HELP!!!

[chrome0011]

Bought a new board on ebay and it arrived with what appears to be thermal paste on the cpu socket. Not gobs, but enough to make me worry about what may happen to the CPU when i install... should i be worried? What can i use to remove? Some of this crap is in the holes... *#$#@ ebayers..!!!

 

[SrGuapo]

Uhhh.... contact the seller and get a replacement. Is it actally in the holes or just near them? If it isn't actually down in the holes, you could get a cloth and dampen it with rubbing alcohol and try to wipe it off (without smashing it into the holes).

 

[RichUK]

thats pretty sh1tty, i would imagine that board has been used with prometia, and the paste is just there to stop condensing in and around the pins on the CPU .. i would say that it is probably fine to use just a bit messy.. but contact the seller and find out what it is before you stick the CPU in..

prometia = special condenser cools the CPU below minus zero, so that you can achieve mega overclocks

 

[RichUK]

damn reply button :|

 

[daveybrat]

I'd send it back, whether it was or wasn't harmful to the cpu. That wouldn't fly with me, if i buy a motherboard, i would expect it to be in excellent condition, and even if it was used with exotic cooling and had crap on the socket, then mention it in the auction.

 

[Cheezeit]

did the description mention anything like that when you bought ti?

 

[chrome0011]

the description was "like new never used"... question here is will it mess up the cpu, if indeed it is thermal paste. Anyone know? -or- How to get it off?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Like RichUK said it's likely been used with a prommie or vapochill unit, and its dielectric grease not thermal paste. Should be OK, but should have been mentioned in the auction.

 

[chrome0011]

I'm not getting much in terms of a reply from the seller, so the question stands gents... is it safe to use? Thanks in advance for any replies. :thumbsup:

 

[Unkno]

better safe than sorry.....ask the seller before installing the cpu

 

[chrome0011]

1) If this -is- Thermal Paste, is it unsafe for the CPU?
2) If this -is- Thermal Paste, is it possible to remove it safely?

Thanks for the advice on how to deal with the ebayer, but that isn't the question I'm asking guys. I'm handling that, without much luck. ^^^^Those are the questions that I'm trying to get answers for, and I figure this is the place to ask.

 

[jpeyton]

If it's non-conductive thermal paste, or dielectric grease, it doesn't matter. If it is conductive thermal paste, get a refund.

 

[coomar]

but how would you tell the difference?

 

[chrome0011]

Exactly... the stuff is white. There isn't gobs of it, just enough to see. And it -is- in some of the socket holes.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: chrome0011
Exactly... the stuff is white. There isn't gobs of it, just enough to see. And it -is- in some of the socket holes.

Well ask the seller what it is. Then find out if it has any conductive properties.

 

[lenjack]

If you don't get a satisfactory response, send it back. It was misrepresented. It is not like new, never used.

 

[Markfw]

Most white paste is non-conductive. I would talk to the seller. If you put a cpu in and have any problems, then get a refund, IF he agrees to that arrangement.

 

[chrome0011]

Well, it turns out this board wasn't exactly "new", but the good news is that it was only the dielectric grease mentioned earlier. Thanks to everyone who gave advice and answers!!! :thumbsup: