Cleaning tough thermal stuff

Maximilian

Lifer
Feb 8, 2004
12,604
15
81
How can i get thermal goo off of a processor? Its kinda gona hard and there isnt very much.
 

HardWarrior

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2004
4,400
23
81
Goof off, followed by some high-quality alchohol. Use q-tips and be careful and patient.
 

Maximilian

Lifer
Feb 8, 2004
12,604
15
81
Well tbh functionality of it dosent really matter, its a 3 yr old 1 ghz Athlon possibly a thunderbird or a k75. Whatever it is i dont have a mobo to put it in or a use for it so i just wanted it for an ornament lol. I poured wine onto it and rubbed like hell with a clocth but theres still stuff on it, ill give it another go later :D
 

magratton

Senior member
Mar 16, 2004
523
0
0
Goof off would likely work the if you are not worried about it operating. Acetone works wonders as well.
 

WobbleWobble

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
4,867
1
0
You used wine to clean your heatsink? :confused:

Go to the drug store and buy 90+% rubbing alcohol. Use a paper towel with the rubbing alcohol and just rub it off.
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
Since it's not gonna be used, I'd just look for something around the house. Got a GF or wife? Use her fingernail polish remover. It's acetone with other crap added in (wouldn't use if I was gonna use the cpu). It'll clean it off easily. Mineral spirits, turpentine or gasoline would prolly work too.
 

RalfHutter

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2000
3,202
0
76
Originally posted by: Soviet
I poured wine onto it and rubbed like hell with a clocth but theres still stuff on it, ill give it another go later :D

Well, there's your problem silly! Everyone knows wine won't work! You need to use peach jam or the juice out of an asparagus can to remove stuborn thermal compound! :)


Actually, Acetone (available from the hardware store, or the drug store as "unscented nail polish remover") will work better than anything for removing stubborn TIM. Goof-off may well work too. It's a special cleaner that's made for removing sticky labels and stuff. It seems like it's citrus based. You can usually find it in any grocery store, drug store or even big stores like Target and Wallmart.
 

Maximilian

Lifer
Feb 8, 2004
12,604
15
81
Well considering the amount of times ive went to the hardware store and asked for xxxx and been told "we dont have that kind of thing here" ive given up on it. Hammer n screwdrivers seem to be as far as theyre going, and the comp shop has processors and hard drives, if i wanted anything more too bad :(

Anyways i gave nail varnish remover a go and yay its clean and shiney :D Just out of interest would it still work after the following has been done with it:

Dropped
Played catch with it
Poured wine on it
Used fairy liquid to clean it
Accidentally bent some pins which i later bent back to normal
Poked the center chip and surrounding small brown chips numerous times
Didnt earth myself to do any of the above
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,811
126
Originally posted by: Soviet
Well considering the amount of times ive went to the hardware store and asked for xxxx and been told "we dont have that kind of thing here" ive given up on it. Hammer n screwdrivers seem to be as far as theyre going, and the comp shop has processors and hard drives, if i wanted anything more too bad :(

Anyways i gave nail varnish remover a go and yay its clean and shiney :D Just out of interest would it still work after the following has been done with it:

Dropped
Played catch with it
Poured wine on it
Used fairy liquid to clean it
Accidentally bent some pins which i later bent back to normal
Poked the center chip and surrounding small brown chips numerous times
Didnt earth myself to do any of the above


That chip should still work no problem.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: Soviet
Well tbh functionality of it dosent really matter, its a 3 yr old 1 ghz Athlon possibly a thunderbird or a k75. Whatever it is i dont have a mobo to put it in or a use for it so i just wanted it for an ornament lol. I poured wine onto it and rubbed like hell with a clocth but theres still stuff on it, ill give it another go later :D

dude. Not only does wine have all sorts of organic crap in it, it's only a few percent alcohol at most.
 

serialb

Diamond Member
Mar 20, 2000
3,107
7
81
Originally posted by: jagec

dude. Not only does wine have all sorts of organic crap in it, it's only a few percent alcohol at most.

And wasting wine is a SIN ;)
 

Maximilian

Lifer
Feb 8, 2004
12,604
15
81
My sarcasim detector is bleeping naustica :) and wine was the closest thing i could find to alcohol :( Also i shall repant at once serial :beer: