I really screwed up this time

[CZroe]

I have decided to apply it myself. I am going to order some Arctic Silver 5 online and just watch a ton of tutorials before I sit down and do it. Is there any notable benefit to ordering and using the 2 step Arctic paste remover and surface purifier as well? Or is that a waste of money? I've seen more than a few people recommend it.

I'm a she btw

If you were benchmarking/comparing a bunch of different thermal compounds and needed to ensure as little contamination between tests as possible, but not for normal users. If you insist on something better than drug store isopropyl alcohol, try 100% acetone nail polish remover. No reason to go extreme.

 

[xcas]

Alcohol should do a good enough job of cleaning. Maybe the other stuff will remove some oxidation on integrated heat sink (IHS) but I doubt that will make much difference.

In terms of applying the paste, start by put 2 or 3 daubs of the AS. They should be a little smaller than a BB - if you've ever used a BB gun. Then use your finger to spread it around. You want just enough so that you can't see the metal of the IHS. You can test this by using the same finger to try to make a finger print in the paste. As long as you can do that you have enough. It's ok if you can see little streaks of metal the width of a few hairs, but no more.

You want to use less than you think you need rather than more. If it's not enough after you spread it, add one small daub at a time and repeat until you have full coverage. Too much paste might reduce heat transfer and/or you'll have it squeezing out of the sides when you bolt down the heatsink.

By the way, don't tighten the bolts fully at one time. Get each one finger tight and then skip to the opposite side to tighten each one in sequence maybe a 1/4 to 1/2 turn at a time. Don't over tighten or you have trouble removing the heatsink at a future date.

Thanks but... are you sure about the spreading thing? I've seen a lot of controversy about that online... some people do it and say it's fine but I've heard that you just want to put a dot in the middle and leave it and the pressure from the heat sink will spread it for you. Seems like an easier process too, so I'll probably do it that way anyway.

If you were benchmarking/comparing a bunch of different thermal compounds and needed to ensure as little contamination between tests as possible, but not for normal users. If you insist on something better than drug store isopropyl alcohol, try 100% acetone nail polish remover. No reason to go extreme.

Alright, I'll look into that instead. Thanks. Is it possible to use too much? Obviously you don't want to spill the stuff over the sides of the CPU and onto the motherboard, but I don't really see how it's feasible to completely avoid that when dealing with even a small amount of liquid.

 

[Burpo]

Use Qtips to dab acetone & clean 🙂

 

[Charmonium]

Thanks but... are you sure about the spreading thing? I've seen a lot of controversy about that online... some people do it and say it's fine but I've heard that you just want to put a dot in the middle and leave it and the pressure from the heat sink will spread it for you. Seems like an easier process too, so I'll probably do it that way anyway.

That's not a good idea for a beginner. Someone who builds machines all of the time might know how much to put to get even coverage w/o paste getting squeezed out onto the socket.

If you don't put enough, you're not going to get complete coverage and then some cores will get hot.

But it's your call. I'm trying to give you the best way for a newbie.

 

[xcas]

That's not a good idea for a beginner. Someone who builds machines all of the time might know how much to put to get even coverage w/o paste getting squeezed out onto the socket.

If you don't put enough, you're not going to get complete coverage and then some cores will get hot.

But it's your call. I'm trying to give you the best way for a newbie.

Well it's just that the general consensus seems to be that spreading in any way causes air bubbles, uneven coverage, and if you use your finger, damages the components with oils from the skin (obviously I wouldn't do that.) The majority opinion across the board seems to be that for anyone, newbie or not, the dot method is the only way to do it.
Thanks for the input, though.

 

[Charmonium]

Well it's just that the general consensus seems to be that spreading in any way causes air bubbles, uneven coverage, and if you use your finger, damages the components with oils from the skin (obviously I wouldn't do that.) The majority opinion across the board seems to be that for anyone, newbie or not, the dot method is the only way to do it.
Thanks for the input, though.

Wow, that is some serious bullshit right there, but hey, I guess you've talked to people who know what they're doing. 😵

 

[master_shake_]

turns out you can use pretty much anything as thermal paste

lipstick and toothpaste included

heres more stuff you can use.

might i suggest mayonnaise?

 

[Ichinisan]

Thanks but... are you sure about the spreading thing? I've seen a lot of controversy about that online... some people do it and say it's fine but I've heard that you just want to put a dot in the middle and leave it and the pressure from the heat sink will spread it for you. Seems like an easier process too, so I'll probably do it that way anyway.




Alright, I'll look into that instead. Thanks. Is it possible to use too much? Obviously you don't want to spill the stuff over the sides of the CPU and onto the motherboard, but I don't really see how it's feasible to completely avoid that when dealing with even a small amount of liquid.

I use acetone or alcohol with a hand full of cotton swabs.

I usually remove the CPU from its socket by lifting the lever, but you really don't need to take it out. I've seen experienced people get confused and orient the CPU incorrectly when re-installing it, which can destroy the pins in the socket.

