Thermal paste in the socket..

[Grabo]

Hello.

Yesterday evening (too late I realize now) I decided to build my system, since I had just received the processor. Well, the horrible little tube of thermal paste gave nothing, nothing ,and then half of its contents, over the top of the CPU, as well as the side; so two CPU pins and two socket 'holes' are now a shiny silver. My question is as follows:

Is this worthy of counter-action?
What (and with what) can be done then?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Nohr]

I would think that'd depend on what thermal paste you used. I'm guessing that since it's silver in color it's most likely conductive which means it should be cleaned up. Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol should do the trick.

 

[montag451]

As Nohr says.
Definitely.

 

[Grabo]

Alright , thanks.
The socket won't be hurt if I attempt to clean it with cleaning alcohol then? I assume I won't be able to get everything from the two 'holes' either, but.between where could the goo (ASAKA silver) conduct electricity anyway?

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: Grabo
Alright , thanks.
The socket won't be hurt if I attempt to clean it with cleaning alcohol then? I assume I won't be able to get everything from the two 'holes' either, but.between where could the goo (ASAKA silver) conduct electricity anyway?

DO NOT USE ALCOHOL! Consumer grade alcohol contains WATER which will cause serious problems. You need to clean it dry as best as you can, use thin wires, tooth picks, whatever to clean out that socket. If you need to use a solvent, I suppose you could try GOOF-OFF which contains no water....but....I'm not sure if it will hurt the plastic, you should test it on a similar plastic before using it. Also, hit it with a hair drier when your done to remove all traces of solvent.

 

[montag451]

Use Isopropyl Alcohol which contains very few impurities.
You might be able to get at at the pharmacist, or at an electronics store - it is really mostly used for cleaning electrical contacts.

When you get it, get a small bowl, or a large cup, put .3cm of the stuff in, then just sit the cpu in it for a half hour.
Take it out, and gently wipe the thermal compound off with a not metal stick - something like a thin toothpick.

You might get away with just making sure that there isn't a continuous strip of thermal compound between 2 pins by 'striping' stuff, but there is no guarantee that it wont squash together when it is pressed onto the mobo.