Mouse peed on GPU and now corrosion is visible

[Lei]

@Thriliya
You don't use a gpu backplate?
And isn't your RAM in the wrong slot. Must usually be in the 2nd slot from the cpu. Check the motherboard manual.

 

[P4-630]

You don't use a gpu backplate?

Most older GPU's just don't have a backplate.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Get a toothbrush and clean using water.

The aggressive corrosion is contribution of ammonia, it should be cleaned with distilled water and toothbrush. Then leave it in the sun for a day or so to bake the moisture out.

 

[Bones]

I guess hand cleaner is a no no!! View attachment 260479 70% No Good!! View attachment 260480

Oh hey.... Don't tell @Bones to Not put his motherboards into a dishwasher. He's got methods and MADNESS!!!! View attachment 260481

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

Who said that?

Well, I do have the madness part covered.

EDIT:
Getting ready to send another one through the wash, this time it's an NF7 in bad need of cleaning - Caked with dust so all that has to go.

 

[xtreemchaos]

funny story when we lived in Hull theres was rats as big as mid sized dogs, i think thay are called Coypus, we went shopping one day and after visited some friends on Hedon road we stopped for a while and when went to leave there was a family of those chaps in the front garden it was like we wasnt there they are scaired of nothing they didnt bat a eye lid as we slipped past.

 

[caroline!]

First wear gloves. Not sure where you live but if I find P or droppings I must be careful and pour a little alcohol or cold water over it before removing it because they might have the Hanta.

Then:

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).

And replace the screws if you don't like the corrosion.

 

[Shrek]

The Hantavirus is very dangerous and the survival rate not high.

I had mice in the car and ran an ozone machine to disinfect it.

 

[AsRock]

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

Yeah i say there was a bigger problem here, but maybe it's a pet haha, could be just a mouse too ?.

I's soak it in 99% iso and scrub it with a none static brush.

 

[Shrek]

Don't worry about locating 99% isopropyl alcohol, even 70% is fine.

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.

If there is hantavirus, don't blow the dust around.

 

[64K]

If there is hantavirus, don't blow the dust around.

Very good point but wouldn't just running the PC at all be a risk? The exhaust fan must be blowing some small amount of dust out into the room.

 

[Shrek]

True, so a small ozone generating machine might be the way to go if there is hantavirus in the area as was the case for me (I was on the Navajo Nation).

 

[Mister300]

Get a spray can of contact cleaner

https://www.amazon.com/DeoxIT-D5S-6-Contact-Cleaner-Integrated/dp/B0002BBV4G/ref=sr_1_15?crid=3K2EV37P7DPT9&keywords=contact+cleaner&qid=1662309478&sprefix=contact+cleaner%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-15

 

[caroline!]

If there is hantavirus, don't blow the dust around.

how could you know if there's hantavirus mate the rat can't answer questions

no need for ozone but I'd start looking around for more droppings and hopefully find where the rats are coming from, usually on top of fridges, countertops, under the stove, in closets and near pilths, they don't usually wander in the open and tend to follow walls or furniture, house mices and rats that is.

 

[Shrek]

how could you know if there's hantavirus mate the rat can't answer questions

If there is hantavirus in the area, which was the case for me (on the Navajo Nation)

 

[64K]

Best thing is just to rid the house of mice and clean up whatever droppings you find.

Get some of these and put a small dab of peanut butter on each. Mice can't resist peanut butter.

 

[freeagent]

I would keep the computer a few feet off the floor, I do actually.. but for dust not rodents. Good luck!

 

[Thriliya]

I would keep the computer a few feet off the floor, I do actually.. but for dust not rodents. Good luck!

It was off the floor but yeah not high enough I guess

 

[lexluthermiester]

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.

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!!

Take your card out, get some 90% IPA, spray the card down with it and take a tooth brush to gently brush away all the offending contaminants. Then spray the card down again with more IPA and let the card dry completely before reinstalling. Follow these directions and you'll be fine.

