Removing "Stock" thermal pad/paste from new AMD 64 x2 3800 so I can use Artic Silver5

[jpe20]

Hi folks,

Sorry for the long title !!!! Is there any easy way I can remove the original thermal square of thermal material/pad so I can use Artic Silver 5 thermal compound??? I am thinking of using meths(white spirit!) and kitchen roll!!! (low tech solution/idea!) Is this a silly idea?? Just that I am about to fit the PSU and Motherboard now and may get round to fitting the new CPU tonight. Do you think it will be too messy/difficult to get this stuff off?? Just that once I start I cannot give up half way for obvious reasons.

Any suggestions appreciated.

A quick answer will be appreciated massively..... If a solution is already posted then I am sorry but could u tell me (link) where it is (or what search terms etx). Just that I am in a hurry to get my new computer built!!!!! All the bits arrived yesterday "finally!!!".

Jules

 

[ganstakillerz]

HS Paste from stock cooler

You for real???

Just scrap that **** off and thats it use a knife wrapped in kitchen paper.

And as for white spirit use Nail varnish remover, White spirit leaves a film/layer on the surface.

 

[Angilion]

Hi folks,

Sorry for the long title !!!! Is there any easy way I can remove the original thermal square of thermal material/pad so I can use Artic Silver 5 thermal compound??? I am thinking of using meths(white spirit!) and kitchen roll!!! (low tech solution/idea!) Is this a silly idea?? Just that I am about to fit the PSU and Motherboard now and may get round to fitting the new CPU tonight. Do you think it will be too messy/difficult to get this stuff off?? Just that once I start I cannot give up half way for obvious reasons.

Any suggestions appreciated.

A quick answer will be appreciated massively..... If a solution is already posted then I am sorry but could u tell me (link) where it is (or what search terms etx). Just that I am in a hurry to get my new computer built!!!!! All the bits arrived yesterday "finally!!!".

Jules

Three stages:

i) Get the bulk of the old pad off using anything that will not scratch the surface underneath.

ii) Clean the rest off thoroughly using a suitable solvent and anything that won't leave bits behind. I wouldn't use kitchen paper - you might get tiny scraps of paper left behind. A lint-free cloth is a good idea. Meths should be fine, as it evaporates cleanly. Isopropyl alcohol (get it from almost any chemist) is probably the best low-tech solution.

iii) Leave it dry off. With isopropyl alcohol, that is a matter of minutes at room temperature. I'm not sure about meths - I haven't used it.

It isn't difficult and it isn't very messy. Just don't do it on a carpet or your sofa

Oh, and earth yourself while you're handling the CPU, of course. Since you like the low-tech solution, get a length of single-core wire from pretty much anywhere, strip the insulation off a few inches each end, tape one end to your wrist and the other end to an unpainted part of your house's plumbing. Just don't touch anything live while you're earthed like that - you'll be a toasty critter with such a good earth.

 

[madmaxx]

Or you could just buy some of that Akasa TIM cleaner stuff, i bought a bottle years ago, and it lasts for ever! But iso alcohol is best bet failing that i think. And i'd use something decidedly not metal to scrape the bulk off - edge of a credit card has always done the job for me - not anything wrapped in paper, as it tends to leave little bits behind on the cpu.
Hope that helps.

 

[jpe20]

lol .... no I won't clean it on the carpet!!!!!!!! Well I've decided and purchased some TIM cleaner (Asaka ... spelling???) from PC world today!!!! It was the last bottle so I feel kinda chuffed having got the proper stuff. The chemist did not have any of the iso... alc.. stuff and the guy helpful as he was kept stressing loads of stuff about solvent abuse!!!!!

Anything that is a solvent based on oil/petrol (ie meths) seems to leave a small resididue (from what I've seen on forums). One "strong" tip I read was to use "carbareteur cleaner" basically a strong degreaser containing something called Xylene from Halfords. I did happen to pop in there and every tin/spray can of carb. cleaner/component degreaser seemed to be oil/petrol based and contained no Xylene!!!!!!!

Anyhow thanks for the advice but it seems that the TIM cleaner will last for ages and at 4quid from PC world suits me in the end. Now I am to find out the perils of lifting/prising that metal lid off the CPU and run in "naked" config!!! Is this what they mean by "naked"????

lol Jules

 

[jpe20]

As for scraping that s&&& off. To minimise surface damage and eliminate scratches to the heat sink you should either use something plastic or wooden. Any metal object (even wrapped in paper) will leave the possibilty of scratching the metal surface.

I myself am about to enjoy a nice ice lolly and use the remaining "stick" to clean off the main gunk off the heat sink.

Somethig learned from the uni. days .... though I did not learn much!!!! lol

Jules

 

[sgoaty]

Hi folks,

Sorry for the long title !!!! Is there any easy way I can remove the original thermal square of thermal material/pad so I can use Artic Silver 5 thermal compound??? I am thinking of using meths(white spirit!) and kitchen roll!!! (low tech solution/idea!) Is this a silly idea?? Just that I am about to fit the PSU and Motherboard now and may get round to fitting the new CPU tonight. Do you think it will be too messy/difficult to get this stuff off?? Just that once I start I cannot give up half way for obvious reasons.

Any suggestions appreciated.

A quick answer will be appreciated massively..... If a solution is already posted then I am sorry but could u tell me (link) where it is (or what search terms etx). Just that I am in a hurry to get my new computer built!!!!! All the bits arrived yesterday "finally!!!".

Jules

The stock thermal pad is pretty good id just leave it on tbh and save your as5 for anotherday

 

[Angilion]

lol .... no I won't clean it on the carpet!!!!!!!! Well I've decided and purchased some TIM cleaner (Asaka ... spelling???) from PC world today!!!! It was the last bottle so I feel kinda chuffed having got the proper stuff. The chemist did not have any of the iso... alc.. stuff and the guy helpful as he was kept stressing loads of stuff about solvent abuse!!!!!

Akasa, not Asaka (to answer your spelling question). I use their TIM cleaner myself. It seems to work well. I don't like the smell, though, which really hangs around.

Hmm...isopropyl alcohol dangerous by inhalation...I'll look at some med reports...hmm, yes, it is. I didn't know that.

Anything that is a solvent based on oil/petrol (ie meths) seems to leave a small resididue (from what I've seen on forums).

I thought meths was a mixture of methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol. Maybe it used to be but isn't any more.

 

[turbotoes]

I use a credit card to scrape and then acetone on a cotton bud to clean.

turbotoes

 

[pegasus1]

This has raged on and on on another thread, some people clain its ok to any solvent and the sole of an old training shoe, others say isopropyl alcohol with a lint free cloth. Using AS5 will only drop the temps a couple of degrees anyway so you may as well do it properly and go for option 2. Cleans away all residue and the lint free cloth doesnt scratch the surface of the HSF and leaves no tiny fibre particles.