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I'm possibly being really paranoid here but i think my new Leadtek PX8800 ZL has rust spots on it - and its only a few weeks old.
Don't have a digital camera at the moment but i'll post pics when I do.
The rust sports are on the screw holes on the card that are dotted about.
Surely this isn't normal?
are they evenly spaced circular shaped dots?
if they are, they're normal
Could just be a small layer of oxidization. Certainly nothing to worry about.
If the dots are spread out evenly as Matty says, thats normal :)
I'll find a camera soon
got a camera phone or anything?
I don't even get how it could get rust on it inside a computer? Is that possible?
Yes. Air has moisture in, almost all metals will oxidise given the right circumstances.
Having said that, I've never seen it in a PC apart from the usual level of oxidisation you get on parts.
Needs a pic really :)
Found a camera, will u/l in a min
http://image.bayimg.com/pajccaabf.jpg
What you think?
yeah, that looks bad pal! wait to see what Agent says..
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/icon_eek.gif are there barnacles on the bottom of your case?
Do you live in a salty area, near the sea maybe? If so this can happen but it normally takes quite a while.
Its hard to tell from the pics as they are a bit blurry (use macro mode and shot a bit further away buddy :)) but it looks like there was a bit too much flux put on at manufacture - If this is the case, its nothing to worry about. This makes sense as their is solder on there too.
It doesn't appear to be on any other areas of copper going on that picture either. I wouldn't say its anything to worry about.
Was it like it when you brought it though? thats the big question :)
I'm at home just now, got a week off college (glasgow) and work.
I'm 99% sure it wasn't like that when I got it, I'm sure I would have noticed it.
I have a window on the side of my PC
I'll take a few more pics , its not a great camera.
that looks really evil!
yep... is the card in warranty? that does not look good, sorry to say :(
Yeah not good, get it checked pal. You just bought it!
Alright, I\'ll email ebuyer tomorrow about it.
Gutted tbh, this along with my mobo troubles on a system I\'ve just built :(
That just looks like flux / the pcb protective layer to be honest. I certainly wouldn\'t be worrying about it.
Second that - it's just flux, nothing to worry about.Quote:
Originally Posted by Agent
Agent, you seem to know what you are talking about, so I'll trust you unless anyone has a concrete reason why I should get it RMA'd?
Well, what if the card starts cropping up with wierd issues after you haven't RMAed it? this could just be the start...
Third that, it looks like flux, look below C549, there appears to be a bit there as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Agent
This is definitely flux, looks like a rosin one. I can see that there is also flux next to the round sticker, note the 3 groups of 12, 4 and 2 components. I'd be inclined to try and clean it off using isopropyl alcohol. Fluxes if ionic can cause shorts and/or corrosion.
Whilst it is probably nothing to worry about and is most likely cosmetic I personally would RMA it because I don't think that level of flux residue is acceptable. It would fail any visual inspection criteria I've known.
Gah... so to RMA or not to RMA?
well personally.. i'd see if the isopropyl alcohol thing that Iranu suggested works first, and if not, get it RMA'd 'cause if you've just recieved it then it should've been picked up upon visual inspection at the factory.
The flux around the heatsink mounting holes have no chance of shorting anything. Flux on the rows of unused capacitor spaces are also in no danger of shorting out as it's not making any bridges between anything.
Don't bother returning it, don't even clean it, don't fix something that ain't broken.
I would rma it if it's possible, thats a bad flux job. You wouldn't buy a shirt with a stain even though you could wash it out.
But - if I bought said shirt and discovered the bit of detritus when I got home, I wouldn't bother returning it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackmage
(Unless if Primark was next door)
:undecided
I r confused as to which course of action I should take.
Terrible comparison :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Blackmage
Flux is fine on a card, even like that. Its not going anywhere, and its not going to short anything. Not many fluxes are conductive. Even if this is conductive flux, again, it is not going anywhere. Its only going to cause an issue if you mess with it :P (plus, its dry now!)
Even if you RMA it - I cant see that most company's will accept this as a fault.
Unless you're having issues with the card, just leave it. Its gone like that because its on copper, nothing more. I'm shocked at how many people think this is an issue. Each to their own :)
I don't know if any of you guys have seen my thread about my POST code error (its in the abit support forum) but the error I'm getting is C1 and the abit site says this -
I'm going to try my brothers gfx card and see if that does anything.Quote:
1. Please update flash BIOS first2. Please change graphic card3. Change slot first or send to RMA at last4. Clear CMOS and load BIOS default
I'm in total agreement with you Agent, why all this fuss over a bit of flux, at least you know the board has been soldered correctly with less chance of dry joints :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Agent
Flux is an essential component in the soldering process - removinf metal oxides and allowing the solder to wet the two materials (usually copper) together. The Introduction of lead free solders has required new formulations of flux to cope with the changed alloys (the solder and copper form an alloy at the joint - sodering is a complex process metallugically.
Fluxes for electronic components are very different from the fluxes used to solder copper pipes together. They are usually acid based and the residues are corrosive particularly to steel items) and should never be used for electronic assembly. Modern electronic use fluxes are usually water soluble - the Regulations for Substances Hazardous to Health (RoSHH) also limit the solvents that can be used to wash off flux residue, however in consumer electronics, it may be cheaper not to bother - the flux residue does no harm (except that it can make visual inspections a bit harder - in high end military, aerospace, medical type equipment, the residues would be washed off for that reason)
Bottom line - the card works, and while the amount of flux residue may be considered a little excessive - it isn't a problem. It probably wouldn't be be accepted as defective if you did RMA anyway (so you have the cost of returning it, having it tested, and then sent back to you).
So put it back together, enjoy whatever applications you are using it for, and stop fretting about something which is pretty trivial!