Extreme overclocking involves cooling a CPU to subzero temperatures using an air conditioner, dry ice or liquid nitrogen. This causes the surrounding air to cool down, forming droplets on the CPU, motherboard and heat sink. Overclockers prevent droplets from accumulating on the motherboard using petroleum jelly or some sort of absorbent insulating material.

Since this condensation comes from the air, I figure it should be free of impurities, just like distilled water. This should mean that the droplets shouldn't be able to cause a short circuit. Due to the low temperature, corrosion shouldn't be a problem either.

Am I missing something here?

  • FuckyWucky [none/use name]
    ·
    edit-2
    9 months ago

    It would pick up dust and other minerals from the environment and become conductive no? matters quite a bit since all the pins are so close to each other.