Pc broken
Pc broken
I recently purchased a used PC and tested it with the seller. Everything functioned properly until I plugged in my RAM and HDD at home. When I turned it on, I heard a pop and smoke coming from the motherboard or graphics card. I took it to a repair shop, initially assuming the power supply unit was faulty. They informed me they couldn't proceed further because the GPU and CPU were fully water-cooled. What do you think might have failed?
There could be moisture involved. Are there any signs of burning present?
unfortunately, without someone experienced to assess the issue, it's hard to provide a reliable solution. possibly a leak occurred, causing water where it shouldn't be—electrical or water damage leading to a short circuit. though it's possible the GPU failed a component on the PCB, I've seen many cards fail with popping sounds and smoke. I haven't seen this happen before, but it seems likely the card itself was damaged.
The device was moved with great care and remained upright throughout the process. There are no visible signs of damage or scorching.
there’s a risk when there’s smoke and pop, meaning something is beyond safe usage or completely dead. If the card wasn’t installed correctly, a short could form and cause damage. I’d take out the card first and check its smell, then test the rest of the PC to see if it powers on. The problem seems linked to the custom watercooling setup since both the card and CPU run continuously. If you’re not familiar with watercooling, watch tutorials or videos to learn how to drain the system properly—just disconnect power from the card and remove it from the PCI slot. Make sure the tubing is adequately supported so pressure isn’t too high, which could lead to leaks. If the system starts working again, it might mean the card was damaged; otherwise, check another component.
The harm has already occurred to some extent. Removing the card as recommended and ensuring the PC starts without pops or smoke indicates everything is fine. Personally, I would proceed with that step and then examine the card. This would suggest a loop was drained or at least something was done so the card could be taken out. Then you can open it and check for any damage on the PCB...