Thermal Materials

PGdude · 24 Sep 2009 at 19:11

I need some.

It is to my understanding that the stuff to get would be, MX-2, MX-3, Arctic Silver 5, right? Please tell me if I'm wrong, or what would be best.

Also, I'd need to be in the business of cleaning my processor and heatsink before coupling them with an interface material. What's the good stuff to get?

What's the Akasa TIM/Cleaner like?

Are cleaning alcohols good cleaners?

DavyBoy · 24 Sep 2009 at 19:14

I recommend MX3 personally.

Also, I use the Akasa TIM Cleaner as well, it works wonders.

setter · 24 Sep 2009 at 19:15

Thermal paste wise id reccomend mx3, the akasa TIM cleaner is good stuff but pricey for what it does, i use isopropyl alcohol for cleaning cpu/heatsink, i have a bottle of cd cleaner which contains ipa but you can purchase it very cheaply in a chemists.

PGdude · 24 Sep 2009 at 19:23

DavyBoy said:
I recommend MX3 personally.

Also, I use the Akasa TIM Cleaner as well, it works wonders.

Thanks, I'll go for it.

setter said:
Thermal paste wise id reccomend mx3, the akasa TIM cleaner is good stuff but pricey for what it does, i use isopropyl alcohol for cleaning cpu/heatsink, i have a bottle of cd cleaner which contains ipa but you can purchase it very cheaply in a chemists.

I actually have a bottle of CD cleaner stuffs. Says. "Contains Isopropanol".

If my Nomenclature Training in Chemistry went well, that should tell me that yes, it is in fact Isopropyl Alcohol.

But I don't think I should risk it. This CD Cleaner stuff is not likely to be neat, so I might end up tarnishing the surfaces by accident. Is that likely to happen?

setter · 24 Sep 2009 at 19:26

Ive used it for ages mate, 5 different cpus and about 10 different heatsinks and it hasnt damaged one of them, ive cleaned more pc components than cd's with this stuff.

PGdude · 24 Sep 2009 at 19:47

Oh, thanks for letting on the advice. Any particular technique you've used?

setter · 24 Sep 2009 at 19:50

I just squirt a drop of cleaner onto a lint free cloth and give the cpu ihs a scrub with it, normally have to give it a few applications to get it nice and clean, same for the heatsink base.