 

[xcas]

I use acetone or alcohol with a hand full of cotton swabs.

I usually remove the CPU from its socket by lifting the lever, but you really don't need to take it out. I've seen experienced people get confused and orient the CPU incorrectly when re-installing it, which can destroy the pins in the socket.

Yeah I'll leave it in there. No way am I risking taking that thing out. Thing is the way my tower is laid out, it's rather compact so it'll be difficult to get my hand in there.

Hey by the way, I've heard that coffee filters are good to use for wiping. Can anyone second this? Does it really matter what you use as long as it doesn't leave much lint?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well it's just that the general consensus seems to be that spreading in any way causes air bubbles, uneven coverage

True.

Hey by the way, I've heard that coffee filters are good to use for wiping. Can anyone second this? Does it really matter what you use as long as it doesn't leave much lint?

Also true.

Sounds like you are well informed.

I don't drink coffee, so I usually don't have coffee filters handy. I just use paper towel, with 91% isopropyl alchohol.

I also use Arctic Silver 5 paste. It's an old standby. Works fine, speads easy, keeps well, and it's still fairly cheap, all things considered.

 

[daveybrat]

Yeah I'll leave it in there. No way am I risking taking that thing out. Thing is the way my tower is laid out, it's rather compact so it'll be difficult to get my hand in there.

Hey by the way, I've heard that coffee filters are good to use for wiping. Can anyone second this? Does it really matter what you use as long as it doesn't leave much lint?

Just use paper towel and a can of compressed air to blow all the particles away first. A can of compressed air is dirt cheap. 🙂

 

[Yuriman]

Dot method will be fine. Coffee filters are great for cleaning.

 

[CZroe]

Thanks but... are you sure about the spreading thing? I've seen a lot of controversy about that online... some people do it and say it's fine but I've heard that you just want to put a dot in the middle and leave it and the pressure from the heat sink will spread it for you. Seems like an easier process too, so I'll probably do it that way anyway.









Alright, I'll look into that instead. Thanks. Is it possible to use too much? Obviously you don't want to spill the stuff over the sides of the CPU and onto the motherboard, but I don't really see how it's feasible to completely avoid that when dealing with even a small amount of liquid.

Pure acetone evaporates completely with no residue almost instantly. You have to wipe it with an acetone-dampened cloth or paper just to keep it from instantly re-depositing the compounds it dissolved.

For high-end mirror-finish heat sinks I'll use a microfiber/lint-free cloth but I use cotton swabs and paper towels when I'm just reapplying a stock or retail HSF on a system that isn't for extreme overclocking.

I tend to follow the application instructions for the particular compound I am applying. Some say to make a dot, some say to make a line, some say to spread with your finger in a clean inside-out sandwich bag, some say to spread with a razor, some say to twist the HSF after installation (others say to avoid), etc.

In summation: paper towel, acetone, whatever compound you can get, follow that compound's application instructions, and you'll be fine.

 

[JimmiG]

Do not pay someone for this. Buy new thermal compound for a few bucks, clean the old stuff with acetone/nail polish remover (100% pure; some have additives), make sure there's no dust or finger oils on either surface, and reapply according to the instructions.

I clean my glasses more carefully.

LOL, cleaning glasses is indeed harder. You think they're clean, then you hold them up to the light and discover smears and smudges all over them. If only cleaning glasses was as easy as cleaning heatsinks...

Only time I had to be really careful was when applying that conductive liquid metal stuff after having smashed my Haswell open with a big hammer.

 

[CZroe]

LOL, cleaning glasses is indeed harder. You think they're clean, then you hold them up to the light and discover smears and smudges all over them. If only cleaning glasses was as easy as cleaning heatsinks...



Only time I had to be really careful was when applying that conductive liquid metal stuff after having smashed my Haswell open with a big hammer.

Yep, and those smudges are murder when driving at night or watching a movie (cause glare).

My biggest pet peeve is movie theaters which only have electric blowdryers for your hands or recycled paper towels. Recycled towels keep redepositing new smudges and air-drying always leaves mineral spots. When they give me used 3D glasses to put over my glasses the problem multiplies. Even if they happen to have new white paper towels, paper scratches the 3D glasses. You just can't win.

 

[sm625]

So I've been having crashing and heat issues recently so I took off the side panel and opened up my PC for the first time in two years to clean out some dust. Being a noob, I followed a couple tutorials and brazenly removed the fan. Now I find out that it's a cardinal sin to do so without reapplying the thermal paste. I don't have any of that and I'm way too clumsy to do that myself. Does anyone have any recommendations for getting this done professionally? And about how much did it cost? I'm going to call Geeksquad but I have a sinking feeling they won't do it.
​

If you can take the fan off without breaking anything then you can apply paste. And even if you dont it is not going to hurt it that much if you simply stick the heatsink back on without doing anything. Just push it down and wiggle it around a bit to reflatten it out. The worst that will happen is it runs a tiny bit hotter.

