Need help installing new CPU cooler

[ConBas]

I have an Abit KN8 Ultra s939 mobo and to squeeze some more life out of it I'm going to install an AMD X2 4200+ with a CoolerMaster XDream K640 CPU Cooler (bit of a cheap cooler but I don't overclock). I also have some thermal compound.

The part of the heatsink that will be in contact with the CPU looked like it had a sticker on it (perhaps to protect it from scratches I thought) but when I touched it it was some sort of sticky substance. I'm now thinking that perhaps it had thermal compound already applied. A small part of whatever is on there is now slightly smudged.

Should I assume that what's on there is thermal compound? And if it is should I not worry about the slight smudge and just strap the cooler onto my CPU or should I wipe it off and then apply the new thermal compound that I ordered seperately?

Thanks for any help,
ConBas

 

[fredhe12]

That's pre-applied thermal paste. Clean it with rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth. Make sure you get it completely off and that the surface dries before using your compound.

 

[ConBas]

Thanks, that's what I thought. I've searched around and it's suggested to use high-purity isopropyl alcohol for cleaning. Is that the same as rubbing alcohol? I know I don't have either so does anyone know what kind of store would be likely to carry either?

 

[tofumonster]

Yeah pharmacys/drugstores should carry isopropyl alcohol (there's different kinds, in this case i've only used isopropyl to clean my HSF bases). Use +90% grade, the higher the grade the better but more expensive i presume.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: ConBas
Thanks, that's what I thought. I've searched around and it's suggested to use high-purity isopropyl alcohol for cleaning. Is that the same as rubbing alcohol? I know I don't have either so does anyone know what kind of store would be likely to carry either?

Bah!

This isn't surgery...

Forget the "high-purity isopropyl alcohol". I use regular ol' paint thinner - mineral spirits or lacquer thinner will work fine!

In a couple of months your cooler will look like a lawn mower anyway, covered in dust and lint, soooo...

 

[jmmtn4aj]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: ConBas
Thanks, that's what I thought. I've searched around and it's suggested to use high-purity isopropyl alcohol for cleaning. Is that the same as rubbing alcohol? I know I don't have either so does anyone know what kind of store would be likely to carry either?

Bah!

This isn't surgery...

Forget the "high-purity isopropyl alcohol". I use regular ol' paint thinner - mineral spirits or lacquer thinner will work fine!

In a couple of months your cooler will look like a lawn mower anyway, covered in dust and lint, soooo...

High purity alcohol leaves less residue because alcohol is really volatile.. The more percentage of a mixture that is volatile, the less will be left behind instead of being almost instantly evaporated..

Least that's how I understand the need for isopropyl

 

[Old Hippie]

For six buxs, I got enough of this stuff to last me the rest of my life.

 

[ConBas]

Thanks for the help all. I would have responded earlier but for some reason I haven't been able to connect to Anandtech for almost a week.

Anyway, I bought myself some 96% ketonatus alcohol at the local pharmacy (no isopropyl alcohol here) for $3 and it has worked great. It even made it pretty easy to remove the thermal paste from my old cooler. Can I use alcohol on the CPU itself as well? I'd like to clean my old CPU.

The temps on my new dual core are idling at about 35 C. If I stress test it it can go up to 60 C pretty quickly. The fan on the cooler has the following specs: 800 ~ 2800R.P.M. (control by thermistor). It idles at 9000 rpm but doesn't go much higher than 1300 rpm even when the CPU is at 60 C. Is 60 C an acceptable temperature? Is there a way that I can manually up the rpms on the fan?

 

[Old Hippie]

Max Temp 49-71°C

You're well within the temp range.