[ASK] Cleaning VGA

nanank

Honorable
Jul 26, 2013
17
0
10,510
hi...to all expert here...
first of all, sorry for my bad english, but i hope you get what i mean

i wanna ask few things...

so, i got this old PC, Pentium 4 with AGP card and DDR1 memory. yes, it is an old PC.
i remember it still functioning when i left it in the warehouse few years ago...

now i look at it, it is really dusty and the bad thing is, that someone in my family put something on the case, and it leave a stain, a "liquid like" stain, maybe oil, because it is greasy...

so im gonna try to revive this PC again...but the VGA seem got stain from the liquid/oil from the thing on the case....it is the back of the PCB, where there is no capacitor or heatsink,
the back PCB is where there is a lot of little chip/transistor there.
i assume the side of PCB where there is heatsind and GPU chip i front
luckyly the PSU and motherboard dont get the same stain...

so before i revive this PC, i need to clean it first
the question is, how to clean the VGA??

normally, i just use brush or towel to clean dust, but this is "oil kind" is not easy, so what should i use?? i assume to avoid water, since it conduct electric, right?
should i use alcohol 70% or more ?? 100% maybe ??

any advice is very appreciated...

Thx
 
Solution
Well, alcohol not an effective oil remover..
That's why you need soap..and also water..

yes, it can be applied to "normal" hardware..
there's just very little chance to damage it..if you follow the step. 6-8 hours sun dry, and 3-5 minutes baking

like i said before..


and no..i'm not kidding at all.. :)
"Weird" and "extreme" way usually has more bigger effectiveness than just conventional one..and people the forum usually share about the best "weird" method to do something based on their experience..

and that's why you join this forum..
to learn and try something new..:)


Quaddro

Distinguished
Well, i usually clean all of my old hardware with brush, water and soap..

Dry in the sun for at least 6 hours, and put in stove for three minutes to make sure all dry..

wash in the water:
30072010171.jpg


after 6 hours sun dry, wrap it with alumunium foil then heat it on the stove for 5 minutes..
after that, turn off your stove and wait for 20 minutes to make temperatur normal..
30072010198.jpg

30072010191.jpg


after 20 minutes..reattach all of your vga heatsink with new thermalpaste..
and voila, it's works..:D
31072010206.jpg
 

nanank

Honorable
Jul 26, 2013
17
0
10,510
so, 70% alcohol is ok for cleaning the PCB include the "little chip/transistor" too...i will look that then, i think i have one for threating wound...

@Quaddro
wow...is that really work fine?? i looked very extreme...i am not brave enough to do that
what if the water goes in the chip or the capasitor ??
btw, my old agp card is not solid capasitor one ,but and old capasitor

 

Quaddro

Distinguished


That's really works very well..
that's why we have to bake it for 3-5 minutes after six hours sun dry, to make sure all of the water vaporize..
Alcohol is very quick dry, it maybe cannot lift up all dirt before vaporizing..that's why water is the best way to clean very dirty component (motherboard, graphics card, even memory)

Actually this method is a common way to revive dying graphics card and bring back to life..fix artifact, weak regulator with black screen etc..
 

nanank

Honorable
Jul 26, 2013
17
0
10,510


my card is should be OK, because the last time i turn PC was fine...so the card not broken, yet :p
i am affraid it become broken if i turn on and there is some "short electricity" because of the stain/oil/water kinda thing

can i assume this method is for already broken card, but is it can also applied to normal card too??
and you are really not kidding right?? to suggest me wash my card then cook it. i just wanna make sure...please no kidding, i am really need advice...thats why i join here...

thx
 

Quaddro

Distinguished
Well, alcohol not an effective oil remover..
That's why you need soap..and also water..

yes, it can be applied to "normal" hardware..
there's just very little chance to damage it..if you follow the step. 6-8 hours sun dry, and 3-5 minutes baking

like i said before..


and no..i'm not kidding at all.. :)
"Weird" and "extreme" way usually has more bigger effectiveness than just conventional one..and people the forum usually share about the best "weird" method to do something based on their experience..

and that's why you join this forum..
to learn and try something new..:)


 
Solution

nanank

Honorable
Jul 26, 2013
17
0
10,510
OK, i will try this "extreem way" (on my perspective)
but for the "baking/cooking part" maybe i will skip it, i am affraid i will make something on the card will be melted (i think)...so i will just dry in on the sun for maybe 2-3 days, just to make sure everything is really dry...

i'll post again if the card is still alive after doing this method...
if the card is dead, than it maybe just not my luck...

Thx @Quaddro for the advice.
case closed for now...