How do you clean thermal goop off of a CPU/HSF?

[Jax Omen]

If it's relevant what goop is being cleaned off, I plan on replacing the stock intel goop with AS5 for my friend.

 

[BadOmen]

I use alcohol (I think it's isopropyl, I got it on a pharmacy anyway) on a coffee filter. Soak it lightly, and then it's a matter of scrubbing the thing out. Pretty simple, but it may take quite a few pieces of coffee filter to remove the whole thing. Especially because the intel stock spreads all over the cpu heatspreader.

There are some special products for this kind of cleaning, I don't remember names but am pretty sure that Arctic Silver has something for that purpose. I don't know if they are really necessary, though. I liked what I saw when using alcohol.

 

[Jax Omen]

Rubbing Alcohol, you mean?

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Yes.

 

[BadOmen]

Well, Arctic Silver actually says "high purity isopropyl alcohol".

So, that would mean a high purity rubbing alcohol. I couldn't find anything with this "high purity" thing, so I got the regular rubbing alcohol. It worked.

 

[Jax Omen]

Ok then. Good to know. AS5 is applied by placing a small bead in the middle and placing the heatsink down? or is it the line method?

 

[aigomorla]

i first wipe with a shop towel. Its a blue paper towel ment for body shops.

Then i use a coffee filter and wipe the ihs. (microfiber is also doable, but very expensive compared to coffee filter.)

Then i wipe again with coffee filter.


Oh i should note, if you guys work in a bio/chem lab, kimwipes work great too for the ihs. Kimwipes is lint free by nature.

 

[Jax Omen]

so, pick up some coffee filters and rubbing alcohol. Got it.

Where do you get shop towels? And what's the reason for it?

 

[BadOmen]

Originally posted by: Jax Omen
Ok then. Good to know. AS5 is applied by placing a small bead in the middle and placing the heatsink down? or is it the line method?

Theoretically, you should use a bead for single core and a line for dual core or quad core (a east-west line for dual, north-south for quad). However, I heard about people using a bead for whatever cpu. In any case, careful with the ammount of grease. A silver swamp won't help at all. I always tend to put more than needed.

 

[Jax Omen]

Yeah, I know to go very light. I'd rather use too little and need to add a tiny bit more than use too much and have to remove some

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Jax Omen
so, pick up some coffee filters and rubbing alcohol. Got it.

Where do you get shop towels? And what's the reason for it?

absolutely nothing. you can use paper towels. I just use shop towels because there more absorbant. Doesnt apply to tim, but does apply to a leak/spill with water.

You can use a napkin to wipe the residue tim off initally and then follow though with the coffee filters.

 

[Jax Omen]

Ok. Thanks Aigo and Bad.

I just used the TIM on my AF7pro for my current CPU. Is that stuff any good or should I use AS5 instead (I have some laying around)?

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: Jax Omen
Ok. Thanks Aigo and Bad.

I just used the TIM on my AF7pro for my current CPU. Is that stuff any good or should I use AS5 instead (I have some laying around)?

keep the stuff on the AF7 Pro

 

[Tullphan]

I try to get that 90% Isopropyl alcohol & like others have said, use a coffee filter.

 

[Zepper]

Depends on what you have in place. When you have a grease, start with a paper towel and/or q-tips to clean most off, follow with a bit of isopropyl or ethanol on a coffee filter to clean the remainder off. Follow with a dry coffee filter to dry. If you have a plasticky, rubbery pad on there, start by scraping as much as possible off with a plastic tool so as not to scratch anything. Use lighter fluid (naphtha: Ronsonol, Zippo, store brands) and coffee filter and/or q-tips to remove the rest. An alcohol on coffee filter rinse. And dry with another piece of coffee filter.

.bh.

 

[dajeepster]

i use the 99.953% pure anhydrous isopropyl alcohol from Microcenter ... at least that's what the bottle says

 

[BadOmen]

Originally posted by: Jax Omen
Ok. Thanks Aigo and Bad.

I just used the TIM on my AF7pro for my current CPU. Is that stuff any good or should I use AS5 instead (I have some laying around)?

I would keep the mx-1 that comes with the hs. It's good stuff as well, spreads well when heated, and have no curing period. AS7 needs 200 hours to reach the ideal point.

 

[imported_wired247]

What's with all the Omens in this thread? :S

 

[Zepper]

Well, one can't seem to organize his thoughts (or just needs to boost his post count) and the OP actually had to ask this again when there are at least 50 other threads on the same topic here...

So it just might be an omen...

.bh.

 

[BadOmen]

I actually resent that.

Perhaps I better keep just leeching, and forget about trying to be helpful. I just wanted to give something back to a forum that has helped me many times before by helping someone. That`s alright, I`ll leave it all for you.

My post count? What the hell am I gonna do with a high one?

 

[Zepper]

Well, if you can't stand a little mild ribbing...

.bh.

 

[niall]

Jax Omen OP: I use the Arctic Silver ArctiClean two-part solutions. It works like a bloody charm, zero effort (just let it soak a little) and things are ultra-clean after.

I've used the Purifier (2nd solution) on glasses too, and on the CPU and HSF, I use an old lens-cleaning cloth to wipe it clean, guaranteed lint-free.

The two 30ml bottles cost me $15 or so some years back, and I haven't regretted it at all.