thermal paste?

wupwup · 23 Aug 2009 at 10:04

well i built a new system from here not long ago and put it together, sadly it didnt work and both the psu and mobo where faulty. obviously this meens i mput the cpu and heatsink together and damaged the seal on teh thermal paste so presumably i have to reaply it. im buying a mouse and keyboard from ocuk soon so i can buy some thermal paste too if needs be. but how do i get rid of the thermal paste on my old cpu? thanks in advance. josh

mothermachine · 23 Aug 2009 at 10:05

bit of tissue paper should do fine unless anyone recommends otherwise?

shotgun · 23 Aug 2009 at 10:43

Yep, I also find tissue paper or kitchen towel works pretty well.

semi-pro waster · 23 Aug 2009 at 10:53

Ideally I think you should use a lint free cloth and a TIM cleaner of some description but realistically kitchen towel or similar will do fine for removing thermal paste. Just be careful to remove all residue before applying the new thermal paste.

wupwup · 23 Aug 2009 at 11:13

ok. that seems fairly straightforward, but is it safe to handle it that much? i dont want to static it to death or corrode it. and when i aply it do i put it on the cpu or the heatsink? thanks

RJC · 23 Aug 2009 at 11:28

I tend to keep to the sides of the cpu when handling them.
Apply the thermal compound to the cpu normally, but check the manufacturer instructions.

wupwup · 23 Aug 2009 at 11:33

thanks. will i need a static band for this then? usuraky i just touch the radiator or case before i pick anything up. is that ok? thanks

PwnDirect · 23 Aug 2009 at 11:40

nail polish remover & ear buds

my gf always wonders why i have it

Kennysevenfold · 23 Aug 2009 at 11:55

Yeah i would use a stiff piece of card/old credit card to remove most of it then use some tissue paper/cotton buds with some alcohol/nail varnish remover to get the rest.

simbady · 23 Aug 2009 at 11:57

I get as much as i can off with some kitchen towel and then apply this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-000-AC&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=27

Helios1234 · 23 Aug 2009 at 12:09

simbady said:
I get as much as i can off with some kitchen towel and then apply this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-000-AC&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=27

Exactly what I do and it works very well.

PermaBanned · 23 Aug 2009 at 12:40

I second Simbady too.

-Exodus- · 23 Aug 2009 at 13:16

wupwup said:
thanks. will i need a static band for this then? usuraky i just touch the radiator or case before i pick anything up. is that ok? thanks

no, no, i've never used one of those, i've always just had the psu plugged into the mains just switched off at mains and the back. and i can bet most if not all the people on here don't use an anti-static wrist band.

PermaBanned · 23 Aug 2009 at 13:21

Just to explain, having the PSU plugged in but not turned on acts like a grounding wire.

mollymoo · 23 Aug 2009 at 14:22

Nail varnish remover cheap and cheerful

MoRT489 · 23 Aug 2009 at 14:49

White spirit and kitchen towel f.t.w

Plec · 23 Aug 2009 at 15:12

Isopropyl alcohol and paper towel - it's the base ingredient of a lot of the cleaners and can be specially ordered in from your local chemist.

If you want to use a general household product you could use meths or even real lemon juice slightly watered down.

As pointed out in other posts, make sure you wipe off the main bulk of the gunk first and use the alcohol/solution to completely clean up the CPU.

PermaBanned · 23 Aug 2009 at 15:34

Plec said:
Isopropyl alcohol and paper towel - it's the base ingredient of a lot of the cleaners and can be specially ordered in from your local chemist.

If you want to use a general household product you could use meths or even real lemon juice slightly watered down.

As pointed out in other posts, make sure you wipe off the main bulk of the gunk first and use the alcohol/solution to completely clean up the CPU.

Or Ethanol...

paininlife · 23 Aug 2009 at 15:51

varnish, nail polish remover and cotton buds,

shotgun · 23 Aug 2009 at 20:36

Superewza said:
Just to explain, having the PSU plugged in but not turned on acts like a grounding wire.

That’s what I do and by touching unpainted metal parts of the case you should discharge any static.