CRAP! Thermal paste on cpu pins

[shamgar03]

So I am switching mobo's and I go to take the cpu waterblock off. I then attempt to pull off the block. Instead the cpu just comes out. Of course the cpu is supposed to be locked in, fortunately none of the pins are bent. Unfortunately I got some thermal paste between pins. Is this going to F the whole thing up?

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

It could, yes, especially if it's shorting out two or more pins.

Grab some isopropyl alcohol (i.e. nail polish remover) and try to clean it the best you can.

- JaAG

 

[shamgar03]

Alright I'll try it. It looks like some of the past was under there before as I found some on the motherboard socket as well.

 

[BigPoppa]

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
It could, yes, especially if it's shorting out two or more pins.

Grab some isopropyl alcohol (i.e. nail polish remover) and try to clean it the best you can.

- JaAG

Isopropyl alcohol =! nail polish remover = acetone.

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
It could, yes, especially if it's shorting out two or more pins.
- JaAG

rofl, u must be joking?

 

[shamgar03]

Originally posted by: BlingBlingArsch

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
It could, yes, especially if it's shorting out two or more pins.
- JaAG

rofl, u must be joking?

Alot of the pins are redundant in 939, so technically speaking it really is a possibility. I am assuming you are laughing because you think its a certianty if it is shorting 2 pins, but thats not actually the case.

 

[BoboKatt]

Unless you were like me and used Liquid Metal and it got all inside my CPU socket and all over the mobo -- now that messed everything right up. If you can clean yours, without damaging the pins it should be ok. I don't think your thermal paste is conductive right?

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: BlingBlingArsch

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
It could, yes, especially if it's shorting out two or more pins.
- JaAG

rofl, u must be joking?

AS5 isn't conductive but it is capacitive. http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm

Even if it's not AS5, as good most thermal pastes are high-percentage metallic, it may still be conductive. Suffice to say, to stay safe don't get thermal paste on your CPU pins.

OP: Clean it off with high purity isopropyl alcohol and you should have little to worry about.

 

[shamgar03]

just bought 99% isopropyl alcohol today to clean =)

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

i was makin fun cuz sometimes its a good idea to intentionally use thermal paste between the pins and the socket to combat condensation.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Originally posted by: BlingBlingArsch
i was makin fun cuz sometimes its a good idea to intentionally use thermal paste between the pins and the socket to combat condensation.

I'm no phase change or chiller guru but, I thought people used dielectric grease for that, not thermal compound? And, what would insulating pins have to do with a water cooled setup?

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Originally posted by: BigPoppa

Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
It could, yes, especially if it's shorting out two or more pins.

Grab some isopropyl alcohol (i.e. nail polish remover) and try to clean it the best you can.

- JaAG

Isopropyl alcohol =! nail polish remover = acetone.

<insert generic cleaning liquid here>

My mistake. Middle of the night is not the time of my better posts.

Originally posted by: BlingBlingArsch
i was makin fun cuz sometimes its a good idea to intentionally use thermal paste between the pins and the socket to combat condensation.

I'm not water cooling guy, but that would definitely make me 😕