Noctua Responds to Reports of Disturbing Noise in Its Updated NH-CD15 G2 CPU Air Cooler
Thermal Paste Eaten by Fire Ants? Shocking Discovery Reveals Insects in GPU Unit
Many readers will have battled ant infestations in their yard or home – but these tiny insects can take over our PCs, too. Redditor Thejus Parol recently noticed that his graphics card temperatures had been rising inexplicably, and it didn’t take long to find alikely culprit – ants (h/tPCGamesN ). According to Parol’s initial investigations, the ants had been “eating the thermal pads and thermal paste” in his GTX 1060 GPU inside his PC. This would account for degraded thermal performance if done to a drastic extent, but even though the visual evidence does suggest some damage to the thermal pads, it doesn’t sound entirely plausible that the ants had that much of an impact. Let’s take a closer look.
Some blame climate change, but whatever the cause, destructive and stinging fire ants aremoving north . The worker ants of this invasive species are quite tiny, and like other ants, they appear to beattracted to electric fields . Thus, a warm humming PC with its nooks and crannies and multiple powered components might prove to be an irresistible target for investigation, or even colonizing.
Though his system and GPU fans were still running as expected, Parol’s eye was caught by ants marching across the top of the PC case and inside, over thegraphics card . Determined to see what was attracting the ants, the Redditor partially disassembled the PC and GPU and found that the suspected Solenopsis invicta were consuming thermal pads and thermal paste. You can see damage to the pads clearly in the second image in the above album.
A thorough system cleanup with IPA (ethyl alcohol) and a fresh thermal paste application seemed to get things back to normal for Parol. Further precautions were taken by spraying the desk and surrounding area with insect repellant. However, “another set of ants appeared in the exact same place, doing the exact same thing, eating my GPU alive,” noted the anguished PC enthusiast. Other Redditors have been quick to help identify the issue, highlight possible solutions, and share their own stories of PC ant attacks.
LATEST VIDEOS FROM tomshardware Tom’s Hardware
I have also experienced fire ants in alaptop , which took quite some time to clear. As well as the potential for these insects to sting and infest places like food cupboards (especially where sweets are stored), ants can damage electronics – causing short circuits and even starting fires.
Moving on to whether the ants are “eating” things likethermal pads or paste – this appears to be highly unlikely, but there have been scattered results of this occurring in the past. Nevertheless, in a PC full of hard metal, plastic, and other inedible components, the ants could also be pulling the relatively soft thermal pad and paste material to pieces as they scout the area.
Searching the depths of the internet reveals that this isfar from the first time that ants have invaded PCs or Macs. Moreover, similar suspicions regardingants eating thermal pads or paste have been raised previously. Below you can see another example, this one from a video posted three years ago about a similar problem.
Project Manager - Asset Browser for 3Ds Max
Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom’s Hardware Newsletter
Get Tom’s Hardware’s best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
By submitting your information you agree to theTerms & Conditions andPrivacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
As is often the case for PC ownership, doing some research, being determined, and being vigilant is the best course of action when facing an issue, and this applies to those who think ants might be looking to make a home in their machines. If ants affect other things in and around your home, it might be best to call a professional exterminator. Others might prevail against the army of ants by targeting suspected nests with over-the-counter ant poison, traps, and other domesticanti-ant tactics .
Also read:
- [New] 2024 Approved Clearing Up Your Video Quality Issues
- [New] 2024 Approved Eliminating Virtual Reality Sickness with Hint
- [New] In 2024, Cut Costs, Boost Creativity Learn the Secrets of Green Screen Artistry From 4 Leading Educators
- [New] In 2024, Exclusive Review 10 Best Free Video Meeting Apps iOS/Android
- [New] Mastering Desktop Instagram Video Upload Guide
- [New] Optimizing Zoom Meetings A Guide to Format Upgrading
- [Updated] 2024 Approved Top 10 Guide to Simple Business Channel Launches on YouTube
- [Updated] In 2024, Share Your Videos and Photos Posting to Twitter - No Retweeting
- [Updated] Six Innovative Approaches for Recording and Storing MOV Files on Windows 11 for 2024
- [Updated] The Complete Playbook for YouTube Shorts Template Success
- 2024 Approved Identifying Video-Centric Dialogues
- 3 Things You Must Know about Fake Snapchat Location On Honor Magic 6 Lite | Dr.fone
- Ace Your Online Privacy: Discover Top-Performing VPNs With In-Depth Reviews & Polls
- AMD's Newest CPU Contenders: Best Places to Shop for the Ryzen 7 9700X & 9600X
- Best Gaming Keyboards for Gamers in 2Er: Comparing Full-Size, TKL, and Compact Models (Mini)
- Comprehensive Analysis of the Valkyrie Syn 240 All-in-One Liquid Cooler: Stellar Cooling Performance with Awkward Software Design
- Creality K1 Carbon: A Comprehensive Review for 3D Enthusiasts
- Emerging Realities Speak Top 30 Metaverse Expressions [AR/VR]
- Evaluating Speed and Bugs in Elegoo Neptune Cuatro De Máxima Capacidad - A Detailed Examination
- How Can We Bypass Realme 11 Pro FRP?