It was off the floor but yeah not high enough I guess

Put it on a plastic stand of some sort. This will make it difficult for a rodent to climb.

 

[Mussels]

Okay so this is an entirely new level of hilarious craziness


#1: corrosion cant spread in from those screws, the GPU is safe

#2: Dont use cleaner less than 99% alcohol - the leftover residues from the additives like moisturisers, scents etc will be left behind and be more dangerous than the leftover pee

#3: A paint brush is your friend, it's soft enough to not risk any damage but combined with isopropyl will remove any residues from any source




Bonus: and you guys think australia is dangerous, but we dont have rabies or this hantavirus

 

[LabRat 891]

Legendary!

At least for carpet, etc. IIRC Vinegar is used.
Without further research, I'd be tempted to try white vinegar and a toothbrush, followed by a warm water rinse, then another brushy-brush with the toothbrush using isopropyl. Allow to dry overnight.

Get a spray can of contact cleaner

https://www.amazon.com/DeoxIT-D5S-6-Contact-Cleaner-Integrated/dp/B0002BBV4G/ref=sr_1_15?crid=3K2EV37P7DPT9&keywords=contact+cleaner&qid=1662309478&sprefix=contact+cleaner%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-15

Good idea. 'CRC QC electronics cleaner' is a (similar) favorite of mine.

 

[Thriliya]

Thank y'all. Finally I've cleaned the GPU as many of you suggested to do it very carefully and gently. And the operation was successful and the GPU is running well enough.

So my next question is, Is it okay to cover the back of the GPU with something like cardboard/paper? Or it can conduct electricity and damage the components? (The moisture ness in my country/city isn't very high either.)

Thanks again everyone

 

[MentalAcetylide]

Thank y'all. Finally I've cleaned the GPU as many of you suggested to do it very carefully and gently. And the operation was successful and the GPU is running well enough.

So my next question is, Is it okay to cover the back of the GPU with something like cardboard/paper? Or it can conduct electricity and damage the components? (The moisture ness in my country/city isn't very high either.)

Thanks again everyone

Your next question should be whether or not you need to hire an exterminator. If you had a mouse in your case, chances are you have one or more setting up shop in your house somewhere else. Exceptionally cold weather can drive them to heat/warm areas(inside your house, computer chassis, around your car's engine if you leave it parked outside overnight, etc.) regardless if there's available food sources(food crumbs, open bags of snacks, etc.).

 

[Vayra86]

Kill all the PC-things!

 

[Thriliya]

Your next question should be whether or not you need to hire an exterminator. If you had a mouse in your case, chances are you have one or more setting up shop in your house somewhere else. Exceptionally cold weather can drive them to heat/warm areas(inside your house, computer chassis, around your car's engine if you leave it parked outside overnight, etc.) regardless if there's available food sources(food crumbs, open bags of snacks, etc.).

Yes indeed. So we set traps last night and eliminated one of them. Maybe 2/3 more to go. And then we will be living peacefully for half a year until they attack back again. Its almost impossible to get rid of them completely as we live near jungle/forest. They always come back after we eliminate the last of them. That's why I also think precautionary measurement is necessary to be in the safe side. Btw, I've blocked that open slot with double layered cardboard. And thinking should I also cover the back of the GPU as an extra

 

[MentalAcetylide]

Yes indeed. So we set traps last night and eliminated one of them. Maybe 2/3 more to go. And then we will be living peacefully for half a year until they attack back again. Its almost impossible to get rid of them completely as we live near jungle/forest. They always come back after we eliminate the last of them. That's why I also think precautionary measurement is necessary to be in the safe side. Btw, I've blocked that open slot with double layered cardboard. And thinking should I also cover the back of the GPU as an extra

In that case you'll probably need to set up a number of traps around your house. I know in the industrial parks, a lot of the companies have rodent traps set next to all of the entry points. They can handle more than one rodent without the need for service, unlike those nasty "victor" traps, which require frequent checking in order to be fully effective. They're ok for inside the house, but you want to keep those four-legged trail shitters from getting in, which is what the rodent traps will do.