Gonna clean my CPU. Leave it in the socket or not?

[warren_1979]

I'm cleaning a Athlon 64 tomorrow with some Articlean, but I'm not sure whether to take the CPU out of the socket or leave it in the socket and clean it there. Also, should I clean the bottom of the heatsink just like the cpu?

Any heatsink removal and replacement tips would be appreciated, first time and all

 

[Deluxe1]

Take it out and clean it and yes clean the heatsink also.

 

[helmutcheese]

From another thread:

Isopropyl Alcohol and lint free cloth like bounty kitchen roll and good cotton buds not ones that fluff apart, go to Artic Silver site and learn how to apply it for your CPU type, I always spread it and found that best for me.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/


http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_...nstructions.htm

 

[warren_1979]

How much Arctic silver do I put on a Athlon 64? Some say a pea size in *** centre and then attach the heatsink. Some say spread it around with a credit card.

 

[helmutcheese]

I prefer later and it depends how flat heatsink surface is.

 

[KangooVanMan]

Run the PC till it warms up first, then turn it off and remove the heatsink before the thermal paste/pads cool down. I was forever ripping the cpu out the socket. It can be really awkward to release the ziff when the heatsink is on. When the paste is hot a twisting action can free it and leave the cpu in the socket
Also with artic silver less is more , should be able to read the print on the cpu through the paste. I use a finger inside a plastic bag. No more than a grain of rice sort of size.

 

[helmutcheese]

Which is fine if his IHS is perfectly flat, which it probably wont be.