Thermal Paste on underside of cpu

Tbid · 8 Mar 2013 at 13:12

So, I've been a bit of a fool and managed to get some thermal paste on my CPU whilst removing it from the motherboard

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Intel_CPU_Core_i7_2600K_Sandy_Bridge_bottom.jpg
NO HOTLINKING!

I have an i7 2600k (Pictured above). I managed to get a very small amount of thermal paste on the gold contacts at the very edge of the chip. I've had a search on this forum and on google and it would appear the best way to get it off is with some form of alcohol and clean it very gingerly and hope no damage is done.

Has anyone done this before and could perhaps give me a bit of guidance on how to go about this without breaking anything?

Cheers

Liam · 8 Mar 2013 at 13:15

Done it loads of times mate. Isopropyl alcohol will be fine or ArctiClean stuff. Comes in 2 bottles, one for removal of old thermal paste and one for preparation of new paste. Isopropyl alcohol will be cheaper though!

Tbid · 8 Mar 2013 at 13:19

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arcticlean.htm I take it that's the one? From reading the info on that page it doesn't really say if it's safe to use on the underside of the CPU, have you used it successfully to clean the underside of a CPU before?

Liam · 8 Mar 2013 at 13:21

Tbid said:
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arcticlean.htm I take it that's the one? From reading the info on that page it doesn't really say if it's safe to use on the underside of the CPU, have you used it successfully to clean the underside of a CPU before?

That's the stuff mate. I've used it many of times when I was fixing Xbox's. Works really well, it dissolves the stuff!

I wouldn't purchase it just for a little bit though, Isopropyl alcohol would be far cheaper!

Tbid · 8 Mar 2013 at 13:29

Ok, Thanks.

Are you sure it's safe to use on the underside of the chip? I don't want to be shelling out a couple of hundred quit after finding it out it irreparably damages the chip.

Smoogels · 8 Mar 2013 at 13:31

I have done this before. I just got a bit of tissue and wiped it off. Probably not the best idea but hey, it works

Tbid · 8 Mar 2013 at 13:31

Smoogels said:
I have done this before. I just got a bit of tissue and wiped it off. Probably not the best idea but hey, it works

I'll keep that as a backup option then

Thanks!

Liam · 8 Mar 2013 at 13:38

Might be worth emailing them for a definitive answer?

archerz · 8 Mar 2013 at 13:47

we use Isopropyl alcohol on everything electrical to clean. it evapourates very quickly so leave no marks and cleans very very well..

I got some arctic silver 5 on the underside of my i5, i didn't ahve any isopropyl so used meths instead and hoped for the best ;p

trickynickyuk · 9 Mar 2013 at 02:39

yeah just use Isopropyl to wipe it off no harm done

bootsam · 10 Mar 2013 at 18:21

You can buy Isopropyl from the chemist. Its fairly cheap stuff.

VIPER258 · 11 Mar 2013 at 18:00

Isopropyl is all you need mate.

decto · 11 Mar 2013 at 21:05

Purple (or clear) methylated spirit is fine too. I've used it for years.

AD

Tbid · 11 Mar 2013 at 21:07

Thanks for the replies, what kind of cloth should I use? Lint free?

trickynickyuk · 12 Mar 2013 at 21:07

yeah lint free will be fine

Tbid · 13 Mar 2013 at 01:20

Thanks.

My mobo won't be back for about 28 days now!

In my hunt for further answers I found this somewhat amusing and informative video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GNQCT4O4jE

TwsT · 13 Mar 2013 at 12:06

silk300 said:
Isopropyl is all you need mate.

This

Andy321 · 13 Mar 2013 at 14:03

Isopropyl or any CPU cleaner and a clean dry lint free cloth will be your friend

Mayh3M · 21 May 2017 at 00:26

Anyone done this in recent times? Is there any discolouration of the gold pins when using isopropyl alcohol / arctic cleaner?

muon · 21 May 2017 at 01:04

Mayh3M said:
Anyone done this in recent times? Is there any discolouration of the gold pins when using isopropyl alcohol / arctic cleaner?

If only you knew how nonreactive gold is. You could probably clean it with acid.