro.xmission.com> wrote in message
> >news:folab8$2a2$1@news.xmission.com...
> >> In article <c7KdnSD7BdSggjPanZ2dnUVZ8sOonZ2d@eclipse.net.uk >,
"Dr.White"
> >> <w@sted.coma> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>"KlausK" <dinga@noone.com> wrote in message
> >>>news:47ad47d2$0$15196$607ed4bc@cv.net...
> >>>> Today, I re-installed a Thermalright HS on my 3870 because I wasn't
sure
> >>>> if I applied thermal paste properly. I took out the HS, cleaned
memory
> >>>> modules and GPU with alcohol, attached memory HS's with thermal tape,
> >>>> and
> >>>> attached the GPU HS after applying artic silver.
> >>>>
> >>>> I re-installed the card and it displayed weird colors and garbage
> >>>> characters. I couldn't get to Windows. I tried the card on another PC
> >>>> and
> >>>> it didn't even generate video signal.
> >>>>
> >>>> I was wearing an anti-static strap while working on the card, so
static
> >>>> electricity didn't kill the card. I remember I cleaned the GPU and
mem
> >>>> modules with too much alcohol. So, did alcohol kill it?
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Maybe vodka would have a negative effect on electronics, but the
standard
> >>>'cleaning alcohol' a.k.a. isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol, propan-2-ol -
> >>>call
> >>>it what you will, the clear stuff that can be bought from any chemist
for
> >>>about £5 per 500ml - is absolutely inert to electrical components. You
can
> >>>safely use as much as you like, it doesn't even have to dry out.
> >>>
> >>>In the past I've had a couple of RAM modules that seemed dead - bathing
> >>>them
> >>>in isopropanol and cleaning the contacts brought them back to life.
> >>>
> >>>One possibility is that some of the thermal compound you used or that
was
> >>>previously on the chips was electrically conductive, *like your arctic
> >>>silver* and some of that ended up where it shouldn't. So, make sure
it's
> >>>isopropanol you've got and give the whole board a thoroughly good
clean,
> >>>use
> >>>plenty of alcohol, then clean the pci-e contacts just to be on the safe
> >>>side. I'll bet it's a bit of arctic silver causing the problem.
> >>>
> >>>Good Luck.
> >>>
> >>>Dr.White.
> >>>
> >>>
> >> You keep telling people to bathe the electronics in alchohol. Do you
> >> forget
> >> that alchohol is flamable?
> >
> >Yes I always keep telling people to bathe all their electronics in
gallons
> >of alcohol, all the time. All the time, you hear? I must OWN an
isopropanol
> >*factory* the way I've been going off.
>
> LMAO!!!!!
>
> >
> >Since all bottles of isopropanol I've ever purchased have got a great big
> >****ing 'FLAMMABLE' symbol on them, you would have to be a ****tard not
to
> >take reasonable precautions when using it. Although IMO it's not
dangerous
> >enough to warrant static discharge precautions. It's the cheapest, safest
> >and best solvent available for electronics jobs.
> >
> >Dr.White.
> >
> >
>
>
> I agree its probably the best household item most of us have around to use
in
> a pinch and it use it too. But just make sure its dry before plugging it
back
> in and turning it back on. a hairdryer on low heat, high air is good. Run
it
> for 10-20 seconds or so before reapplying the HS compound and ramsinks.
>
> A good circuit board cleaning spray, made for this very thing for removing
> gunk, grease, solder flux residue would be better. But for poor people,
> alchohol is the bomb!
>
> lmfao................
> hides.........................

It's generally accepted that you shouldn't clean a computer with a vacuum
cleaner because of the moving air creating a static charge in the circuits.
The warm(dry) air of a hair dryer. would be worse. I use compressed air from
a metal gun with the pressure turned down to clean a PC. I've seen a debate
about this go on for weeks on one of the PC homebuilt groups so don't want
in be in one. Just consider it a warning. If you think the chances of a
problem are small continue what your doing. I'd rather try to avoid them.
Waiting 15 minutes would be preferable IMHO.

