Originally posted by: KF
I guess there must be people out there who got some kind of problem -or think they did- due to getting heat goo where it should not be. However people who do their own work find over and over again that the mess does no harm. The ordinary heat goo you are likely to buy is not electrically conductive - even Artic Silver says their stuff is not electrically conductive. I believe the rare cases of reported harm are due to some other coincidental cause. Believe me I have botched it on occasion. (I wonder how I do these things.)It is more trouble than it is worth to do more than simply take the excess off with a Q-tip or tissue and a toothpick.
But if you want to clean off the remnants completely, use some liquid dish detergent (NOT automatic.dishwasher detergent; it is corrosive.) or other household cleaner, water and a toothbrush. Dry it thoughly by using a vacuum cleaner set up to blow. (or just dry all the water beads with a paper towel and wait a few hours.)
Yes non-conductive stuff on the pins could cause poor contact. Clean it up better and give it another shot. It should not have done any permanent harm. (I have an electronics engineering degee, if that gives me any credibility.) Static electicity is a more likely culprit.
Don't put the nozzle on the CPU when you push the AS out. Push the plunger by holding on very tightly just where it enters the cylinder. When it finally gives, it won't go far. When you have a little bead on the tip, then put it on the CPU.
