CPU Cooler Corrosion (Zalman 9500A)

Pieface · 15th December 2009, 3:31 PM

Today I took my cpu cooler out to clean for the first time since I installed it a year ago and I noticed there was a small amount of corrosion on each of the copper fins. My questions are what is the cause of this and will it have any impact on performance/longetivity? There was a substantial amount of dust on the cooler so I was thinking if moisture got into the dust and stayed there for extended periods of time corrosion may have started to occur.

It only occurs on one side of each fin.

I've been running it on an e7200 @ 3.2ghz for the past year without any problems.

Thanks

terrastrife · 15th December 2009, 9:57 PM

welcome to copper.

copper + air = oxidisation.

the end.

Buriedpast · 16th December 2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrastrife

welcome to copper.

copper + air = oxidisation.

the end.

+1

The f**k do you you think was going to happen

karlcloudy · 16th December 2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buriedpast

+1

The f**k do you you think was going to happen

Geez, while this isn't a flame free zone (it isn't the Newbie Lounge), you could give him a break, he's only made one post

Buriedpast · 16th December 2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlcloudy

Geez, while this isn't a flame free zone (it isn't the Newbie Lounge), you could give him a break, he's only made one post

This is true.

Make your second post in the newbie zone asking about why large surface area, exposed, cheap copper alloys are a bad thing to have when expecting things to last forever, for $50.

silverbullet · 16th December 2009, 9:53 AM

This is why i don't buy Zalman shit anymore, when i say shit i mean cheap overpriced shit, i used to be a fan (no pun intended) but i've had a few of their rather expensive heatsinks do this and it's not good enough imo so i went to Thermalright instead and have had no similar problems.

Buriedpast · 16th December 2009, 10:24 AM

its not a bad thing....im just astonished people didnt expect it to happen???

Lap the cpu contact with some 320 - 600 grit for a few seconds.
Dip the rest of the heatsink in a hydrocloric acid dilution (go to a pool store, use their mop bucket and give them a $fiver) for five mins. Rinse with water, and then rinse in metho. Blow it all dry or stick it in your fridge for 5 mins.

Reinstall shiney new cooler.

Aetherone · 17th December 2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pieface

I noticed there was a small amount of corrosion on each of the copper fins.

You dont happen to live near the beach do you?

I've worked on near-beach living PCs less than a year old that have rusted to hell.

Flamin Joe · 18th December 2009, 8:36 AM

Or even in the tropics. I lived in Darwin for a couple of years, and the PC's I worked on would corrode in no time at all, especially the cheap crap.

Anywhere there is a high rate of airflow, cpu heatsink, power supply fan grill, accelerates the process.

tk55 · 18th December 2009, 10:59 AM

umm....copper is copper. is there such thing as a cheaper copper that rust easier???

it must be your environment. i just looked at my 2 1/2 yrs old 9500led and although it's dusty but no rust.

i'm in melbourne far eastern suburb. not near sea nor up in the mountain.

15th December 2009, 3:31 PM	#1
Pieface Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 388	CPU Cooler Corrosion (Zalman 9500A) Today I took my cpu cooler out to clean for the first time since I installed it a year ago and I noticed there was a small amount of corrosion on each of the copper fins. My questions are what is the cause of this and will it have any impact on performance/longetivity? There was a substantial amount of dust on the cooler so I was thinking if moisture got into the dust and stayed there for extended periods of time corrosion may have started to occur. It only occurs on one side of each fin. I've been running it on an e7200 @ 3.2ghz for the past year without any problems. Thanks

16th December 2009, 10:24 AM	#7
Buriedpast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane Bayside. Posts: 256	its not a bad thing....im just astonished people didnt expect it to happen??? Lap the cpu contact with some 320 - 600 grit for a few seconds. Dip the rest of the heatsink in a hydrocloric acid dilution (go to a pool store, use their mop bucket and give them a $fiver) for five mins. Rinse with water, and then rinse in metho. Blow it all dry or stick it in your fridge for 5 mins. Reinstall shiney new cooler. __________________ Successful Trades: $1500 or so Swordsaint, OverPAQ'd, Wannabe360, Hadley, r3s

15th December 2009, 9:57 PM	#2
terrastrife Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ADL/SA The Monopoly State Posts: 15,970	welcome to copper. copper + air = oxidisation. the end.

16th December 2009, 9:53 AM	#6
silverbullet Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Marcoola, Sunshine Coast Posts: 1,909	This is why i don't buy Zalman shit anymore, when i say shit i mean cheap overpriced shit, i used to be a fan (no pun intended) but i've had a few of their rather expensive heatsinks do this and it's not good enough imo so i went to Thermalright instead and have had no similar problems.

18th December 2009, 8:36 AM	#9
Flamin Joe Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 2,393	Or even in the tropics. I lived in Darwin for a couple of years, and the PC's I worked on would corrode in no time at all, especially the cheap crap. Anywhere there is a high rate of airflow, cpu heatsink, power supply fan grill, accelerates the process.

18th December 2009, 10:59 AM	#10
tk55 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: wantirna 3152 Posts: 245	umm....copper is copper. is there such thing as a cheaper copper that rust easier??? it must be your environment. i just looked at my 2 1/2 yrs old 9500led and although it's dusty but no rust. i'm in melbourne far eastern suburb. not near sea nor up in the mountain.