- How PC Manufacturers Vary in Upholding Intel's Extended CPu Warranty Amidst Processor Failures – Industry Analysis Reveals Gaps
- How To Fix OEM Unlock Missing on Oppo A1x 5G?
- How to Turn Off Google Location to Stop Tracking You on Honor X8b | Dr.fone
- How to Unlock SIM Card on Vivo S17e online without jailbreak
- Huawei Explores Innovative Approaches: Drawing Insights From Apple & Intel's Processor Design for the Future of Kirin CPU
- In 2024, 3 Effective Methods to Fake GPS location on Android For your Oppo K11 5G | Dr.fone
- In 2024, Preparation to Beat Giovani in Pokemon Go For Xiaomi 13T Pro | Dr.fone
- Inside The Craft of Creating VR Films for 2024
- IPS Screen & Customizable RGB Lighting Featured on Budget-Friendly Valkyrie AL125 CPU Air Cooler for Less than 20 Bucks
- Mastering Your Iphone's Best Selfie Techniques
- Navigating Advanced Computer Systems with Expertise From Tom's Hardware
- Navigating New Hardware Innovations on Tom's Digital Workshop
- Navigating PC Parts with Tom's Guide to Hardware
- Navigating the Digital World Through Tom's Computer & Hardware Analysis
- Navigating Through Your New M1 Max Clip World
- Professional Hardware Evaluations - Tips From Tom's Experience
- Rapid Techniques Mix Up and Shuffle YouTube Listings for 2024
- Revolutionizing Product Quality: ModelFarm Halves Defects with Unreal Engine and Intel, Eyes AMD Ryzen 9 for Next Level Performance
- Synergy of Software High-Quality Text Plugins Reviewed for 2024
- Tackling Unwanted Whirs and Digital Weight: An Engineer's Guide to Python-Powered NZXT Kraken Control
- The Definitive Verdict on the XTool Samoa 1: Unparalleled Performance in Premium Home Workshop Lasers
- The Essential How-To Securely Downloading Gratis VLC on MACOS
- The Language Labyrinths: Exploring the Dialects in Star Wars World
- The Product of a Number, \\( X \\), and 9 Less than the Number Is Represented by \\( X \\Times (X - 9) \\).
- The Realities of 3D-Printed Firearms: A Personal Account
- The Ultimate Guide to Top-Tier Electronics at Tom's Review Sphere
- Tom's Comprehensive Guide to Top-Tier Computer Hardware
- Tom’s Gadget Reviews: In-Depth Analysis of the Latest Tech Hardware
- Tom's Tech Hub: Gear and Equipment Insights
- Tom's Tech Reviews: Cutting-Edge Insights
- Top Game Screens for PS5 and Xbox Series X Revealed
- Top-Rated CPU Cooling Solutions of 2024: Comparing AIO Vs. Air Systems
- Unboxing of Noctua Home Series - Why the NV-FS1 Desk Fan Shines at Just $1N00!
- Unleash Your PC's Potential: The EK Direct Aftermarket Cooler Achieves Exceptional 13900KS Overclocking Temps and Performance
- Unraveling the Mystery Behind the Rattling Sound: Noctua's Examination of Its New NH-D15 G2 Heat Sink Fans
- Unveiling the Latest in Hardware: Exploring Tom's Collection
- Updated 2024 Approved 8 Best Multi-Subtitles Translators You Shouldnt Miss
- Vanishing Act: The Art of Eliminating Taskbar Linguistics
- Title: Noctua Responds to Reports of Disturbing Noise in Its Updated NH-CD15 G2 CPU Air Cooler
- Author: George
- Created at : 2024-08-19 03:27:27
- Updated at : 2024-08-20 03:27:27
- Link: https://hardware-tips.techidaily.com/noctua-responds-to-reports-of-disturbing-noise-in-its-updated-nh-cd15-g2-cpu-air-cooler/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.