 

[cubby1223]

How did that joke go? How many tech geeks does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

 

[CZroe]

How did that joke go? How many tech geeks does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

That's how I feel. Everyone trying to make this too deep/complicated is actually discouraging the OP from doing something so simple.

It's a bit like the OP realizing that a tire needs a bit of air and getting told about gauge accuracy, heat/cold effects, nitrogen air replacement, TMPS, tire wear, ABS, Fix-a-flat, patching vs. plugging, sidewall damage, radial vs, bias ply, fuel mileage, increased rollover risk, ratings, compounds, valve tools, sidewall versus manufacturer recommended pressure, air compressors, defective rubber valve stems from China, etc, etc, etc.
...
instead of just saying "go to a gas station and put as much as your car door/glove box label/manual tells you to put."

You hear that, guys? If the OP ends up taking this to a technician then it's all your fault!

 

[Charmonium]

That's how I feel. Everyone trying to make this too deep/complicated is actually discouraging the OP from doing something so simple.

It's a bit like the OP realizing that a tire needs a bit of air and getting told about gauge accuracy, heat/cold effects, nitrogen air replacement, TMPS, tire wear, ABS, Fix-a-flat, patching vs. plugging, sidewall damage, radial vs, bias ply, fuel mileage, increased rollover risk, ratings, compounds, valve tools, sidewall versus manufacturer recommended pressure, air compressors, defective rubber valve stems from China, etc, etc, etc.

That cracked me up. :thumbsup:

 

[xcas]

That's how I feel. Everyone trying to make this too deep/complicated is actually discouraging the OP from doing something so simple.

It's a bit like the OP realizing that a tire needs a bit of air and getting told about gauge accuracy, heat/cold effects, nitrogen air replacement, TMPS, tire wear, ABS, Fix-a-flat, patching vs. plugging, sidewall damage, radial vs, bias ply, fuel mileage, increased rollover risk, ratings, compounds, valve tools, sidewall versus manufacturer recommended pressure, air compressors, defective rubber valve stems from China, etc, etc, etc.
...
instead of just saying "go to a gas station and put as much as your car door/glove box label/manual tells you to put."

You hear that, guys? If the OP ends up taking this to a technician then it's all your fault!

Nah I'm not going to take it to a technician. Sorry for the stupid girly analogy but if I can put on liquid eyeliner every morning and get it right first try, I can put a bit of ointment on my CPU. I think. But this post made my day.

 

[CZroe]

Nah I'm not going to take it to a technician. Sorry for the stupid girly analogy but if I can put on liquid eyeliner every morning and get it right first try, I can put a bit of ointment on my CPU. I think. But this post made my day.

That's the right attitude. 🙂

 

[Burpo]

It's not hard to scrape off the old stuff and drop a pea sized glob in the middle of the chip and re-assemble.

Told her what she needed to know 2 days ago.. It's not done?

 

[Mike64]

From what I've heard, Radio Shack almost doesn't exist anymore for most of the country.

Fwiw, I don't know about elsewhere in the US, but here in NYC, there are still more than enough Radio Shacks (20 locations in Brooklyn/Queens/Manhattan), just not the ridiculous overload there used to be (as if 20 overpriced, mostly useless stores isn't ridiculous enough?)

 

[xcas]

Well for all interested parties (be that all or none of you) my Arctic Silver 5 remover/purifier/paste was delivered today and with the help of a few coffee filters and a good hour or so of watching tutorials and breathing in the nauseating lemony scent of the compounds, I have done it. Everything's all put back together. Haven't booted it up yet. Bit worried, if I'm being honest. No liquid spilled over the side of the CPU and as far as I can tell, everything went smoothly. I got a bit worked up over how much paste to put on and ended up picking some up with some tweezers, so the blob was a bit of a mess, and I'm not sure at all if I put enough or too much. But unless the thing explodes when I turn it on I'm going to assume I did it right. 🙂 Thanks for all your help.

 

[CZroe]

Well for all interested parties (be that all or none of you) my Arctic Silver 5 remover/purifier/paste was delivered today and with the help of a few coffee filters and a good hour or so of watching tutorials and breathing in the nauseating lemony scent of the compounds, I have done it. Everything's all put back together. Haven't booted it up yet. Bit worried, if I'm being honest. No liquid spilled over the side of the CPU and as far as I can tell, everything went smoothly. I got a bit worked up over how much paste to put on and ended up picking some up with some tweezers, so the blob was a bit of a mess, and I'm not sure at all if I put enough or too much. But unless the thing explodes when I turn it on I'm going to assume I did it right. 🙂 Thanks for all your help.

Great! I honestly think you put more effort into it than the vast majority of enthusiasts so I don't think you have a thing to be worried about. Happy gaming! I hope it solves the issues you were having before all this. If not, give us an update and let's see if we can solve the issue.