"GMAN" <glenzabr@dontspammebro.xmission.com> wrote in message
news:fon51l$cpv$1@news.xmission.com...
> In article <ZJmdncfIicfsyDPanZ2dnUVZ_viunZ2d@giganews.com>, "Ian D"
> <taurus@nowhere.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> You keep telling people to bathe the electronics in alchohol. Do you
>>> forget
>>> that alchohol is flamable?
>>
>>Alcohol, especially at 99% purity, evaporates very quickly. Obviously,
>>it's not applied when equipment is powered up.
>>
>>
> Sure, but if some got behind a chip or something on the board,it may not
> have
> evaporated yet and it can short something out.
>
> The proper stuff to use would be a good circuit board cleaner spray the
> the
> old bluewash or blubath, cant remember the name but those are safe and
> meant
> for circuit boards.

No no no, GMAN, isopropanol is not elecrically conductive. It won't
discharge capacitors or cause shorts, which is why it is safe to immerse
modules in and use while your equipment is switched on. Look - totally,
completely saf<KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!>

Dr.White.

"KlausK" <dinga@noone.com> wrote in message
news:47ae361e$0$15161$607ed4bc@cv.net...
>
> "GMAN" <glenzabr@dontspammebro.xmission.com> wrote in message
> news:folab8$2a2$1@news.xmission.com...
>> In article <c7KdnSD7BdSggjPanZ2dnUVZ8sOonZ2d@eclipse.net.uk >, "Dr.White"
>> <w@sted.coma> wrote:
>>>
>>>"KlausK" <dinga@noone.com> wrote in message
>>>news:47ad47d2$0$15196$607ed4bc@cv.net...
>>>> Today, I re-installed a Thermalright HS on my 3870 because I wasn't
>>>> sure
>>>> if I applied thermal paste properly. I took out the HS, cleaned memory
>>>> modules and GPU with alcohol, attached memory HS's with thermal tape,
>>>> and
>>>> attached the GPU HS after applying artic silver.
>>>>
>>>> I re-installed the card and it displayed weird colors and garbage
>>>> characters. I couldn't get to Windows. I tried the card on another PC
>>>> and
>>>> it didn't even generate video signal.
>>>>
>>>> I was wearing an anti-static strap while working on the card, so static
>>>> electricity didn't kill the card. I remember I cleaned the GPU and mem
>>>> modules with too much alcohol. So, did alcohol kill it?
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Maybe vodka would have a negative effect on electronics, but the standard
>>>'cleaning alcohol' a.k.a. isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol, propan-2-ol -
>>>call
>>>it what you will, the clear stuff that can be bought from any chemist for
>>>about £5 per 500ml - is absolutely inert to electrical components. You
>>>can
>>>safely use as much as you like, it doesn't even have to dry out.
>>>
>>>In the past I've had a couple of RAM modules that seemed dead - bathing
>>>them
>>>in isopropanol and cleaning the contacts brought them back to life.
>>>
>>>One possibility is that some of the thermal compound you used or that was
>>>previously on the chips was electrically conductive, *like your arctic
>>>silver* and some of that ended up where it shouldn't. So, make sure it's
>>>isopropanol you've got and give the whole board a thoroughly good clean,
>>>use
>>>plenty of alcohol, then clean the pci-e contacts just to be on the safe
>>>side. I'll bet it's a bit of arctic silver causing the problem.
>>>
>>>Good Luck.
>>>
>>>Dr.White.
>>>
>>>
>> You keep telling people to bathe the electronics in alchohol. Do you
>> forget
>> that alchohol is flamable?
>
> Well, I used rubbing alcohol to clean gpus and mem modules because 3rd
> party cooler makers (eg, Zalman, Thermalright) recommend using alcohol.
>

So, did you fix it?

