First OC, cleaning kit for stock TIM or home solution?

[Deadbeat]

Hello Knowledge, just wondering if shelling out the extra fiver is worth it. I'll be going for either the MX-2 or the MX-3, probably the latter for the sake of safety, if nothing else, but is there a simple risk-free clean I can achieve at home?

Edit: Also, cleaning & reapplication advice, quick tips?

 

[darren.head]

just get some IPA alcohol from you chemist for about £1. Will last you ages and use it with a lint free cloth to wipe off the tim. As for application some like to spred a very thin layer over the entire cpu heatspreader, some put a thin line across the middle, and others go for a pea sized dollop in the middle and let the heatsink spread it when it is installed. I did the later with some mx-2.

 

[Deadbeat]

just get some IPA alcohol from you chemist for about £1. Will last you ages and use it with a lint free cloth to wipe off the tim. As for application some like to spred a very thin layer over the entire cpu heatspreader, some put a thin line across the middle, and others go for a pea sized dollop in the middle and let the heatsink spread it when it is installed. I did the later with some mx-2.

Good plan, I guess the compound will come with a spreading guide so I'll probably go with whatever method it suggests - seems to be the line method, from the website. Wish me luck.