Umm..whats the worst that can happen...?

[Enzf1]

Well i was installing a new cooler on my vid card today, x1800xt, but i accidently spilled some isopropryl alcohol all over it. When i put it back in the computer the computer wouldnt boot and there was a beeping sound coming from the video card. After a while though it did boot up and i was playing some games. A few times while in windows the screen went all corrupted and screwy and the computer restarted. I played some games for a few hours and then suddenly in the middle of the game the screen gets all corrupted again and the computer restarts. The beeping noise will not go away. Besides that the performance is the same and its doing fine so far today...


So how badly did I screw it up? What did i mess up?
I would rma but ...its gonna be kinda hard to explain that i put on a new aftermarket cooler, and while doing that i also spilled alcohol all over the card.

[Moto7451]

Did you let the alcohol evaporate before turning it back on? Isopropyl alcohol is what is generally recommended for cleaning ICs and other parts. It shouldn't have been a problem unless you turned it on before it dried off.

[Enzf1]

Uh..ya i think i mightve just be too inpatient..I did let it sit for a hour though...was that enough? I am really worried, my dad will be really mad when he finds out i just screwed up a 350 dollar card and i cant get a replacement. Noooooooooooooooooooo

What would happen if something was stilll wet and I ran it? Am i screwed forever?

[Dan0512]

Hmm... strange. I'd let it sit for another whole day, then try it out again.

dan

[Andreas1327]

I don't think that your problem is the isopropyl alcohol... it evaporates within seconds not hours. Try to remove the HSF and to reinstall it and don't forget to clean the old paste and add some new... try that and you'll see.
The fact that it boots is very encouraging and I think that your card has no prob..

[GearShift3r]

It should've evaporated within seconds. Remove your heatsink and clean off the thermal paste. Re-apply it, but make sure that it doesn't spread too far off the core.

-GearShift3r

[Enzf1]

I triple checked the paste and reapplied, it isnt touching anything besides the caore... :(
Well i just woke up and i turned on my comp. the card still beeps for 3 seconds but bots up just fine. I ran 3dmark06 but no perfornance drops...

Do you think sapphire will rma it? Me and my dad dont have much experiance in this kinda stuff, do you think its possible?

[striker85]

Is there a power connector you need to plug in on the card?