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Best/Cleanest way of removing thermal paste?

B

bladephoenix

Senior member
Hello. Just wondering if I can get advice from some pros on how to best replace thermal compound (I've never cleaned paste before -- only applied paste -- but it seems like a messy job, so I was wondering if there is an easy/clean way to do this).

I have a X2 3800+ with stock fans. Oddly enough, I could have swore there was no thermal paste when I first constructed my system 2 months ago. However, over the last week, I have had to reseat the heatsink 4 times (primarily because I had to move the processor from one Mobo to another, and then back again) and I had noticed the sticky paste which practically glued my heatsink to the CPU -- I had to twist and turn it a little to get the heatsink off. When I first made my system, it would idle at around 42C. However, after moving it to one mobo to another, and then back again, I now notice that it idles at around 44C - 45C.

Does reseating the heatsink multiples times cause an adverse effect on CPU temp? I was just wondering because it seems to me that the first time you apply a heatsink is the time when the paste is applied most evenly. If you reseat the heatsink to the CPU too many times, doesn't it start to make the thermal paste coating less even?

Anyway, I bought myself some AS5 compound, but I first needed to get rid of the stock thermal paste first. I know with the heatsink I can simply take off the fan and then run the heatsink under some water since it is only metal, but for the CPU I was wondering what is the best way of cleaning paste off of it, since I obviously don't want to rub it with water or such.

Ideas?
 
AS5 doesnt come off nice with common 70% isopropyl. may want to use stronger solvent, like 90% or MEK, varsol, thinner, acetone. And it is advised to repalce with each removal. Although I must admit, my technique usually involves removal of hs to inspect thermal grease pattern, then re-levelling compounf and reinstalling, just to makwe sure full, even die to sink contact.
 
Goof off will remove it as well. Your title says you want to install 3.5G of Artic Silver, don't do that. 3.5 grams is enough for 30 cpu's at least, a little bit goes a long way.
 
Originally posted by: SnoMunke
I have this and it works like a charm. Do NOT use 70% alcohol (must be 90% or better). 70% alcohol has to many impurities...
Click to expand...

Not true!!! Sorry I have always used 70% isopropyl......use what you got.
Just make sure everything is nice and spotless clean!!
 
Originally posted by: SnoMunke
I have this and it works like a charm. Do NOT use 70% alcohol (must be 90% or better). 70% alcohol has to many impurities...
Click to expand...

Sanke oil.
70% alcohol will work just fine, just takes a bit more effort.
 
99% isopropyl alcohol is 1.99 for a 16oz bottle. that is enough to clean 100000000+ CPU's and Heatsinks. and it works great. me myself use Qtips to clean the surfaces.
 
Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Originally posted by: SnoMunke
I have this and it works like a charm. Do NOT use 70% alcohol (must be 90% or better). 70% alcohol has to many impurities...
Click to expand...

Not true!!! Sorry I have always used 70% isopropyl......use what you got.
Just make sure everything is nice and spotless clean!!
Click to expand...


Good for you! And you have ALWAYS been using the wrong percentage of alcohol. Just because you have "always" been doing it WRONG doesn't mean others should follow your lead. Here, I'll even back up what I am saying with a quote straight from Arctic Silver...

Clean the mating surfaces completely with a low residual solvent (High-purity isopropyl alcohol or acetone will work) and a LINT FREE cloth. (i.e. lens cleaning cloth) If another thermal compound has previously been applied to the heatsink, the mounting surface should be thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned with a xylene based cleaner, (Goof Off and some carburetor cleaners) acetone, mineral spirits, or 99% pure isopropyl alcohol. It is important to keep the surfaces free of foreign materials and NOT to touch the surfaces (a hair, piece of lint, and even dead skin cells can significantly affect the thermal interfaces performance, especially on modern small core CPUs as the surface area is already severely limited). In addition, oils from your fingers can adversely affect the performance by preventing the micronized silver fill from directly contacting the metal surface. (Fingerprints can be as thick as 0.005")
Click to expand...

