how do i remove thermal paste?

[bX510]

My default heatsink + fan had thermal paste on it. Should i just remove it with a normal cloth and water? I am putting a xp-120 on it. Any installation tips? How much of that grease or watever do i put on it?

 

[InlineFour]

rubbing alcohol. you can buy some at your local walgreens/cvs.

put about the size of a rice grain on the cpu. the thermal paste will even itself out when you install the heatsink.

 

[bX510]

Wouldn't it not reach certain parts of the cpu? Maybe like the round corners.

 

[InlineFour]

Originally posted by: bX510
Wouldn't it not reach certain parts of the cpu? Maybe like the round corners.

the thermal paste?

it doesn't need to cover the entire metal plate. read these instructions for applying thermal paste.

Text

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: bX510
Wouldn't it not reach certain parts of the cpu? Maybe like the round corners.

That's just the IHS. [Integrated Heat Sink] The CPU core is very small in comparison.

Some builders prefer a small, rice-sized dollop of paste. Others prefer a thin layer spread across the whole IHS.

 

[essasin]

i use a cloth and a little bit of alcohol. I apply as5 differently on an ihs than i do directly on the cpu dye. On an ihs I get a razor blade and put thin layer over the whole thing. On the cpu dye I just put a small rice grain drop and let the heatsink pressure smooth things out.

 

[0roo0roo]

its not that precious. i've just wiped it off with a tissue at times. if u quibble over 1c or soemthing u can go hog wild heh

 

[mshan]

Arti-Clean works very well, though it is obviously more expensive than isopropyl alcohol.

 

[bX510]

Should i take out the cpu and then wipe the top of it? What if i got some alcohol under the cpu where the spikes are? Seriously, does water work? I don't think i want to spend $4 just for a 1 time use rubbing alcohol.

 

[stu1811]

Little C4 should do the trick.

 

[Shadow Conception]

Originally posted by: stu1811
Little C4 should do the trick.

Don't forget the Anthrax.

 

[stu1811]

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception

Originally posted by: stu1811
Little C4 should do the trick.

Don't forget the Anthrax.

What will antrax do to remove the thermal paste. At least the C4 will remove the thermal paste. It might destroy the CPU in the process, but thats no the point

 

[0roo0roo]

heh sometimes i dont even apply new paste if theres enough residue on the hs its blasphemy i know..but it works fine course this doesn't work when ur like 1 degree from crashing

 

[Jamsan]

I use goof off + coffee filters. the coffee filters are lint free and really cheap. The goof off is a little more expensive than rubbing alcohol, but I feel it does a better job.

 

[Maximilian]

Hell you can use whatever takes the stuff off.... If its new and not all hard crusty toilet paper will even do the trick.

 

[mshan]

This is probably obvious, but the thermal paste should still be warm, so that it is still semi-liquid and not solidified when you remove the heatsink.

 

[Googer]

USE the Anandtech search funtion

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=37&threadid=1816364&enterthread=y

 

[w00t]

I use 120% alc with paper towels prefer them over coffee filters.