In article <47af429b$0$22850$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>, "T Shadow" <blackhole@nowhere.void.com> wrote:
>"GMAN" <glenzabr@dontspammebro.xmission.com> wrote in message
>news:fon5eg$cpv$2@news.xmission.com...
>> In article <LIqdnSL1FKcENjPanZ2dnUVZ8smgnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk >, "Dr.White"
><w@sted.coma> wrote:
>> >
>> >"GMAN" <glenzabr@dontspammebro.xmission.com> wrote in message
>> >news:folab8$2a2$1@news.xmission.com...
>> >> In article <c7KdnSD7BdSggjPanZ2dnUVZ8sOonZ2d@eclipse.net.uk >,
>"Dr.White"
>> >> <w@sted.coma> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>"KlausK" <dinga@noone.com> wrote in message
>> >>>news:47ad47d2$0$15196$607ed4bc@cv.net...
>> >>>> Today, I re-installed a Thermalright HS on my 3870 because I wasn't
>sure
>> >>>> if I applied thermal paste properly. I took out the HS, cleaned
>memory
>> >>>> modules and GPU with alcohol, attached memory HS's with thermal tape,
>> >>>> and
>> >>>> attached the GPU HS after applying artic silver.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I re-installed the card and it displayed weird colors and garbage
>> >>>> characters. I couldn't get to Windows. I tried the card on another PC
>> >>>> and
>> >>>> it didn't even generate video signal.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I was wearing an anti-static strap while working on the card, so
>static
>> >>>> electricity didn't kill the card. I remember I cleaned the GPU and
>mem
>> >>>> modules with too much alcohol. So, did alcohol kill it?
>> >>>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>Maybe vodka would have a negative effect on electronics, but the
>standard
>> >>>'cleaning alcohol' a.k.a. isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol, propan-2-ol -
>> >>>call
>> >>>it what you will, the clear stuff that can be bought from any chemist
>for
>> >>>about £5 per 500ml - is absolutely inert to electrical components. You
>can
>> >>>safely use as much as you like, it doesn't even have to dry out.
>> >>>
>> >>>In the past I've had a couple of RAM modules that seemed dead - bathing
>> >>>them
>> >>>in isopropanol and cleaning the contacts brought them back to life.
>> >>>
>> >>>One possibility is that some of the thermal compound you used or that
>was
>> >>>previously on the chips was electrically conductive, *like your arctic
>> >>>silver* and some of that ended up where it shouldn't. So, make sure
>it's
>> >>>isopropanol you've got and give the whole board a thoroughly good
>clean,
>> >>>use
>> >>>plenty of alcohol, then clean the pci-e contacts just to be on the safe
>> >>>side. I'll bet it's a bit of arctic silver causing the problem.
>> >>>
>> >>>Good Luck.
>> >>>
>> >>>Dr.White.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >> You keep telling people to bathe the electronics in alchohol. Do you
>> >> forget
>> >> that alchohol is flamable?
>> >
>> >Yes I always keep telling people to bathe all their electronics in
>gallons
>> >of alcohol, all the time. All the time, you hear? I must OWN an
>isopropanol
>> >*factory* the way I've been going off.
>>
>> LMAO!!!!!
>>
>> >
>> >Since all bottles of isopropanol I've ever purchased have got a great big
>> >****ing 'FLAMMABLE' symbol on them, you would have to be a ****tard not
>to
>> >take reasonable precautions when using it. Although IMO it's not
>dangerous
>> >enough to warrant static discharge precautions. It's the cheapest, safest
>> >and best solvent available for electronics jobs.
>> >
>> >Dr.White.
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> I agree its probably the best household item most of us have around to use
>in
>> a pinch and it use it too. But just make sure its dry before plugging it
>back
>> in and turning it back on. a hairdryer on low heat, high air is good. Run
>it
>> for 10-20 seconds or so before reapplying the HS compound and ramsinks.
>>
>> A good circuit board cleaning spray, made for this very thing for removing
>> gunk, grease, solder flux residue would be better. But for poor people,
>> alchohol is the bomb!
>>
>> lmfao................
>> hides.........................
>
>It's generally accepted that you shouldn't clean a computer with a vacuum
>cleaner because of the moving air creating a static charge in the circuits.
>The warm(dry) air of a hair dryer. would be worse. I use compressed air from
>a metal gun with the pressure turned down to clean a PC. I've seen a debate
>about this go on for weeks on one of the PC homebuilt groups so don't want
>in be in one. Just consider it a warning. If you think the chances of a
>problem are small continue what your doing. I'd rather try to avoid them.
>Waiting 15 minutes would be preferable IMHO.
>
I wasnt saying to clean a computer or part with a hair dryer, i said to dry
off the remaining alchohol with one. Most hairdryers has a setting where the
heat can be shut off. If blowing air across a circuit is damaging to them
then we are doomed, ddddooooooooommmmmmmeeeeeedddddddd!!!!! (Insert Bender
voice here)


