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What happened to my XSPC Raystorm CPU block

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CoolGuy90

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I had all my watercooling parts laying out on my desk in preparation for my first build. The Raystorm CPU block still had its plastic cover over the base but started to peel off.I noticed it was discolored in one corner and a quick google search indicated that this was oxidation. When I got the block I ran some warm distilled water through it but didn't take it apart. I let the block sit in some distilled white vinegar last night and when I checked on it this morning it looked like new. I come back after work and it looks like this:



What seemed to have happened?
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoolGuy90 View Post

Anything I can do to bring it back to like new? Mainly though will performance be affected?
Click to expand...
You can clean it again, although it will still tarnish very quickly...

Performance will not be measurably affected.
 
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Discussion starter · #7 ·
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Originally Posted by GingerJohn View Post

You can clean it again, although it will still tarnish very quickly...

Performance will not be measurably affected.
Click to expand...
In my loop I plan to have distilled water + kill coil. Will the kill coil prevent more corrosion from taking place? I will have copper rads and a nickel plated GPU block.
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoolGuy90 View Post

Anything I can do to bring it back to like new? Mainly though will performance be affected?
Click to expand...
You can clearcoat the exterior of the block where it is exposed to the air. There's not much you can do aside from that, maybe put a coat of polish/wax on it making sure not to get it on the contact area. The oxidation doesn't really affect performance. Fyi, I spray a clearcoat my fullcover gpu blocks to keep their exteriors pretty.
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoolGuy90 View Post

Anything I can do to bring it back to like new? Mainly though will performance be affected?
Click to expand...
Clean it off with vinegar and a very light abrasive, rinse it with distilled water, then immediately tint the block with TIM.
 
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#11 ·
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Originally Posted by CoolGuy90 View Post

I'll try a vinegar rinse again and put the block in a zip lock bag.
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Not going to help as there is still air in the bag.
 
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#15 ·
If you had left the block in its original cardboard box along with the little sachet of silica gel it would not be showing signs of oxidisation so quickly as both the cardboard and silica gel would have absorbed any air moister from attacking the copper which is a natural unpreventable process once the copper is left unprotected in the warm atmosphere.

You will never prevent oxidisation but you can slow the process down by keeping it dry as recommended above and also avoid touching the copper as the natural oils/moisture in you hands will discolour copper rapidly.

Once the copper is clean, dry it thoroughly and pop it back in the original box and it will stay shiny for a while longer than leaving exposed on the desk
thumb.gif
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoolGuy90 View Post

In my loop I plan to have distilled water + kill coil. Will the kill coil prevent more corrosion from taking place? I will have copper rads and a nickel plated GPU block.
Click to expand...
A few points here:

1. As others have stated, this is oxidation, not corrosion. You cant stop it with corrosion inhibitors.
2. Kill coil is silver, its meant as a biocide, it wont prevent corrosion at all anyway.
3. If you're going to use a nickel plated anything, I suggest getting a coolant with corrosion inhibitors, using just distilled + kill coil may lead to issues with the nickel plating peeling.

(#3 is a controversial point, but better to be safe than sorry in my opinion).
 
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