Original Text

 
I use AKASA TIM-clean and it really cleans off Silver-based thermal grease, its a citrus based solvent. Follow the directions and rest assured that anything else might do more harm than good. Its your CPU and you can follow all the suggestions but read up the proper ways to clean Arctic silver off your processor. Its your dime, your choice.
 


Good for you! And you have ALWAYS been using the wrong percentage of alcohol. Just because you have "always" been doing it WRONG doesn't mean others should follow your lead. Here, I'll even back up what I am saying with a quote straight from Arctic Silver...


Original Text

[/quote]

Gee, straight from a company that just happens to make a high-quality thermal compound remover!! Might they have something to gain by saying regular isopropyl alcohol shouldn't be used, hrmm? If you really want to make sure you don't damage your CPU I guess you shouldn't expose it to air, since there's plenty of impurities floating about. Anyone have a clean room I can borrow?

I suppose that most of us that haven't been sculpting a perfect square of 1nm thick paste are doing it the WRONG way now aren't we? Using a BB sized drop and using your HSF to spread the paste is contrary to artic silver's site as well, but I can't think of a time I've gotten better temps doing it by the book so I must be lucky. 😛

Use some common sense, clean it thoroughly with a lint free cloth and let it dry for a bit and you'll be fine.
 
Originally posted by: SnoMunke
Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Originally posted by: SnoMunke
I have this and it works like a charm. Do NOT use 70% alcohol (must be 90% or better). 70% alcohol has to many impurities...
Click to expand...

Not true!!! Sorry I have always used 70% isopropyl......use what you got.
Just make sure everything is nice and spotless clean!!
Click to expand...


Good for you! And you have ALWAYS been using the wrong percentage of alcohol. Just because you have "always" been doing it WRONG doesn't mean others should follow your lead. Here, I'll even back up what I am saying with a quote straight from Arctic Silver...

Clean the mating surfaces completely with a low residual solvent (High-purity isopropyl alcohol or acetone will work) and a LINT FREE cloth. (i.e. lens cleaning cloth) If another thermal compound has previously been applied to the heatsink, the mounting surface should be thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned with a xylene based cleaner, (Goof Off and some carburetor cleaners) acetone, mineral spirits, or 99% pure isopropyl alcohol. It is important to keep the surfaces free of foreign materials and NOT to touch the surfaces (a hair, piece of lint, and even dead skin cells can significantly affect the thermal interfaces performance, especially on modern small core CPUs as the surface area is already severely limited). In addition, oils from your fingers can adversely affect the performance by preventing the micronized silver fill from directly contacting the metal surface. (Fingerprints can be as thick as 0.005")
Click to expand...

Original Text
Click to expand...

Your way too funneee snomunkeeeee....
Gee, straight from a company that just happens to make a high-quality thermal compound remover!! Might they have something to gain by saying regular isopropyl alcohol shouldn't be used, hrmm? If you really want to make sure you don't damage your CPU I guess you shouldn't expose it to air, since there's plenty of impurities floating about. Anyone have a clean room I can borrow?

I suppose that most of us that haven't been sculpting a perfect square of 1nm thick paste are doing it the WRONG way now aren't we? Using a BB sized drop and using your HSF to spread the paste is contrary to artic silver's site as well, but I can't think of a time I've gotten better temps doing it by the book so I must be lucky.

Use some common sense, clean it thoroughly with a lint free cloth and let it dry for a bit and you'll be fine.

Common sense goes along ways and 70% isopropyl will do just fine.
All you need is a little not to common sense.

But hey don`t believe everything you read onliine...
 
Don't "70%" and "91%" just refer to the concentration of alcohol versus water, and not the purity?
 
This is one of those subjects where there is NO right or wrong...just again use common sense and make sure the surface is real clean afterward!!
 
Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
This is one of those subjects where there is NO right or wrong...just again use common sense and make sure the surface is real clean afterward!!
Click to expand...

Glad there are people around here with "expertise" in common sense...and that is all it is...common.

Lemmings...lemmings...lemmings...
 
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Don't "70%" and "91%" just refer to the concentration of alcohol versus water, and not the purity?
Click to expand...