I agree, if not in a hurry just wait, go make a sandwich, make love to
wife etc....(She probably would be glad i pulled myself for 30 minutes away
from my PC!!!!)

RE: ....(She probably would be glad i pulled myself for 30 minutes away
from my PC!!!!)

**** sake, you're totally under the thumb!!

"Carl" <me@theworld.universe> wrote in message
news:FfKdnWyYe545fzLanZ2dnUVZ8h2dnZ2d@bt.com...
> RE: ....(She probably would be glad i pulled myself for 30 minutes away
> from my PC!!!!)
>
> **** sake, you're totally under the thumb!!
>

Why Should she care where he pulls himself.?

In article <FfKdnWyYe545fzLanZ2dnUVZ8h2dnZ2d@bt.com>, "Carl" <me@theworld.universe> wrote:
>RE: ....(She probably would be glad i pulled myself for 30 minutes away
>from my PC!!!!)
>
>**** sake, you're totally under the thumb!!
>
LMAO!!!

"KlausK" <dinga@noone.com> wrote in message
news:47ad47d2$0$15196$607ed4bc@cv.net...
> Today, I re-installed a Thermalright HS on my 3870 because I wasn't sure
> if I applied thermal paste properly. I took out the HS, cleaned memory
> modules and GPU with alcohol, attached memory HS's with thermal tape, and
> attached the GPU HS after applying artic silver.
>
> I re-installed the card and it displayed weird colors and garbage
> characters. I couldn't get to Windows. I tried the card on another PC and
> it didn't even generate video signal.
>
> I was wearing an anti-static strap while working on the card, so static
> electricity didn't kill the card. I remember I cleaned the GPU and mem
> modules with too much alcohol. So, did alcohol kill it?
>
>
>

KlausK, I have the exact same problem with my Powercolor x1950 Pro after I
installed my Du-Orb heatsink. I get checker board colors on one PC and no
video on my other PC just like you did. Did you ever resolve your problem?

Also Denatured Alcohol is the best to use with electronic parts. Regular
rubbing alcohol has water in it.

"ztwoeight" <z28@coolquiz.com> wrote in message
news:ZEEsj.73820$k27.16461@bignews2.bellsouth.net. ..
>
> "KlausK" <dinga@noone.com> wrote in message
> news:47ad47d2$0$15196$607ed4bc@cv.net...
>> Today, I re-installed a Thermalright HS on my 3870 because I wasn't sure
>> if I applied thermal paste properly. I took out the HS, cleaned memory
>> modules and GPU with alcohol, attached memory HS's with thermal tape, and
>> attached the GPU HS after applying artic silver.
>>
>> I re-installed the card and it displayed weird colors and garbage
>> characters. I couldn't get to Windows. I tried the card on another PC and
>> it didn't even generate video signal.
>>
>> I was wearing an anti-static strap while working on the card, so static
>> electricity didn't kill the card. I remember I cleaned the GPU and mem
>> modules with too much alcohol. So, did alcohol kill it?
>>
>>
>>
>
> KlausK, I have the exact same problem with my Powercolor x1950 Pro after I
> installed my Du-Orb heatsink. I get checker board colors on one PC and no
> video on my other PC just like you did. Did you ever resolve your problem?
>
> Also Denatured Alcohol is the best to use with electronic parts. Regular
> rubbing alcohol has water in it.
>
>
>
>

