Thermal paste removal

IRLeetly · 17 Nov 2011 at 13:49

I bought a box of skin cleansing wipes used for injection from my chemist for like £4-5, seem to do the job well

DanielGrout · 17 Nov 2011 at 14:15

I don't use any fluids. I just use a carrier bag or freezer bag over my finger and rub like mad. The surface of the chip that is.

lrlcr · 17 Nov 2011 at 16:27

99.999% HPLC grade IPA from the lab

It's reasonably safe for computers (i dumped a load on my laptop earlier and I'm still using it right now!!!)

I wouldn't use meths because it leaves a residue, similarly with most nail polish removers.

Pure acetone works well though.

Mick-1965 · 17 Nov 2011 at 16:29

ooEy said:
99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol (Chemists etc) and a coffee filter. All you need.

Exactly this

j.col · 17 Nov 2011 at 20:24

I just use kitchen roll, once the heavy stuff is gone, i just keep rubbing until there is no smear on the paper.

The1nonly1 · 17 Nov 2011 at 20:58

i got some akasa TIM cleaner, is it ok to use with ordinary kitchen roll or even toilet roll?

j.col · 17 Nov 2011 at 22:13

Space_is_Orange said:
i got some akasa TIM cleaner, is it ok to use with ordinary kitchen roll or even toilet roll?

i have used both before, so imo its fine

eddiew · 18 Nov 2011 at 08:16

It's interesting that there's 2 schools of thought seem to emerge here...

1) Treat your CPU like a cleanroom. Remove all potential for microfibres and use only the purest solvents to clean.

2) Treat your CPU like a piece of metal that needs a polish. Any old alcohol will do!

I wonder whether it actually makes any difference?

Madskillz · 18 Nov 2011 at 09:33

I have a long and illustrious history of half-arsing everything - think I must have been a Longbridge employee in a past life ;p)

The1nonly1 · 21 Nov 2011 at 17:11

What's the best way to apply new thermal paste? Squeeze a grain of rice sized amount on and spread with a card or let the cooler spread it out by placing it on top?

ThePengu1n · 21 Nov 2011 at 17:35

Put an amount, roughly the size of an uncooked grain of rice, in the middle of the CPU, the put the cooler on and let it spread the paste, just don't remove the cooler once you put it on else you'll get air trapped.

Threepwood · 21 Nov 2011 at 17:47

I'm in the credit card camp myself.

azibux1 · 22 Nov 2011 at 12:21

I always let the cooler spread the paste itself, this works very well because later on if you take the cooler off you can see that it has spread it quite well...obviously though after you've taken it off, you now need to clean it again and put fresh paste on.

The1nonly1 · 22 Nov 2011 at 15:11

azibux1 said:
I always let the cooler spread the paste itself, this works very well because later on if you take the cooler off you can see that it has spread it quite well...obviously though after you've taken it off, you now need to clean it again and put fresh paste on.

I'll do It this way, shall I just squeeze a little bit in the centre of the CPU? Or uses the line method

azibux1 · 22 Nov 2011 at 15:14

Space_is_Orange said:
I'll do It this way, shall I just squeeze a little bit in the centre of the CPU? Or uses the line method

What I done with mine is squeeze some paste (grain of rice sized) in the middle of CPU and my temps are fine

The1nonly1 · 22 Nov 2011 at 15:23

Ok I'll do that, what temps are you getting? My stock CPU cooler Is giving me 30c idle and 70c underload with no overclock, I'm hoping my gelid will bring this down

The1nonly1 · 22 Nov 2011 at 15:24

Also where can I get coffee filters from or a lint free cloth? Will suprrmarkets have these

Xerco · 22 Nov 2011 at 15:43

I believe the cloth that comes with glasses is lint free. I use isopropyl alcohol and bog roll tbh... always worked fine for me

azibux1 · 22 Nov 2011 at 15:51

Space_is_Orange said:
Ok I'll do that, what temps are you getting? My stock CPU cooler Is giving me 30c idle and 70c underload with no overclock, I'm hoping my gelid will bring this down

I am actually getting 32c at idle with a Gelid, but obviously the manufacturer applies the perfect amount of paste with the stock cooler, whereas we might apply slightly more or less than we actually need, which will affect the temperature.

I haven't tested it under load.

I think the benefit you will see would be more to do with noise, it will be much quieter than your stock one. And you will see cooling benefits over your stock one, when you overclock because the stock on is designed to keep the CPU cool at stock speed. It is when you overclock that you need an aftermarket one and then you will see temps that the stock one wouldn't be able to cool it down to.

EDIT: Also, I can't remember, but I think I used the paste that came with the Gelid, and I also have a tube of arctic silver 5 that would probably do a better job than the supplied one. So that may help get below 32c

Space_is_Orange said:
Also where can I get coffee filters from or a lint free cloth? Will suprrmarkets have these

Not sure about this one

Lunesta · 22 Nov 2011 at 16:51

Credit card to scrape off the old paste and bog roll to get the rest of it off...

Not too sure about dumping the thermal paste in the middle and letting the cooler spread the paste by itself. I always spread it out with a credit card/business card again making sure the whole area is covered evenly before applying the cooler - Thought this was the correct way to do it? (Or is this another case of no right or wrong way?)