EK-FC GeForce GTX FE possible GPU corrosion?

BadFrog · Apr 23, 2018

Hi all,

I setup my first custom water loop last year May. Last weekend, I drained my system to install a vertical GPU mount in my case. When I pulled the card out, I was inspecting it for any problems and found some strange colored markings inside my GPU block. Since this is the first time seeing any problem in my loop, I just wanted to ask the community the best way to fix the problem. I think its corrosion or possibly the nickel plating is being flaked off? I wanted to show off the GPU, but I'm starting to have second thoughts because of this problem. What can I do?

All other parts didn't show any kind of corrosion or any other problem. I've been only using distilled water, no PT Nuke, or silver coil, etc. EKWB radiator, monoblock, fittings, bitspower

Steevo · Apr 23, 2018

Its just some oxidation, where machined edges are the nickel plating isn't as thick and the copper substrate may have reacted with a little of your coolant. Flush it with white vinegar and don't worry. What coolant were you running? EDIT, am an idiot. You will need something with distilled water as it will rip metal ions off due to it being slightly acidic, if you can find clear ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or a automotive additive package to prevent corrosion it will work fine too.

http://www.overclockers.com/pc-water-coolant-chemistry-part-ii/

I use a 50/50 premix industrial coolant, with water wetter, and then dillute it with distilled water to approximately 20-30% Glycol by volume.

Norton · Apr 23, 2018

Follow the instructions from EKWB for cleaning their blocks here:
https://ekwb.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/205235541-How-to-clean-water-blocks-
*note- don't use anything acidic on their nickel plated blocks- it will void your warranty!

Cleaning nickel plated copper: When cleaning nickel plated copper it is forbidden to use any aggressive chemicals (neither vinegar) or rough materials as you may damage the plating and thus void the warranty.

Their blocks have a 24 month warranty- might be a good idea to contact them on any staining that can't be cleaned up

eidairaman1 · Apr 23, 2018

I presume everything in the loop is the same metal

BadFrog · Apr 24, 2018

eidairaman1 said:
I presume everything in the loop is the same metal

AFAIK, I double checked all the fittings and they all seem to be nickel plated brass (EKWB & Bitspower). I'll double check again tonight when I get home from work. The one I'm not sure about is a Swiftech 15mm extension, that I can't seem to find (https://www.swiftech.com/15MM-MF-EXTENSION-ADAPTER.aspx)

Norton said:
Follow the instructions from EKWB for cleaning their blocks here:
https://ekwb.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/205235541-How-to-clean-water-blocks-
*note- don't use anything acidic on their nickel plated blocks- it will void your warranty!

Their blocks have a 24 month warranty- might be a good idea to contact them on any staining that can't be cleaned up

I didn't think they'd consider this a warranty issue but maybe more aesthetic or normal wear and tear? Not sure, first timer here with corrosion

eidairaman1 · Apr 24, 2018

BadFrog said:
AFAIK, I double checked all the fittings and they all seem to be nickel plated brass (EKWB & Bitspower). I'll double check again tonight when I get home from work. The one I'm not sure about is a Swiftech 15mm extension, that I can't seem to find (https://www.swiftech.com/15MM-MF-EXTENSION-ADAPTER.aspx)

I didn't think they'd consider this a warranty issue but maybe more aesthetic or normal wear and tear? Not sure, first timer here with corrosion

Ask them to identify it, the spotting is surface corrosion which happen in automotive radiators, you can do the suggestions @Steevo has, but if that unknown fitting is not compatible youd be best to remove it and do a thorough system flush.

BadFrog · Apr 24, 2018

eidairaman1 said:
Ask them to identify it, the spotting is surface corrosion which happen in automotive radiators, you can do the suggestions @Steevo has, but if that unknown fitting is not compatible youd be best to remove it and do a thorough system flush.

You mentioned automotive radiators... should I check my rads and maybe flush them again? I'm gonna tear down the loop this weekend or next and do a complete flush of the system. As long as my o-rings come in on time which might be another problem. My monoblock is EOL and I sent EK an email for replacement o-rings, but if they don't have in stock, any idea on where I can get it? :respect:

erocker · Apr 24, 2018

eidairaman1 said:
I presume everything in the loop is the same metal

Going by the parts listed it's all compatible. Brass, copper, nickel.

eidairaman1 · Apr 24, 2018

BadFrog said:
You mentioned automotive radiators... should I check my rads and maybe flush them again? I'm gonna tear down the loop this weekend or next and do a complete flush of the system. As long as my o-rings come in on time which might be another problem. My monoblock is EOL and I sent EK an email for replacement o-rings, but if they don't have in stock, any idea on where I can get it?

Automotive parts shops have O rings, get them there.