Yes and no. Yes...the closer the % gets to 100% the closer it is to pure. 30% water (70%alcohol) has alot of impurities in it that will impede performance of the thermal compound.
 
Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Originally posted by: SnoMunke
I have this and it works like a charm. Do NOT use 70% alcohol (must be 90% or better). 70% alcohol has to many impurities...
Click to expand...

Not true!!! Sorry I have always used 70% isopropyl......use what you got.
Just make sure everything is nice and spotless clean!!
Click to expand...

70% CONTAINS OILS THAT ARE MEANT TO CONDITOIN THE SKIN. Those oils can cause problems later when they are heated up.


Want to install 3.5g of Arctic Silver 5 to CPU
Click to expand...

3.5 Grams is a whole lot of Thermal Paste. When you buy a tube you are not suppost to apply the whole thing. It only needs a pea sized amount, any more than that and it will make a mess. Not to mention that any silver based compound will void your AMD warrenty.

Since Artic Silver is slightly capacitive, applying too much will cause it too ooze out from all sides of the heat sink and cause electrical problems with the CPU and surrounding circuits. Your best bet is to use an AMD approved TIM (thermal interface material) like Honywell PCM 45 TIM, Shin Etsu (Recommened), or as a Last resort non metalic Arctic Silver Ceramique.


Use ArctiClean to remove old T.I.M. from your CPU http://www.arcticsilver.com/arcticlean.htm
 
Sounds like an article - Anandtech Thermal Compound shootout. Instead of overclocking charts they could do 70% vs 90%+ temps....
 
After hearing some people's responses, I have come to the conclusion there is the "common sense way" and then there is the RIGHT WAY. I guess that's why I am never satisfied with "good enough"...

'nuff said...not longer monitoring this thread. thank-you and goodnight.

p.s. GREAT info Googer :thumbsup:...nice explanation...that's the kind of info people need to here. I actually learned something from you. Why can't others be more like you?
 
Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Originally posted by: SnoMunke
I have this and it works like a charm. Do NOT use 70% alcohol (must be 90% or better). 70% alcohol has to many impurities...
Click to expand...

Not true!!! Sorry I have always used 70% isopropyl......use what you got.
Just make sure everything is nice and spotless clean!!
Click to expand...

70% CONTAINS OILS THAT ARE MEANT TO CONDITOIN THE SKIN. Those oils can cause problems later when they are heated up.--- Not ALWAYS TRUE!! use common sense and read the ingredients.....

Want to install 3.5g of Arctic Silver 5 to CPU
Click to expand...

3.5 Grams is a whole lot of Thermal Paste. When you buy a tube you are not suppost to apply the whole thing. It only needs a pea sized amount, any more than that and it will make a mess. Not to mention that any silver based compound will void your AMD warrenty.

Since Artic Silver is slightly capacitive, applying too much will cause it too ooze out from all sides of the heat sink and cause electrical problems with the CPU and surrounding circuits. Your best bet is to use an AMD approved TIM (thermal interface material) like Honywell PCM 45 TIM, Shin Etsu (Recommened), or as a Last resort non metalic Arctic Silver Ceramique.


Use ArctiClean to remove old T.I.M. from your CPU http://www.arcticsilver.com/arcticlean.htm
Click to expand...

Soryy...but NOT all 70% based alcohols contains conditioning oils.....use some common sense and read the ingredients,,,,
 
Originally posted by: SnoMunke
After hearing some people's responses, I have come to the conclusion there is the "common sense way" and then there is the RIGHT WAY. I guess that's why I am never satisfied with "good enough"...

'nuff said...not longer monitoring this thread. thank-you and goodnight.

p.s. GREAT info Googer :thumbsup:...nice explanation...that's the kind of info people need to here. I actually learned something from you. Why can't others be more like you?
Click to expand...

Again it takes common sense to understans what common sense is.....
NOt all alcohol that is 70% has conditioning oils...sorry...again
It takes common sense to understnad what common sense is...
As long as your careful and thourough you will have no issues using 70% alchohol....have fun!!
 
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