I'll reply to my own question. I contacted Powercolor about my x1950 Pro
problem and they said to send it back to where I purchased it for a
replacement. Turns out Powercolor has a lifetime warranty on any video card
in the x1900 and up category. Well I haven't heard back from Newegg so far,
but I am hoping since I had my card for a little more than a year now. I
didn't mention anything about installing the new heatsink to Powercolor!
I'll just put the original back on.

On Feb 11, 6:59*am, "Dr.White" <w...@sted.coma> wrote:
> "KlausK" <di...@noone.com> wrote in message
>
> news:47ae361e$0$15161$607ed4bc@cv.net...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > "GMAN" <glenz...@dontspammebro.xmission.com> wrote in message
> >news:folab8$2a2$1@news.xmission.com...
> >> In article <c7KdnSD7BdSggjPanZ2dnUVZ8sOon...@eclipse.net.uk >, "Dr.White"
> >> <w...@sted.coma> wrote:
>
> >>>"KlausK" <di...@noone.com> wrote in message
> >>>news:47ad47d2$0$15196$607ed4bc@cv.net...
> >>>> Today, I re-installed a Thermalright HS on my 3870 because I wasn't
> >>>> sure
> >>>> if I applied thermal paste properly. I took out the HS, cleaned memory
> >>>> modules and GPU with alcohol, attached memory HS's with thermal tape,
> >>>> and
> >>>> attached the GPU HS after applying artic silver.
>
> >>>> I re-installed the card and it displayed weird colors and garbage
> >>>> characters. I couldn't get to Windows. I tried the card on another PC
> >>>> and
> >>>> it didn't even generate video signal.
>
> >>>> I was wearing an anti-static strap while working on the card, so static
> >>>> electricity didn't kill the card. I remember I cleaned the GPU and mem
> >>>> modules with too much alcohol. So, did alcohol kill it?
>
> >>>Maybe vodka would have a negative effect on electronics, but the standard
> >>>'cleaning alcohol' a.k.a. isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol, propan-2-ol -
> >>>call
> >>>it what you will, the clear stuff that can be bought from any chemist for
> >>>about £5 per 500ml - is absolutely inert to electrical components. You
> >>>can
> >>>safely use as much as you like, it doesn't even have to dry out.
>
> >>>In the past I've had a couple of RAM modules that seemed dead - bathing
> >>>them
> >>>in isopropanol and cleaning the contacts brought them back to life.
>
> >>>One possibility is that some of the thermal compound you used or that was
> >>>previously on the chips was electrically conductive, *like your arctic
> >>>silver* and some of that ended up where it shouldn't. So, make sure it's
> >>>isopropanol you've got and give the whole board a thoroughly good clean,
> >>>use
> >>>plenty of alcohol, then clean the pci-e contacts just to be on the safe
> >>>side. I'll bet it's a bit of arctic silver causing the problem.
>
> >>>Good Luck.
>
> >>>Dr.White.
>
> >> You keep telling people to bathe the electronics in alchohol. Do you
> >> forget
> >> that alchohol is flamable?
>
> > Well, I used rubbing alcohol to clean gpus and mem modules because 3rd
> > party cooler makers (eg, Zalman, Thermalright) recommend using alcohol.
>
> So, did you fix it?-

Obviously he fixed it. Othervise, he would be back on the newsgroup
looking for a compassion about the killed card.