TIM spill on my Q6600 - Have I killed it? Help!

[bluxa]

Hi,

I had a problem with my motherboard and had to take it out to RMA it. while cleaning off the thermal paste on the top of the CPU I managed to stupidly get some on the underside of the chip (I was holding it in my hand at the time). It was only a small amount. It got onto the area of little metal circles that surround the centre but not into the very centre area of the chip. I cleaned it off as best as I could but you can still see where it landed as one of the metal circles is now slightly discoloured. The thermal paste is MX-2.

Have I destroyed the chip? Am I likely to fry the chip and the motherboard when I put it back together? Is it worth taking the risk or is it better to write it off?

All help appreciated.

 

[Phunk0ne]

MX-2 should be non conductive. The best way to clean it off is either use Isopropyl Alcohol or Arctic Clean 1 & 2. Make sure it is completely dry after putting it back.

 

[Tiamat]

clean it up with isopropanol. You can find the 93% stuff at your local drug store no problem.

 

[bluxa]

Thanks guys,

I have Articlean but didn't think i would be able to use it because it would mean getting the chip wet. Are you saying that is not problem as long as it dries before putting it back on the motherboard?

 

[imported_wired247]

since alcohol dries very quickly, if you do not do something like keep the CPU submerged, it should be totally fine

 

[Zap]

Your CPU is dead. Please mail it to me for proper "disposal" in my spare motherboard.

It's probably fine. Just clean it as others suggested, and make sure it dries totally before testing it out again.

 

[VirtualLarry]

DONT submerge the CPU in alchohol, whatever you do!

There is a sort of TIM underneath the heatspreader, and there is an opening. It might dissolve the TIM inside, and render your CPU's heatspreader useless, necessitating it's removal.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
DONT submerge the CPU in alchohol, whatever you do!

There is a sort of TIM underneath the heatspreader, and there is an opening. It might dissolve the TIM inside, and render your CPU's heatspreader useless, necessitating it's removal.

ohhhh.... its metal sodder tho...

if this was true id dunk a E8400 in to see if i can get the IHS off. Alcohol is non conductive. :T

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

ohhhh.... its metal sodder tho...

if this was true id dunk a E8400 in to see if i can get the IHS off. Alcohol is non conductive. :T

It is but it's an excellent vehicle to transport contaminants into nooks and crannies so small that can change capacitance of circuits causing all kinds of riffraff with your CPU! If this would happen you would go insane trying to figure out what's up!

 

[bluxa]

All sorted, CPU and computer doing well. Thanks so much for all your help - it was very greatly appreciated

 

[Zap]

Does this mean you're not mailing the CPU to me?