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Arctic Silver Cleanup? Better/Less messy cooling transfer material out there?

Gillbot

Gillbot

Lifer
I had a tube of the original AS lying around and thought I'd compare it with my white goop. Now I have silver around the core of the CPU. What's the best way to clean this crap up other than alcohol which doesn't work very well.

What's comparable to AS but isn't as messy?
 
I use a greaseless brake cleaner to remove most of the AS then I use isopropyl to finish the job. I then spray canned air on it prior to applying the new layer of AS.

If you are using the original AS then upgrade to either AS5 or AS Ceramique. Both are better performing than AS and clean up easier.
 
I was thinking about the ceramique before. I know I need to upgrade, but I just happened to have this tube wasting away here. This stuff is probably better than 5 years old too! 😕

Time to open the wallet, sigh....... 😉
 
Originally posted by: AWhackWhiteBoy
if you apply it properly there shouldn't be much of a cleanup.
Click to expand...

:roll:

There is always some left on the CPU after removal. When you try to wipe it up, it smears. I don't gob it up and put a pea sized amount on there and just mush it in.
 
alcohol or acetone. Not just regular shelf grade alcohol either. Go to the Pharmacist. He has the 90+% stuff behind the counter.

Acetone can be bought at pretty much any hardware/paint store.

You only acetone for the really hard stuff though... Good alcohol will make short order of the Arctic Silver stuff.
 
I tried a square of TP on this (Which is AS1) and that's how the mess began. Alcohol (regular stuff) just smeared it more. Maybe i'll try some AS5 or ceramique.
 
I still have almost full tubes of AS1 and AS2 that came with my heatsinks. One tube should last a lifetime for average user if used properly.
 
Originally posted by: Naustica
I still have almost full tubes of AS1 and AS2 that came with my heatsinks. One tube should last a lifetime for average user if used properly.
Click to expand...

+1

I've changed CPU's three times since I got my original tube of AS1.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
I tried a square of TP on this (Which is AS1) and that's how the mess began. Alcohol (regular stuff) just smeared it more. Maybe i'll try some AS5 or ceramique.
Click to expand...
Here is a little tip:

Don't attempt to apply paste to the CPU die. The results are no better and isn't the recommended practice by companies who have been manufacturing thermal interface materials and heatsinks for a lot longer than the overclocker's market has existed. Apply the paste to the surface of the heatsink.

I use a Sharpie to mark the boundaries of a 1in x 1in square after finding the center of the heatsink and where the CPU core will make contact. Apply the paste to cover that 1x1 area, usually takes about two passes with a razor once you get the hang of it, then use a razor blade or other straight edge to scrape away the excess paste that falls outside your lines, leaving a 1in x 1in area of thermal paste that almost looks as though you slapped a thermal pad on the heatsink.

Then attach the heatsink to the CPU. When you remove the heatsink, only a small amount of paste will have squeezed out over the edges of the core, but this is easily removed using a couple Q-tips. Most of the 'mess' doesn't come from paste squeezing out under pressure, but trying to put paste on that tiny little CPU die.
 
You need very high concentration alcohol 90%+ for it to be useful. It's great as it doesn't leave a residue. Regular 70% stuff or weaker is pretty much useless.

Dish soap also works well, but it's better suited for the ceramic part of the CPU. It's messy, but cleans very well.
 
Originally posted by: tcsenter
Originally posted by: Gillbot
I tried a square of TP on this (Which is AS1) and that's how the mess began. Alcohol (regular stuff) just smeared it more. Maybe i'll try some AS5 or ceramique.
Click to expand...
Here is a little tip:

Don't attempt to apply paste to the CPU die. The results are no better and isn't the recommended practice by companies who have been manufacturing thermal interface materials and heatsinks for a lot longer than the overclocker's market has existed. Apply the paste to the surface of the heatsink.

I use a Sharpie to mark the boundaries of a 1in x 1in square after finding the center of the heatsink and where the CPU core will make contact. Apply the paste to cover that 1x1 area, usually takes about two passes with a razor once you get the hang of it, then use a razor blade or other straight edge to scrape away the excess paste that falls outside your lines, leaving a 1in x 1in area of thermal paste that almost looks as though you slapped a thermal pad on the heatsink.

Then attach the heatsink to the CPU. When you remove the heatsink, only a small amount of paste will have squeezed out over the edges of the core, but this is easily removed using a couple Q-tips. Most of the 'mess' doesn't come from paste squeezing out under pressure, but trying to put paste on that tiny little CPU die.
Click to expand...

The TP was after the CPU was removed. I was cleaning it for storage.
 
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