Thermal paste removal, and some unknown type alcohol

[MuuMuu]

Hiyas.

I just got the GC68's from SVCompucycle to replace the stock hsf on my system. While I have the general idea of what I'm supposed to do, I figured I could use some extra help...

1) Arctic Silver's site suggested the usage of pure isopropyl alcohol. We found a container of "99% pure alcohol" in the basement, but don't know what type it is. Does it really make a significant enough difference that I should go get what I know for sure is isopropyl, or would this one be safe?

2) when taking the material off, am I supposed to actually rub the CPU? And if so, how hard / how much? I'd rather not hurt the CPU if at all possible.

Sorry for the newbie-ish questions. A quick search didn't reveal answers for the questions I had, so I believe these are questions worth asking, though...

Muu

 

[Blain]

Just grab yourself some 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, and forget the "stuff from the basement".

Leave the CPU in the socket. That will hold it securely while you clean it.

 

[gururu]

yea, get the real stuff. your basement stuff is probably ethanol. ethanol would work too, but stick to what
the as website suggests

 

[Buz2b]

Might be a good idea to take the CPU out of the socket and place it on some anti-static foam while you are doing this. Maybe it's just me but I hate having any kind of liquids on or around the inside of my computer. I know, I know, it's only alcohol and it will evaporate and most likely not hurt anything. However, I do not discriminate; fluid is fluid.
Also, in answer to the other part of your question, just use a soft clean lint-free cloth, dip it in the alcohol and gently rub the top of the CPU to remove the goo. It doesn't take much effort as the alcohol "melts" the stuff pretty well.
If it doesn't seem to get it all off, you can use Nail Polish Remover first (even stronger in this application) and then finish up with the alcohol to remove an residue from the NP Remover.

 

[wtfOO]

try Acetone. You could pick it up at your local hardware store and it works well.

 

[MuuMuu]

Alright, thanks for the response folks.

I'll probably end up getting the isopropyl, but since I can test it out on my parents' system first (a Tbird 800), I'll try the 99% purity one first. If that gets busted, well... it's time to go get some new fluids

Muu

 

[Buz2b]

I'll try the 99% purity one first

A brave soul.............!

 

[Goi]

How would MediSwab alcohol swabs work?

 

[Buz2b]

How would MediSwab alcohol swabs work?

Never tried them but take a close look at the ingredients. There could be more crapola that would leave a residue on the HS or the CPU die. If not, heck, give it a try. Nothing to lose.

 

[BeefcakeVA]

MuuMuu, make sure you give it a final cleaning with isopropyl and a lint free cloth, e.g. a lens cloth, so as not to leave lint particles behind that will interfere with proper heat conduction.

 

[Mallow]

Basically the liquid is acting like a solvent to get ride of a oil based compound (ie the thermal paste). Anything should work but some might work better than others and leave a residue free surface. Since the company recommends iso-propyl I would probably go to walmart and spend the 50 cents and get a bottle I'm sure you can use it to clean cuts too.

 

[Buz2b]

I'm sure you can use it to clean cuts too

OUCH!! Are you into pain, or what?!? :Q

 

[Goi]

Just found out that the Medi-Swab I was talking about is actually 70% Isopropyl Alchohol, and comes in convenient 1 use wipes, so I guess those are ok. They're actually pre-injection swabs, but I guess they can be used to wipe dirt off wounds too...

 

[wasssup]

talk about deja vu...my GC68 came in yesterday as well and I drove over to shoprite, only thing they had was the 70% alcohol stuff so I grabbed that and used it to clean that goo off the cpu (it took a bit of work since that goo didn't want to leave ), applied some arctic silver 3, replaced the fan with that 49cfm blue LED fan (it had a thermostat, but I wanted max cooling so I cut the thermostat off and shorted the two wires).

after all that work, I got my system to idle at 40C with the case off, 48C with the case on, and 51C with the case on at full load (on a 97F day)

all in all i'm happy, once I get a few extra bucks i'll cut a blowhole and add an exhaust fan up top and replace the case fans with these sweet $5 49cfm blue led fans