8 Easy Ways On How To Fix Water Damaged Graphics Card

You no longer need to strain yourself searching “how to fix water damaged graphics card,” for you can work this problem out in no time.

Graphics cards may seem hidden inside your computer, but water leaks can creep in and damage them. Luckily, you only need to check out this informative article as it guides you to eight steps in repairing your water damaged GPU.

how to fix water damaged graphics card

Continue reading to learn more!

 

Can Your Graphics Card Survive After A Water Damage?

Even though water triggers damage to various electronics, your graphics card can still survive after water damage. If such cases happen, you will only need to disassemble, clean, dry, and reassemble your graphics card.

Moreover, you will also need to inspect and solve the probable causes of water leaks. Nevertheless, if the water damage is severe, you may opt to call for professional help. 

 

How Can You Repair A Water Damaged Graphics Card?

If the water damage is not severely concerning, you can repair your graphics card independently. Having a complete set of tools and materials can help, and you can leave the instructions to us!

Here are eight easy steps in fixing your water damaged graphics card.

 

Step #1. Remove the graphics card from the computer

Before starting the repair, you will need to shut your computer down and disconnect the power plug from the electric socket. After that, remove the graphics card from the computer carefully.

 

Step #2. Perform visual inspection

Check the graphics card if there is physical or water damage. You can also inspect the water cooler to see if it is leaking.

Aside from that, you can also look over the PCI express slot because they can also be prone to damage due to water spills. The cases can also have residues from these water leaks.

 

Step #3. Open the graphics card

After the inspection, grab your small Phillips screwdriver to remove the fasteners on the graphics card. Set aside all the screws in an organized manner so you will not lose them.

In this step, ensure that you have removed everything and have the bare circuit board left by itself. 

 

Step #4. Check the voltage supply for a possible short circuit

Get your digital multimeter (DMM) to check the voltage supply for possible short circuits. You will need to set the DMM to resistance measurement and find the reference points on the board.

You can start at a reference point where it is ground, such as the ground points of the PCI Express connectors. After finding these references, you can begin checking the resistance measurement on different parts of the graphics card.

Doing this step is essential because a short circuit in the graphics card may lead to turning off the monitor or inconsistent screen displays.

 

Step #5. Start the cleaning process

Grab alcohol or acetone for cleaning. Note that you must not use water-based cleaners because they can worsen the situation. 

Get a rag dampened with your desired cleaner and wipe the graphics card clean. Some people also pour the cleaner directly into the GPU.

Ensure to remove the thermal paste to guarantee that it will not ruin and melt all over the graphics card when you bake it later. You will also need to peel stickers and labels off to prevent burning.

If you wish to know more, here is how to clean water damaged electronics.

 

Step #6. Bake the graphics card

In this step, you will need to bake the card mid-air.

First, find four spots near the graphics card’s corners with no electrical traces. Grab some aluminum foil and crumple four pieces to create small balls.

Place these balls on a sheet of aluminum foil laid on a cookie sheet. Ensure that the balls’ positions match the four spots you searched for earlier. 

After that, place the graphics card above the balls to have it positioned mid-air. Preheat the oven to 390°F before putting them inside it.

Let the graphics card and cookie sheet stay in the oven for over eight minutes. Pull them out from the oven and let them cool naturally after the timer gets off.

Ensure not to put them inside the fridge to speed up the cooling process.

 

Step #7. Apply new thermal grease

Put new thermal grease without reusing the old one because it can degrade the graphics card’s quality. Coat the GPU evenly but do not apply too much.

 

Step #8. Put everything back and test it

Re-install the fasteners and bring all the parts back to your graphics card and computer. After that, connect your computer to the power connectors and power supply to see if it works just fine.

 

Conclusion

Repairing your GPU is easy since you have already read this article on how to fix water damaged graphics card. You only need to remove the parts, clean, bake, cool, and reassemble them to make it work again.

However, as people say, prevention is better than cure. You can also check out this post about how to protect electronics from water damage to further help you.

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