Video Card broken after cleaning up pc?

[Alf is Alf]

So the day before I could play with my Nvidia Gt220 (I know, low end card but at least I could play some games 😀) that I bought 3 years ago. Everything was running fine and normal. Then I noticed too much dust so I opened my CPU and cleaned everything from dust. The day after that my PC wouldn't boot up at all. It won't display the bios,just a blank screen. I tried connecting the monitor cable to the VGA with the video card on my mobo and STILL no response. I then removed the video card from my mobo. It booted up. I am currently tight on money right now so I might buy a new one asap, but do you guys think that my videocard is at fault here? Because I think that I broke my video card during cleaning.

 

[Anonymouselite5]

How did you clean it?

Your GPU is most likely the problem if your PC starts without it, have you tried your card in another slot? or even another PC?
If neither work, then most likely the GPU is dead 🙁

-good luck

 

[Alf is Alf]

I just used a paintbrush to clean up my pc. Just a clean new paintbrush.
I haven't tried putting the card in another slot, but I will try to put inside of an another pc ASAP.
Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[Anonymouselite5]

I just used a paintbrush to clean up my pc. Just a clean new paintbrush.
I haven't tried putting the card in another slot, but I will try to put inside of an another pc ASAP.
Thanks for the suggestion though.

Yeah.. A paintbrush IS a good idea for cleaning fan blades, vents etc. BUT for a GPU, The paintbrush is NOT a great idea.

There is possibility that the brush can generate static electricity and then killing your electrical components. So for components it's a good idea to not use a paintbrush or those kinds of materials to clean them next time.

What I use, is a good can of compressed air. You can usually find them at PC stores for $5. You simply aim and spray (keeping the can upright) and it removes dust quite easily.
Doesn't sound good 🙁 about your GPU.

-good luck

 

[Alf is Alf]

It has been almost a month since I made this thread. After these weeks of being very busy I was able to borrow my friends video card but it only has a dvi port which My monitor cant support. I decided to be creative and looked at the LED lights of the keyboard of the numlock, capslock and scroll lock key.

I tested the pc without my videocard or the latter I borrowed. I simultaneously pressed the numlock key a lot of times. The led lights are blinking (because I rapidly pressed them). It boots the PC to its bios.

I tested out the broken videocard, and I did the same thing; However when it tries to load to the bios the LED ligts freezes on the keyboard.

I tested out the video card that can only support dvi. I did the same thing, and the LED Lights don't freeze. It means the PC boots to bios.

So I could only conclude that I broke my videocard through static. I think I forgot to discharge myself before handling the unit.

Is that right?

 

[azzazel_99]

I've used a wooden handled paint brush several times over the years for cleaning the heatsink fins because even compressed air will leave small build ups of dust on the fin arrays. I haven't had any issues as of yet but its possible if you have some static on you it may have done something.

 

[Anonymouselite5]

It has been almost a month since I made this thread. After these weeks of being very busy I was able to borrow my friends video card but it only has a dvi port which My monitor cant support. I decided to be creative and looked at the LED lights of the keyboard of the numlock, capslock and scroll lock key.

I tested the pc without my videocard or the latter I borrowed. I simultaneously pressed the numlock key a lot of times. The led lights are blinking (because I rapidly pressed them). It boots the PC to its bios.

I tested out the broken videocard, and I did the same thing; However when it tries to load to the bios the LED ligts freezes on the keyboard.

I tested out the video card that can only support dvi. I did the same thing, and the LED Lights don't freeze. It means the PC boots to bios.

So I could only conclude that I broke my videocard through static. I think I forgot to discharge myself before handling the unit.

Is that right?

Well there are other factors, but by the looks of it. Either charge from the paintbrush caused damage when contacting the pcb or yourself.

I recently killed a motherboard from static.

However have you tried your gpu in a different PC?