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Instructions for removing fresh, retail Intel Pent. 4 thermal pad

S

symbol

Member
I've searched the forums and there has been talk of removing thermal grease/compound with isopropyl alcohol. I've ordered a Intel LGA 775 Pentium 4 540 3.2 GHz and, as I understand it, the heatsink has a thermal pad already applied. Since I plan to slightly overclock the CPU (about 200+ Mhz) I suppose I'll need to remove the default thermal "pad" and replace it with Arctic Silver 5.

What are the thermal pad removal instructions? Isopropyl alcohol? Since this will be the first time handling a CPU for a custom build I'm curious as to what the thermal pad on the heatsink is like? Is it solid, greasy, sticky (like tape). Does it have to be smeared off or peeled off?

Thanks.
 
ONLY Arctic Silver thermal compound should be between the processor core and the heatsink. Remove any thermal pads or other interface material from the heatsink before applying the Arctic Silver. Thermal pads can be scraped off with a plastic tool that will not scratch the bottom then the remnants can be removed with ArctiClean 1Thermal Material Remover and ArctiClean 2 Thermal Surface Purifier. If you do not have ArctiClean, use a xylene based cleaner, (Goof Off and some carburetor cleaners) acetone, mineral spirits, or high-purity isopropyl alcohol.
Click to expand...

Application Instructions for Premium Silver Thermal Compound 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
ONLY Arctic Silver thermal compound should be between the processor core and the heatsink. Remove any thermal pads or other interface material from the heatsink before applying the Arctic Silver. Thermal pads can be scraped off with a plastic tool that will not scratch the bottom then the remnants can be removed with ArctiClean 1Thermal Material Remover and ArctiClean 2 Thermal Surface Purifier. If you do not have ArctiClean, use a xylene based cleaner, (Goof Off and some carburetor cleaners) acetone, mineral spirits, or high-purity isopropyl alcohol.
Click to expand...

Application Instructions for Premium Silver Thermal Compound 🙂
Click to expand...
Thanks, but the instructions don't differentiate between a used and unused (fresh out-the-retail-box) thermal pad? Is the state of a used thermal pad the same as unused?

This devhardware forum thread makes it seem that removing a thermal pad isn't as easy as one would think.
 
Originally posted by: symbol
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
ONLY Arctic Silver thermal compound should be between the processor core and the heatsink. Remove any thermal pads or other interface material from the heatsink before applying the Arctic Silver. Thermal pads can be scraped off with a plastic tool that will not scratch the bottom then the remnants can be removed with ArctiClean 1Thermal Material Remover and ArctiClean 2 Thermal Surface Purifier. If you do not have ArctiClean, use a xylene based cleaner, (Goof Off and some carburetor cleaners) acetone, mineral spirits, or high-purity isopropyl alcohol.
Click to expand...

Application Instructions for Premium Silver Thermal Compound 🙂
Click to expand...
Thanks, but the instructions don't differentiate between a used and unused (fresh out-the-retail-box) thermal pad? Is the state of a used thermal pad the same as unused?

This devhardware forum thread makes it seem that removing a thermal pad isn't as easy as one would think.
Click to expand...

You'd still use the same procedure reguardless of whether the pad has or hasn't been used yet.

Edit: I've scaped a used pad off a heatsink before and it came off pretty easily, I don't think an used one would be too much harder.
 
I use Goof Off or Brake Cleaner since they do not leave a residue and work much faster than plain alcohol when removing grease/pad. However I then wipe it with alcohol, then a dry paper towel (making sure no fibers are on the core), then I apply the new compound.
 
Originally posted by: 0010010110
Edit: I've scaped a used pad off a heatsink before and it came off pretty easily, I don't think an used one would be too much harder.
Click to expand...
Used or unused thermal pad? What did you use to scrape it off? Did you use Isopropyl alcohol afterwards to remove any remnants?
 
Originally posted by: John
I use Goof Off or Brake Cleaner since they do not leave a residue and work much faster than plain alcohol when removing grease/pad. However I then wipe it with alcohol, then a dry paper towel (making sure no fibers are on the core), then I apply the new compound.
Click to expand...
According to Goof Off's official website there isn't a retailer which sells this stuff within a 50 mile radius, so that option's out.

Your post reminded me of "Goo Gone" but the Arctic Silver website says any cleaner with citrus is a no-no, so Goo Gone is out too.
 
Originally posted by: symbol
Originally posted by: 0010010110
Edit: I've scaped a used pad off a heatsink before and it came off pretty easily, I don't think an used one would be too much harder.
Click to expand...
Used or unused thermal pad? What did you use to scrape it off? Did you use Isopropyl alcohol afterwards to remove any remnants?
Click to expand...

It was a used thermal pad, I used an old atm card to scape off the bulk of it and then used isopropyl alcohol to remove what was left.
 
Unused is much easier since you don't have to worry about the CPU, only the HS. Just scrape the pad off with a hard plastic scraper of some sort (even a CC will work), then use a paper towel with some goo gone on it to remove the rest. The type of cleaner doesn't matter on the HS. Then be sure to clean it up with some rubbing alcohol, let it dry, and install the paste. Shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes.
 
Originally posted by: symbol
Originally posted by: 0010010110
Edit: I've scaped a used pad off a heatsink before and it came off pretty easily, I don't think an used one would be too much harder.
Click to expand...
Used or unused thermal pad? What did you use to scrape it off? Did you use Isopropyl alcohol afterwards to remove any remnants?
Click to expand...

Use your fingernail to lift an end of the P4 Alum pad up then pull it off. There will be sticky residue on the heatsink, so use Goof Off or brake cleaner to remove it. Afterwards use some alcohol to wipe it down.

You can buy Goof Off @ Wal-Mart in the paint section. Lighter fluid also works.....
 
Originally posted by: symbol
Originally posted by: John
I use Goof Off or Brake Cleaner since they do not leave a residue and work much faster than plain alcohol when removing grease/pad. However I then wipe it with alcohol, then a dry paper towel (making sure no fibers are on the core), then I apply the new compound.
Click to expand...
According to Goof Off's official website there isn't a retailer which sells this stuff within a 50 mile radius, so that option's out.

Your post reminded me of "Goo Gone" but the Arctic Silver website says any cleaner with citrus is a no-no, so Goo Gone is out too.
Click to expand...

You don't have a Walmart near you? I went the other day and saw a whole rack full of goof off?
 
There are other alternatives such as sticker removal that's found in grocery stores. These typically contain Hexane and clean very well. A quick follow over with isopropyl alcohol and you're all set. 🙂
 
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