how do you clean paste off a CPU

MustISO

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,927
12
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either the stuff sold by the companies who make the stuff or just good quality alcohol (rubbing). that and a cotton ball.
 

DSF

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2007
4,902
0
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After using something like a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol to clean the surface off, wipe with a lint-free cloth or coffee filter. Q-tips/cotton balls can leave fibers behind, and you don't want that.
 

Pierce

Senior member
Sep 21, 2002
226
0
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so 97% alchohol? is 50% ok? So rub it down and then wipe it up with coffee filter?
 

Athlongamer

Golden Member
Jun 22, 2004
1,387
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71
I've been building PC's for about 5 years and I've always just used an old white T-shirt and a hint of water, maybe even spit at one time.

I've never had a CPU problem either :)
 

Quiksilver

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2005
4,725
0
71
Isopropyl Alcohol and a Lint-free cloth or coffee filters.

or

Arcti-Clean and a Lint-free cloth or coffee filters.

I've used both, Arctic-Clean seems to take care of it faster faster though.

so 97% alchohol? is 50% ok? So rub it down and then wipe it up with coffee filter?
It would work just it would take longer to clean-up.

I've been building PC's for about 5 years and I've always just used an old white T-shirt and a hint of water, maybe even spit at one time.
Hope you haven't used that technique on exposed copper bases; one word, corrosion.
 

ew915

Senior member
Jun 19, 2001
748
0
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umm yummmy as5+coffee, i hope the wife gets wired from it.

why let a good coffee filter goto waste?
 

Dravic

Senior member
May 18, 2000
892
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76
Originally posted by: Pierce
simple question. Thanks for any help.

Believe it or not I have also used acetone fingernail polish remover and paper towels..

Never had an issue.

It is a bit odd that the wife always has to look for the polish remover in the computer room.. :) She doesnt use finger nail polish often, so with out a doubt i use more then she does over the course of a bottle.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
105
106
Originally posted by: Dravic
Originally posted by: Pierce
simple question. Thanks for any help.

Believe it or not I have also used acetone fingernail polish remover and paper towels..

Never had an issue.

It is a bit odd that the wife always has to look for the polish remover in the computer room.. :) She doesnt use finger nail polish often, so with out a doubt i use more then she does over the course of a bottle.

JSK nail polish remover is acetone
 

nefariouscaine

Golden Member
Dec 4, 2006
1,669
1
81
i used either 90% or some 99.9% stuff (isopropyl) - use paper towels for the "rough" runs - coffee filters for the final dose and blast it with canned air after
 

imported_Woody

Senior member
Aug 29, 2004
294
0
0
I lick it clean!



No not really. 90% alcohol I pick up from the drug store and Q-tips or cotton balls. then blow the lint off. There won't be any residue because the alcohol evaporates quickly.

Please don't lick the thermal paste! I was kidding! :-0
 

Dravic

Senior member
May 18, 2000
892
0
76
Originally posted by: alfa147x
Originally posted by: Dravic
Originally posted by: Pierce
simple question. Thanks for any help.

Believe it or not I have also used acetone fingernail polish remover and paper towels..

Never had an issue.

It is a bit odd that the wife always has to look for the polish remover in the computer room.. :) She doesnt use finger nail polish often, so with out a doubt i use more then she does over the course of a bottle.

JSK nail polish remover is acetone

There are acetone free nail polish removers, That is why I specified.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
105
106
Originally posted by: Dravic
Originally posted by: alfa147x
Originally posted by: Dravic
Originally posted by: Pierce
simple question. Thanks for any help.

Believe it or not I have also used acetone fingernail polish remover and paper towels..

Never had an issue.

It is a bit odd that the wife always has to look for the polish remover in the computer room.. :) She doesnt use finger nail polish often, so with out a doubt i use more then she does over the course of a bottle.

JSK nail polish remover is acetone

There are acetone free nail polish removers, That is why I specified.

clearly I can not read, i guess i didnt see that last night