Liquid spots on motherboard?

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One String Banjo

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Sep 14, 2016
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While cleaning my computer, I noticed some odd looking spots on the back of my motherboard, an MSI Z170A Gaming Pro Carbon. They look like liquid, but are dry to the touch. They've formed recently: I didn't see them when I cleaned my computer six weeks or so ago. I've never noticed spots like this in the year I've owned this motherboard.

Since my last cleaning, I've had my window open and haven't been running my air conditioner as often so it might be more humid in here than normal, though this hasn't affected my running temperatures. I also had to up the vcore on my CPU from 1.222 to 1.232 after some stability issues with my overclock.

Other than that, there haven't been any issues with my PC at all. A cursory search on google suggests it's probably just leftover material from the factory, but I'd like to check if it's something to be concerned about.

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Satan-IR
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Satan-IR

Satan-IR

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It looks greasy. Leakage from electrolytic capacitors (if any on that board) are usually dry and crusty.

It might be soldering flux residue; flux causes the solder to flow more completely through the holes in multi-layer PCB. It's not usually seen in pools like this but if the system is working as it should I wouldn't worry about is.

The strange part is that you say you didn't see them when you last cleaned it. Maybe it was there and you didn't see it? Are you sure nothing dripped on the board?
 
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drea.drechsler

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Oct 16, 2017
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That looks like seepage from oil being 'cooked' out of the thermal pads between the FET's and the heatsink to me. The VRM could be getting pretty hot....
 
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One String Banjo

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No liquid of any kind ever gets near my PC, much less inside the case. It's possible they've been there and haven't noticed them: it doesn't get very dusty behind the motherboard tray, so I don't have to pay much attention when cleaning it.
 
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One String Banjo

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This board has some beefy looking heat spreaders around the CPU socket that correspond to the stains on the back. Think they could be conducting heat off of the CPU cooler? I have a 6700k overclocked to 4.4ghz, but the voltage I've got it running at is far less than this motherboard would be feeding it on auto settings. CPU temps never went above 70c when running AIDA 64's CPU and FPU tests simultaneously. Motherboard temp stayed in the high 30s, too.
 
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Satan-IR

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I asked earlier about SMDs and components on he other side of the board - same spot - and you said no stains. I meant parts like VRMs and sinks and such. The stains somehow appear to be in lines parallel to the socket which can correspond with VRM and sinks positions around the CPU on the other side.

As also mentioned by drea.drechsler it can be greasy stuff ozzing though PCB as some thermal pads and such have silicon oils.

These oils are used because they act as electrical insulators and are non-flammable.

They might be appearing due to heat, although, CPU and board temps are not that high. It might not be a bad idea to monitor temps closely and to improve overall airflow/ventilation inside the case.

Are using liquid cooling for the CPU?
 
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One String Banjo

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No liquid cooling whatsoever.

It looks like my motherboard only has a sensor for the PCH, which seems to max at 42c under load. I don't have an accurate way to measure heat from the VRMs. I did do some testing, though.

When I stress the CPU alone, it reaches 70c max one one core. The package usually gets to 65c. During these tests, I felt the heat from the exhaust fan on my PC, as well as the top and side of the case behind the motherboard. They were only slightly warm, as was the air moving out of the case.

When stressing my GPU, however, the case became much warmer to the touch, and the air coming out of the back was much hotter. The GPU maxes at about 72c. So, it seems as though my GPU is displacing a lot of heat into the case.

I have three case fans in total: two 140mm intake fans, and one 120mm exhaust fan. The intake fans are aftermarket, whereas the exhaust fan came with the case. I put it together like this to create positive pressure in the case, and it keeps the system much cleaner than other fan setups I've had.

Could the heat from my GPU be causing the VRMs to heat up more? Should I get a different exhaust fan for my case to even out the airflow a bit?

I appreciate your help, by the way. Here's a parts list that I should have included in the main post.

http://

 
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Satan-IR

Satan-IR

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No problem, glad to help.

I asked about liquid cooling because with pumps on CPU and lack of fans the VRM areas get usually warmer inside the case as there is no airflow on them by the CPU cooler fan.

It might not be coolest of air but its betetr than nothing and helps cool those areas to some extent.

Yes those G1 cards have efficient coolers that somehow means more heat inside the case from the card. The bigger intake fans (especially if on the side) can disperse that heat everywhere in the case and if there is not enough exhaust that might add a few degrees.

The temps you have measured and mentioned are not that alarmingly high but it wouldn't hurt to run things cooler. That is actually not a bad idea to even the intake and exhaust out.

Another thing that somehow affects airflow is cable management. If the cables are managed properly there is more room for air to flow freely inside. A large spaghetti in the middle can hinder airflow. Although, from the zip tie in the picture I can tell you have done some cable management but I said that anyway for others who might read this later.

You mentioned "tests" you ran benchmarks or stress tests to check temps? Some of those are extreme scenarios which do not usually happens under real world usage such as full load work and gaming and such. I mean your PC would normally run cooler than those temps under normal usage.

After all if the temps are not crazy high (which are not) do not worry about it. Just monitor the temps from time to time. Improving the general airflow in the case always helps.

You can download HWiNFO - the portable version (no installation needed) - from here to check temps and other senors:

https://www.hwinfo.com/download.php
 
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