Cleaning thermal grease from a CPU.

[Duncan]

What is the most thorough and/or safest way to clean a CPU? I have two, an old Celeron 366, and a new 566, which have an inferior grade of thermal grase on them. I want to get rid of this gunk, and replace it with the Arctic Silver paste I picked up yesterday.

What sort of material or solvent should I use? Is there anything I should watch for, or by wary of when cleaning?

Thanks.

 

[Killrose]

I've always used rubbing alcohol to remove it. Moisten a paper towel, and carfully soften and remove the old grease.

 

[Packet]

I agree, definatly Rubbing Alcohal

be careful what you use to wipe it off with,
you want to make sure it is lint free.
If any lint from a tissue, or some paper towels get on the cpu
it can decrease the contact surface area, and cause higher temperatures.

 

[pdo]

Man I didn't even have any alcohol so I just use my saliva and it works fine.

 

[Duncan]

Rubbing alcohol + linen it is. Thanks lads.

 

[Killrose]

hey -paldo, were you drinking anything while cleaning off your cpu?...

 

[EvilDonnyboy]

tissue to get gunk off, than rubbing alcohol with q-tips to finish it off.

 

[Goi]

I just wipe it off nice and good with a tissue