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Cleaning old thermal Paste from CPU...

M

MountainKing

Senior member
I've recently decided to ditch that retail HSF which makes my CPU throttle 52 Degrees Idling....

I've heard that using 90% isoprophyl alcohol is good for that purpose (Cleaning out the CPU)

I have managed to lay my hands on only 70% isopropyl alcohol solution...Will it be enough to clean the CPU core or not good at all??

What to use if this is not recommended?
 
I use 91% isopropyl from CVS pharmacy. Cost me $3 for a quart bottle. That and Q-tips.

As for the 70%, yes you can use it. The thing to make sure of though is that you do not leave any residue on it when drying. So after you use a wet Q-tip to clean, go back over it with a dry one. The 70% has a greater chance to leave impurities on the chip vs the 91%.
 
Originally posted by: SuLyMaN
Hum the alcohol im getting is a bit yellowish on colour. Is it still ok? Its not clear like water ...
Click to expand...

I would not use it. It probably has some additive or impurity in it that would leave a residue on the chip. Are there no drug stores in your area that you could spring for a new bottle? Even a cheap bottle of 70% isopropyl is less than 50 cents. And a small bottle of 90% is probably just over a buck.
 
Originally posted by: VinDSL
I just use regular ol' paint thinner aka 100% mineral spirits. Works great! 😀
Click to expand...

ahahaha... ditto.

I first wipe any excess spillage, with machine towels. <3 machine towels.

Then i use S-L-X Denatured Alcohol. That seems to eat the TIM really well, and clean it nice and shiny. 😀
 
Originally posted by: SuLyMaN
I've recently decided to ditch that retail HSF which makes my CPU throttle 52 Degrees Idling....

I've heard that using 90% isoprophyl alcohol is good for that purpose (Cleaning out the CPU)

I have managed to lay my hands on only 70% isopropyl alcohol solution...Will it be enough to clean the CPU core or not good at all??

What to use if this is not recommended?
Click to expand...

I use 99%+ IPA. You can buy it in Farm Supply and Feed stores.

Microfiber cloths work well but I just slightly dampen a spot on the cloth. Make several passes with a different spot on the cloth. You don't want any IPA and dissolved HS compound to run down the CPU into the contact area.

Now do the same with the HSF.




 
Originally posted by: Henny
Originally posted by: SuLyMaN
I've recently decided to ditch that retail HSF which makes my CPU throttle 52 Degrees Idling....

I've heard that using 90% isoprophyl alcohol is good for that purpose (Cleaning out the CPU)

I have managed to lay my hands on only 70% isopropyl alcohol solution...Will it be enough to clean the CPU core or not good at all??

What to use if this is not recommended?
Click to expand...

I use 99%+ IPA. You can buy it in Farm Supply and Feed stores.

Microfiber cloths work well but I just slightly dampen a spot on the cloth. Make several passes with a different spot on the cloth. You don't want any IPA and dissolved HS compound to run down the CPU into the contact area.

Now do the same with the HSF.
Click to expand...

You can use coffee filters. Their extremely lint free.. otherwise you'd be drinking it in the coffee.
 
I bought one of those pre-moistened alcohol sheets that you just pull out of the container. I'm lazy like that and it works fine.
 
Originally posted by: aigomorla
Originally posted by: VinDSL
I just use regular ol' paint thinner aka 100% mineral spirits. Works great! 😀
Click to expand...

ahahaha... ditto.

I first wipe any excess spillage, with machine towels. <3 machine towels.

Then i use S-L-X Denatured Alcohol. That seems to eat the TIM really well, and clean it nice and shiny. 😀
Click to expand...

X2 on the S-L-X. Works wonders for cleaning just about anything.

 
I use alcohol and cotton balls and if it is on there stubborn I use a q-tip. Whatever you use just make sure that there isn't anything like lint left on the surface before you apply your compound.
 
I can vouch for the Arcticlean linked in the last post. I've tried 90% alcohol in the past and never thought it cleaned up as easy as people seemed to suggest. If I was cleaning lots of processors maybe I would try to save a few bucks, but the bottle of Arcticlean I have is probably a lifetime supply for me (assuming I keep the lid cinched down).

Using Arcticlean on thermal paste is kind of like using 409 grease remover on your stove. You do like 3 swipes and it's crystal clean.
 
TP and standard drugstore isopropyl alcohol has always done the trick for me (at least a dozen builds).
 
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