• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

CPU Heatsink Cleaning Advice Needed

JasonSix78

JasonSix78

Platinum Member
When I first built my rig over two years ago my X2 6000+ ran in the mid-high 30's C idle and high 40's C under load. I hadn't paid too much attention to the temperatures up until a few weeks ago when I was trying to figure out why my games were crashing.

As of now my idle temps are around 47-49C and under load (playing games) it will reach 60C. I'm using an Arctic Freezer 64 Pro, btw. I removed the heatsink and vacuumed it out (was pretty clean dust wise) and reapplied arctic silver. No effect on temps. I even removed the stock 92mm fan and replaced it with a 120mm, still no effect.

Is it possible to soak the heatsink in some sort of a cleaner (purple power, etc.) to remove any residue covering the fins of the heatsink just to be sure it's 100% clean? Also, could anyone tell me what would cause this much of a temp rise on a CPU if the heatsink wasn't the cause?

Edit: Ambient room temp stays between 71-74 F. Motherboard sensor temps are always around 28-31C.
 
Just to be safe I wouldn't "soak it" in anything.

You can try Arctic Silver's ArctiClean: http://www.svc.com/acclean-60ml.html

Put a few drops on the surface, tilt the CPU around to get the whole surface covered, and let it sit for a few minutes. You'll even notice right away that the thermal compound will begin separating from the heatsink/CPU and floats within the liquid for easy removal. Works great and smells good too (citrus based solution I guess). LOL
 
Just look over your heatsink. If there's no visible amount of residue, then it shouldn't make that much of a difference.

To clean, you don't need a specialized solution. Just get a q-tip, cotton ball, or napkin, and some isopropyl alcohol, and go to town on it.
 
Wkwong11, cleaning the thermal compound isn't the issue but thanks for the suggestion nonetheless. 🙂

Eureka, where the stock 92mm fan meets the face of the cooling fins, there is a dark residue covering them in the shape of the fan blade. I guess it's just had some sort of a build up over time from the air coming off the fan. This heatsink ran on my skt.939 rig for over a year before I migrated it to this AM2 rig, so it's been running for a *long* time. I tried wiping it off with some alcohol but it wouldn't come off.

From the lack of responses, I don't guess it's common for people to clean the cooling fins on heatsinks outside of vacuuming them. I'll just experiment.

Thanks for the replies wkwong and Eureka.

 
Whoa, that's some serious gunk if alcohol doesn't do the trick. Did you scrub with the alcohol? Try an old toothbrush + alcohol or some other solution, that may give you some extra power.

I'd be more worried about where the residue is coming from. I don't think its normal to have that kind of build up, I've had some serious dust/dirt build up, it mostly comes off with a quick wipe.
 
Oh, I see. It's the fins you are cleaning, not the base. Then yea, if it's that dirty maybe soak it in some soapy water and use high pressure water to spray it out if you can or just rinse a few times. I would dry it right away with a blow dryer to make sure rust doesn't build up. Make sure the joints where the fins connect to the heatpipes are dry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top