Got some thermal paste on CPU pins

[igowerf]

I bought a used CPU on the FS/FT forum and when I got it, I noticed that a few of the pins have some thermal paste on some of the CPU pins. Two of of the pins have paste on the tips (little round globs) and two have some paste near the base of the pins. I cleaned it off as much as I could but there's still a tiny bit on there. Is it still safe to use the CPU?

 

[Matthias99]

Rubbing alcohol; you can soak the CPU in it if you want. Available at any corner drugstore (look for 90% purity or better; ask in the pharmacy if they have 99% isopropyl alcohol if it's not on the shelf).

Just let it dry COMPLETELY (for at LEAST 12 hours) before you try to use it. You can clean it with distilled water, too, but then you have to wait several days for it to completely dry.

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: Matthias99
Rubbing alcohol; you can soak the CPU in it if you want. Available at any corner drugstore (look for 90% purity or better; ask in the pharmacy if they have 99% isopropyl alcohol if it's not on the shelf).

Just let it dry COMPLETELY (for at LEAST 12 hours) before you try to use it. You can clean it with distilled water, too, but then you have to wait several days for it to completely dry.

If you can get 99% purity, you just need to blowdry it for like 10 minutes, as isopropyl alcohol vaporizes really easily.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: Matthias99
Rubbing alcohol; you can soak the CPU in it if you want. Available at any corner drugstore (look for 90% purity or better; ask in the pharmacy if they have 99% isopropyl alcohol if it's not on the shelf).

Just let it dry COMPLETELY (for at LEAST 12 hours) before you try to use it. You can clean it with distilled water, too, but then you have to wait several days for it to completely dry.

If you can get 99% purity, you just need to blowdry it for like 10 minutes, as isopropyl alcohol vaporizes really easily.

Well, it is faster if you use a hairdryer/heat gun. Just make sure it's REALLY REALLY dry.

 

[igowerf]

I had tried cleaning it with 70% isopropyl alcohol... I guess I'll let it dry for a the next few days to be safe.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: Matthias99
Rubbing alcohol; you can soak the CPU in it if you want. Available at any corner drugstore (look for 90% purity or better; ask in the pharmacy if they have 99% isopropyl alcohol if it's not on the shelf).

Just let it dry COMPLETELY (for at LEAST 12 hours) before you try to use it. You can clean it with distilled water, too, but then you have to wait several days for it to completely dry.

If you can get 99% purity, you just need to blowdry it for like 10 minutes, as isopropyl alcohol vaporizes really easily.

Denautured alcohol or acetone works better. As an alternative you could distill your own moonshine.

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Tick

Originally posted by: Matthias99
Rubbing alcohol; you can soak the CPU in it if you want. Available at any corner drugstore (look for 90% purity or better; ask in the pharmacy if they have 99% isopropyl alcohol if it's not on the shelf).

Just let it dry COMPLETELY (for at LEAST 12 hours) before you try to use it. You can clean it with distilled water, too, but then you have to wait several days for it to completely dry.

If you can get 99% purity, you just need to blowdry it for like 10 minutes, as isopropyl alcohol vaporizes really easily.

Denautured alcohol or acetone works better. As an alternative you could distill your own moonshine.

Yes, but those are harder to get and slightly toxic. Acetone is great stuff thought. Better still would be benzene.