Z97x gaming 7 backplate rust.

[drgoku]

While reseating the cooler I noticed few rust like marks on the socket backplate on my motherboard, z97x gaming 7.  It's only around 3 months old.

I cleaned with arctic silver arctic clean surface purifier and it sort of removed the marks for now. Picture after cleaning.

  Are these rust normal?  I am not 100% sure if those marks are rust after all. Anyone else seen this.  I hope it doesn't reappear and spread more. Given that it's only a 3 month old board, Should I consider rma?

[bassfisher6522]

If it was truly rust that cleaner wouldn't have removed those so called rust marks. What those marks look like to me is finger prints...specifically the oils from the fingers left on the back plate. Then the heat generated by the CPU burned in the oils which gives it that blackish/brownish looking color. If it were truly rust it would be a redish/orangeish color.

The only way to remove rust is with steel wool or rust remover....and not a 2 part surface cleaner. In this case that 2 part surface cleaner did wonders for those questionable marks (oils).

[drgoku]

Thank you.  I am glad it is not something serious. Yet embarrassed about the lackluster pc building etiquette  :p I can't be bothered with gloves and fancy anti static mats. Haha. I will monitor than portion nevertheless. I brought this issue up because my aio heat sink had copper rusting  (which I am rma-ing)  and was worried it somehow took the socket metal with it too!!

[bassfisher6522]

I've never heard of an AIO heatsink before. Are you referring to a closed looped water cooled CPU cooler? I've also never seen or heard of copper rusting. Can you post a picture of your AIO.

[drgoku]

Yeah. Sorry.  I meant aio liquid cooler's copper heat sink.

I guess copper oxidation is a more appropriate term than rust. This in 3 months  is not normal right?

[goodplay]

I guess copper oxidation is a more appropriate term than rust. This in 3 months  is not normal right?

That is caused by water leakage.

[drgoku]

That is caused by water leakage.

Thank You. I have RMA'd the cooler already. Good thing I randomly considered checking and re-seating cooler.