Removing Thermal Paste

Static_Nexus · 13 May 2008 at 12:27

hey guys,

can anyone tell me what i can use to remove the thermal material from a stock AMD 3800+ and HSF? And where i can get it? I also need something that can remove Arctic Silver 5 as well, any help would be greatly appreciated!

EVILCOSMOS · 13 May 2008 at 12:30

Akasa TIM cleaner is very good and smells nice too.

Richie P · 13 May 2008 at 13:20

If i'm honest, don't waste your money. A damp cloth will do just fine.

Static_Nexus · 14 May 2008 at 08:14

EVILCOSMOS said:
Akasa TIM cleaner is very good and smells nice too.

hmmm i'll take a look thanks.

Richie P said:
If i'm honest, don't waste your money. A damp cloth will do just fine.

yeah but that wont really clean out the micro-valleys, doesnt help if you have a stock heatsink and fan with a cheap non-metallic thermal compound and you want to replace with with a decent metallic one.

celliott · 14 May 2008 at 08:15

Richie P said:
If i'm honest, don't waste your money. A damp cloth will do just fine.

What I thought for 3 years or so.. Akasa TimClean makes it so much easier and you know its being cleaned properly.

Marky · 14 May 2008 at 08:24

Just grab a bottle of the Akasa TIM cleaner - it's cheap - lasts long - and you know you're getting it cleaned right. I got mine three or four years ago - and I still haven't got through half a bottle

Barrybear · 14 May 2008 at 08:41

i have to agree with everyone else here the akasa TIM cleaner. cheap and is brilliant
can get it pretty much anywhere. i was a noob and forgot about that stage and the AS5 (waste of sat delivery) picked it up at ******s for £5-£10 lasts ages, just get yourself a nice static free cloth i used one from my old glasses.

Just remove the surface compound off with a card(VISA

) then damp the cloth and circle motion it off until all clean and cloth doesnt pick anymore up works great.

Good luck.

Wiggins · 14 May 2008 at 10:18

Nail Varnish Remover does the job for me.

I just nab it off the missus. Along with some kitchen roll and it takes anything off, even thermal adhesive.

Winner!!!

thepigf@rmer · 14 May 2008 at 11:27

Credit card tbh

Static_Nexus · 14 May 2008 at 13:54

celliott said:
What I thought for 3 years or so.. Akasa TimClean makes it so much easier and you know its being cleaned properly.

Stoopidbaz said:
i have to agree with everyone else here the akasa TIM cleaner. cheap and is brilliant
can get it pretty much anywhere. i was a noob and forgot about that stage and the AS5 (waste of sat delivery) picked it up at ******s for £5-£10 lasts ages, just get yourself a nice static free cloth i used one from my old glasses.

Just remove the surface compound off with a card(VISA ) then damp the cloth and circle motion it off until all clean and cloth doesnt pick anymore up works great.

Good luck.

thanks for all of your advice, one thing that concerns me is it says its citrus based, i remember reader some where that this wasnt good for removing certain types of thermal paste? or maybe im just going crazy... also saw this other stuff on OCUK "ArctiClean Thermal Material Remover and Surface Purifier". is there any real difference?

Wiggins said:
Nail Varnish Remover does the job for me.

I just nab it off the missus. Along with some kitchen roll and it takes anything off, even thermal adhesive.

Winner!!!

i thought nail varnish remover has oils in it? they would fill the valleys and greatly reduce the thermal conductivity, like if you used white spirit?

HeX · 14 May 2008 at 14:08

Wiggins said:
Nail Varnish Remover does the job for me.

I just nab it off the missus. Along with some kitchen roll and it takes anything off, even thermal adhesive.

Winner!!!

Same, works a treat.

celliott · 14 May 2008 at 14:17

Yep I always thought nail varnish remover shouldnt be used too.

Superficial · 14 May 2008 at 14:51

I have used lighter fluid for years - any solvent works great.

Squink · 14 May 2008 at 14:54

Just use a commercial product. Last time I used meths - it took bloody ages and didn't do a good job at all.

weescott · 14 May 2008 at 16:08

I use a dab of Vodka, not too much mind, don't want to waste it.

ajbuk · 14 May 2008 at 16:10

Just use cotton wool buds on the cpu, and soft toilet paper on the heatsink to start and then cotton wool buds if needed.

box · 14 May 2008 at 16:36

Wiggins said:
Nail Varnish Remover does the job for me.

I just nab it off the missus. Along with some kitchen roll and it takes anything off, even thermal adhesive.

Winner!!!

+1

No it's not oil based. It should have ethanol in it which means it will evaporate after a few seconds...result: a nice clean heatsink/cpu.

Wiggins · 14 May 2008 at 17:07

As above posts. The only oil in Nail Varnish Remover is Lanolin Oil and that evaporates with the Acetone, air and other stuff added to it.

Its the Acetone that takes the stuff off. I have cleaned many CPU's and never had a problem. I only cleaned and re-installed an E6320 yesterday after testing and clocking an E2160 and temps at 3.4Ghz are 32c idle. I know its the AS5 that has done that but just to explain that Nail Varnish Remover does not leave any residue.

And no I dont paint my nails!!!!

setter · 14 May 2008 at 18:59

ive always used cd cleaning fluid, it contains isopropyyl alcohol, does a great job on a lint free cloth and it evaporates quickly

Devil_Spawn · 14 May 2008 at 19:01

surgical spirit worked fine for me recently.