System Name	unnamed currently :*(
Processor	Intel Core i7-5960x
Motherboard	ASUS ROG RAMPAGE V EDITION 10
Cooling	EKWB/Bitspower CPU, motherboard & GPU WB
Memory	Corsair Dominator Platinum 4x4gb ddr4 2666
Video Card(s)	nVidia GTX 1080 Ti FE 11GB
Storage	Samsung 960 Evo 1 TB M.2 SSD & WD Black 5TB HDD
Display(s)	Asus SwiftROG PG278Q & Asus PB277Q
Case	Corsair 900D
Audio Device(s)	Sound Blaster Zx
Power Supply	Corsair Axi1200
Mouse	Steel Series Sensei RAW
Keyboard	Corsair K70
Benchmark Scores	4.8 ghz @ 1.37 - 5930k - old cpu 4.6 GHZ @ 1.3 - 5960X - current cpu

System Name	Compy 386
Processor	7800X3D
Motherboard	Asus
Cooling	Air for now.....
Memory	64 GB DDR5 6400Mhz
Video Card(s)	7900XTX 310 Merc
Storage	Samsung 990 2TB, 2 SP 2TB SSDs and over 10TB spinning
Display(s)	56" Samsung 4K HDR
Audio Device(s)	ATI HDMI
Mouse	Logitech MX518
Keyboard	Razer
Software	A lot.
Benchmark Scores	Its fast. Enough.

System Name	Main PC- Gamer- Main Cruncher/Folder and too many crunching/folding rigs
Processor	Ryzen 5900X- Ryzen 5950X- Ryzen 3950X and etc...
Motherboard	Asrock X570 Extreme4- MSI X570S Tomahawk MAX WiFi- MSI B450M Bazooka Max and etc...
Cooling	Noctua NH-U14S (dual fan)- EK 360 AIO with push/pull fans- Corsair H115i RGB Pro XT and etc...
Memory	2x16GB GSkill FlareX 3200/c14- 4x8GB Corsair Vengeance 3600/c16- 2x16GB Team 3600/c18 and etc..
Video Card(s)	MSI Gaming RX 6800- Asus RTX 3070 TUF OC- MSI Ventus GTX 1660Ti and etc...
Storage	Main PC (1TB WD SN850- 2TB PNY CS 3040- 2TB Seagate Firecuda) and etc...
Display(s)	Main PC (2x24" Dell UltraSharp U2414H)
Case	Phanteks P600s- Seasonic Q704- Fractal Meshify C and etc...
Audio Device(s)	Logitech Z625 THX 2.1 speakers
Power Supply	EVGA 750 G3- SeaSonic DGC 750- EVGA P2 850 and etc...
Mouse	G300s
Keyboard	Corsair K65
VR HMD	N/A
Software	Windows 10 Pro or Ubuntu
Benchmark Scores	Why sit on the Bench when you can get in the game and Crunch!!!

System Name	PCGOD
Processor	AMD FX 8350@ 5.0GHz
Motherboard	Asus TUF 990FX Sabertooth R2 2901 Bios
Cooling	Scythe Ashura, 2×BitFenix 230mm Spectre Pro LED (Blue,Green), 2x BitFenix 140mm Spectre Pro LED
Memory	16 GB Gskill Ripjaws X 2133 (2400 OC, 10-10-12-20-20, 1T, 1.65V)
Video Card(s)	AMD Radeon 290 Sapphire Vapor-X
Storage	Samsung 840 Pro 256GB, WD Velociraptor 1TB
Display(s)	NEC Multisync LCD 1700V (Display Port Adapter)
Case	AeroCool Xpredator Evil Blue Edition
Audio Device(s)	Creative Labs Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply	Seasonic 1250 XM2 Series (XP3)
Mouse	Roccat Kone XTD
Keyboard	Roccat Ryos MK Pro
Software	Windows 7 Pro 64

System Name	unnamed currently :*(
Processor	Intel Core i7-5960x
Motherboard	ASUS ROG RAMPAGE V EDITION 10
Cooling	EKWB/Bitspower CPU, motherboard & GPU WB
Memory	Corsair Dominator Platinum 4x4gb ddr4 2666
Video Card(s)	nVidia GTX 1080 Ti FE 11GB
Storage	Samsung 960 Evo 1 TB M.2 SSD & WD Black 5TB HDD
Display(s)	Asus SwiftROG PG278Q & Asus PB277Q
Case	Corsair 900D
Audio Device(s)	Sound Blaster Zx
Power Supply	Corsair Axi1200
Mouse	Steel Series Sensei RAW
Keyboard	Corsair K70
Benchmark Scores	4.8 ghz @ 1.37 - 5930k - old cpu 4.6 GHZ @ 1.3 - 5960X - current cpu

EK-FC GeForce GTX FE possible GPU corrosion?

BadFrog

Steevo

Norton

Moderator - Returning from the Darkness

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

BadFrog

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

BadFrog

erocker

*

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	ASUS TUF x670e
Cooling	EK AIO 360. Phantek T30 fans.
Memory	32GB G.Skill 6000Mhz
Video Card(s)	Asus RTX 4090
Storage	WD m.2
Display(s)	LG C2 Evo OLED 42"
Case	Lian Li PC 011 Dynamic Evo
Audio Device(s)	Topping E70 DAC, SMSL SP200 Headphone Amp.
Power Supply	FSP Hydro Ti PRO 1000W
Mouse	Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
Keyboard	Tester84
Software	Windows 11