got artic silver on my CPU!...Clean the CPU?

[duuuma]

I got a little bit of Artic Silver around the edge of the die of my Duron 900 and it touched the chip's surface itself....is this going to hurt my cpu??

Should I not worry about it or clean it off? I've already applied the HSF and ran it for day so will it be melted already?
If i wanted to clean it, how can I?

 

[NesuD]

If you ran it all day with no problems i would leave it be. If you feel you have to clean it this is how i did mine. using a toothbrush I scrubbed it in warm water with liquid dish soap I then used a blowdryer set to its hottest setting to dry it completely before reinstalling it. Arctic silver doesn't melt so that isn't a worry. It mantains a pretty consistant viscosity over a wide range of temps which is one of the reasons it is so popular.

 

[EdipisReks]

my t-bird is smeared with ASII from multiple (and sometimes hurried) heatsink changes, and i haven't had a problem. just make sure that the ASII isn't touching any of the bridges, and it will be fine. if you must clean it, the method that NesuD described is the best way to do it.

--jacob

 

[KouklatheCat]

Ive got AS on my T-Bird too. No biggie.

 

[jcmoran]

The folks who brought you that fine product, Arctic Silver II, recommends using a q-tip and finger nail polish remover because of the high Acetone content. Take your time, and remember that less is more.
I would recommend not scrubbing the CPU with soapy water and a toothbrush. It worked for him, but at what risk to the CPU. You have to ask yourself if there is any chance at all that water could somehow get inside. Especially after the CPU has been in service for any time and has already been subjected to heating and cooling several times. Also, consider how hot you can get something with a hairdryer. Higher than 200 degrees easily. How hot do you want your CPU to get?
It's better to stick with the recommendations of the Arctic Silver people.

 

[duuuma]

you guys are awesome. Thanks!

 

[SWScorch]

I used a soft pencil eraser and it picked the silver up right off the ceramic.

 

[EdipisReks]

it's impossible for water to "get inside" the cpu, as the cpu i solid state and one sealed piece.

--jacob

 

[McPhreak]

I actually just got Artic Silver all over my CPU (and leather office chair) today. Picked up a bottle of Rubbing Alcohol and some Q-tips and it works great. Dries in a matter of seconds too. No hair dryer required.

 

[jcmoran]

<< it's impossible for water to "get inside" the cpu, as the cpu i solid state and one sealed piece. >>


Anytime you have two different compounds connected together, Ceramic and gold for instance, you have a potential for separation. Constant heating and cooling of those two compounds, which react to temperatures differently, can however improbable, separate from each other. Knowing this, I only meant to suggest that it is possible. I agree that it's not likely but there is a risk of damaging the CPU by washing it in soapy water with a toothbrush. To say nothing of using a hair dryer on it's hottest setting. Oh, it's the circuitry that's solid state, not the CPU. Solid state simply means no vacuum tubes (remember those?) or moving parts.
:Q

 

[cookieman]

Another vote for the pencil eraser. It does wonders in 10 minutes.
Just watch out not to "erase" one of the resistors from the CPU surface...

Cheers,

 

[duuuma]

thanks everyone..the computer runs fine...it bogs down a bit after a few days of being on, but nothing too bad