How do I clean off the TIM residue from stock AMD HSF?

[brigden]

I need to clean off both the CPU and HSF. I'm going to apply Arctic Ceramique. Any tips are greatly appreciated.

 

[Zepper]

I use lighter fluid (naphtha as in Ronsonol or Zippo) followed by a rubbing alcohol rinse. Dry with a coffee filter (lint free).

.bh.

 

[PurdueRy]

I just use Isopropyl rubbing alcohol

 

[LatinJones]

You can use an acetone based nailpolish remover. Make sure it's acetone and not something else. And try not to get it on any pcb.

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: LatinJones
You can use an acetone based nailpolish remover. Make sure it's acetone and not something else. And try not to get it on any pcb.

Does the same apply for rubbing alcohol? There's TIM residue on the CPUs PCB.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Flat edge of a business or credit card to peel off the majority - QTips and isopropyl alcohol for the rest. Only the latter on the CPU die.

- M4H

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: rleemhui
I just use Isopropyl rubbing alcohol

 

[Gerbil333]

I use an old credit card + 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol (haven't been able to find 100%), and my thumb. The credit card removes the majority of the pad, and the alcohol gets most of the remainder. I've found that my thumb's finger prints work great for scrubbing off the rest. After that, I use more alcohol.

I've done that to a few stock hsf's, and they look new again, like they'd never had a thermal pad on them.

 

[LatinJones]

I don't think rubbing alcohol will damage any PCB, and it works just as good. The higher the alcohol purity the better. I think you can find some stuff < 90%.

 

[ViRGE]

My advice is to use some sort of semi-solvent like a citrus cleaner; I use GooGone and it eats through that stuff like there's no tomorrow, making it far easier than alcohol/acetone. Arctic Silver sells a 2-step kit(ArctiClean) that includes a citrus solvent and another "purifier" to remove any residue from the solvent.

 

[Jojo7]

Go to any hardware and ask for denatured alcohol solvent. It's 100% alcohol.
I find it much less offensive than using googone.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Jojo7
Go to any hardware and ask for denatured alcohol solvent. It's 100% alcohol.
I find it much less offensive than using googone.

Less offensive? It smells like oranges, what do you want, PineSol?

 

[Zepper]

You don't want to use an oil based solvent - I think Goo Gone uses some kind of citrus oil, but it does cut the pads nicely. You just have to really follow up with alcohol to make sure the Goo Gone is gone too.
. That's why I recommend lighter fluid (naphtha) - cuts the pads much better than alcohol or acetone (believe it or not but full-strength Simple Green cuts the pads pretty good too - never know what you'll find out when you're stuck with using whatever's at hand ). You really don't need to follow up with alcohol after lighter fluid. It's just that I don't like to leave any potentially flammable residue behind... After Simple Green, I'd definitely do an alcohol rinse too. I find that the regular 70% rubbing alcohol works just fine for rinses - don't need the special, ~90%, stuff.
. But then, I've only been doing small confusers for 25 years or so - what do I know...
. Alcohol and acetone works fine on the greases though (like Arctic Silver and the silicone based stuff like you get at RS and the stuff in the little packets you get with some Heatsinks).

.bh.

:moon: