If you recently inspected your computer and made de shocking discovery that there are ants in your GPU, then you’ll need to act fast. When computer components become infested with ants they can be easily damaged, so it is important to take the proper measures.
The fastest way to get rid of ants from a GPU is by using a powerful vacuum cleaner and sweeping them away with the help of a brush. If you act fast enough, you’ll clear the ants quickly and prevent any more damage to your GPU.
Although it is easy to do this, you have to make sure to get things right, if you rush things through, you might end up damaging your GPU or other components, in this article, we’ll guide you step-by-step on how you can do this safely.
Can Ants Damage a GPU?
Ants can really damage a GPU if they stay long enough in it. The cumulative ants may overheat some GPU areas that are not intended to heat up, even if your GPU has some fans running properly, it might not be enough to cool it down.
Also, ants can also use your GPU as an egg farm and this may create some moisture around your GPU leading further to unwanted damage. This is why it’s so important to take action before things can get worse.
Can Ants Damage a GPU Fan?
Yes, they can, if ants end up damaging the GPU fans, they will stop working and your GPU will heat up. If this happens, the temperature of your GPU will be uneven and it will end up damaging your whole graphics card.
This can happen a lot quicker than you’ll expect. If you are gaming or streaming some videos from your computer, your GPU usually will heat up a lot, if your cooling system is not properly functioning it will 100% damage your GPU.
Can Ants Eat GPU Wires?
Not only ants can chew GPU wires but can go through several wiring sheaths. What’s very concerning in this scenario is that ants release alarm pheromones’ while they are dying electrocuted. This will summon even more ants to the same spot.
Problem is, that a specific spot can become overwhelmed with dead ants, this can lead up to the GPU heating up to much and cause either a short circuit or even a fire hazard. Definitely, it’s not a matter to be left unattended.
Can Ants Damage a GPU Water-Cooler?
Ants can definitely damage a GPU water cooling system. They are able to chew through the hard tubbing system and provoke some liquid spillage, this will damage your GPU and will definitely damage other components of your PC.
Even though the liquid itself may be harmless to electronics, if it leaks at the wrong time it can do a lot of expensive damage to your computer system.
Can Ants Damage the GPU PCIe Slot?
These insects can damage everything in their pass, a PCIe slot deals with energy and static, if ants die on top of the PCIe connectors they can give continuity to energy in unintended circuits. This can lead to shorts damaging your motherboard and your whole GPU component.
Why Are Ants Attracted to My GPU?
Your GPU emancipates heat, energy, and airflow. While it might not seem obvious, ant colonies have similar conditions. This might lead ants to nest in your GPU in search of a better spot to thrive their species.
A GPU card also creates some sort of electromagnetic field, some ants species are attracted to static and other forms of energy, which might explain why they feel so compelled to camp on your GPU.
Pro tip: Ants have camped in your PC? Here are some tips to get rid of them for good! 💻👌👌👌
How to Clean Ants From My GPU?
Although there are many ways to do this, here are some simple steps to do it.
1. Shutdown Your Computer
It is very important to shut down your computer before attempting any of this, if you keep it on while doing it, you’ll risk damaging more components or even the whole computer. Shut it down and continue.
2. Remove All External and Internal Cables
If possible remove all the external cables that are connecting the computer case and position it in a way, you can be comfortable working with. You should also remove any internal cables that can embarrass the removal of your GPU. Take it off and keep going.
3. Move Your GPU to a Maintenance Area
Depending on the degree of the infestation, you’ll want to take your GPU to a brighter area where you can deal with ants without concerning they might infest other stuff nearby.
Pro tip: Before removing the GPU you should either discharge yourself from any static you may have or wear some non-static gloves or bracelet to handle your GPU card.
4. Remove the Ants
To remove the ants use a soft non-static brush and use a vacuum cleaner (additional) to help you in this task. Keep brushing the ants and the eggs towards the vacuum tube and keep cleaning until you have none left. Don’t forget to dispose of the ants that stayed in the vacuum later.
5. Reassemble
Before assembling back your card, make sure there are no remaining ants around, if there are, make sure you remove them completely, or you may risk they’ll continue to contaminate your GPU. Reassemble all back and you should be good.
Bonus: Did you know ants can survive microwaving? Here’s their secret. 😱😰😰😰
Will Ants Return to My GPU?
Ants might return anytime to your GPU, the best way to keep them out is by preventing future infestations. Always keep an eye for any presence of ants, and do some regular maintenance in your system.
How Can I Prevent Ants From Coming Back to My GPU?
There are some rules you can follow in order to prevent an ant infestation in your GPU.
- Avoid eating near your computer, the smell of food attracts ants, and while you may not have food in your GPU, you are pointing them to favorite places to thrive.
- Do some maintenance on your GPU from time to time, ants love dusty places, it allows them to be away from watchful eyes.
- Be vigilant, if you find any ant at all, search where they might be coming from. Start by looking in the usual spots and make your way through there.
Conclusion
Electronics and ants will always be a disastrous combo, but it may happen from time to time. As you can see a GPU is not free to have some ants camping on it, but if the right measures are done in time, they won’t have any real chance of staying for too long.
