Cleaning/Removing Processor

[xSnowblindx]

Ok I'm installing a new hs/f and I am using arctic silver 5. I'm planning on using Acetone to clean off the stock thermal layer from my Barton to put on the AS5, is that fine? And should I remove the CPU to clean it off? If I need to remove the CPU how should I go about doing this?

Thanks!

 

[TheStu]

ok.... Acetone should work ok, but you really should use 90%+ isopropyl alochol. Yes it is fine to clean off the thermal pad... remember you only need a uber-thin layer of AS5 directly on the CPU die. Yes you should remove the proc from the socket to clean it off... that way you can really work it to make sure it is clean. What kind of proc is it? If it any thing but an LGA 775 then there should be a little lever on the side of the Socket. Lift that until it is vertical and then remove the proc, it should come out with next to no force. If you are pulling on the proc then you did something wrong and should stop.

 

[Pohemi]

Use a q-tip with the 90% isopropyl

 

[xSnowblindx]

Originally posted by: TheStu
What kind of proc is it? If it any thing but an LGA 775 then there should be a little lever on the side of the Socket.

It's an Athlon XP 2800+

 

[Dough1397]

amd xp are socket a, lift the lever to the side of the socket.... it will come out easily, be careful with the pins, dont damage, bend or do anything to them.... my suggestions although never been done, would be to leave it in the socket and use a q-tip to clean it, and make sure the q tip isnt dripping, this way you have a stable holder for the processor, make sure it isnt on tho

ps i dont have a computer like that so that is why i;ve never done it.... but i speak from what i read on the boards and common sense

 

[Pohemi]

Actually I'd recommend removing it from the mobo. You can see the chip better if you take it out and not feel like ham-fists trying to work inside the case. If you have the plastic case with foam that the chip came in, set it in that to hold it. 90% isopropyl should completely evaporate, but it makes me nervous for some reason trying to clean the processor when it's still on the board. And it's not hard to remove; the heatsink's the b1tch. Just my personal opinion.

 

[YabbyU]

I use a credit card and carefully scrape the bulk of the thermal pad off the chip and heatsink then clean with alcohol. Put a thin layer of thermal compound on the chip (small square on the processor) and a small amount on the heatsink(small bb size dab and wipe almost totally off, just enough to fill the tiny grooves.

 

[arcanetripwire]

Is 70% isopropyl fine? I just cleaned my chip, a P4 2.53 20 minutes ago, and installed a new hsf.

 

[JarredWalton]

Originally posted by: arcanetripwire
Is 70% isopropyl fine? I just cleaned my chip, a P4 2.53 20 minutes ago, and installed a new hsf.

The problem with less pure isopropyl is that they often have oils and such. Rubbing alcohol, for instance, usually has some oils in it to make it less damaging to your skin. In theory, I believe you could submerge a CPU in 100% pure isopropyl, remove it, let it dry off, and it would work fine. If you did that with rubbing alcohol, the oils and such could catch fire or cause other issues when the CPU was inserted into a socket. I don't think it's much to worry about on the surface of the heat spreader or HSF, however.

 

[arcanetripwire]

I basically, wearing Latex gloves, used q-tips to clean the old goop off the heat spreader, i never got near the pins. I applied the thermal grease to the chip and put on the hsf. Right now my temps dropped 10+ degrees. Should I remove the hsf and the grease, and re-clean it with 90% or do you think i'm fine?

 

[Pohemi]

I think you should be fine, but you should try to use 91% the next time. :thumbsup: