Thermal Paste

LukeTW

LukeTW

LukeTW

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Joined
21 Nov 2008
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West Midlands
Hi guys.

I got a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler currently on my E6300.

The heatsink itself it getting dusty on the fins and needs a good clean. Is it worth in investing in some thermal paste to apply before i reseat it?

The paste has been on for over a year or so.

Thanks ;)
 
If you intend to remove the HSF for cleaning then yes. If you leave it on and dont disturb it then no.

Matt
 
From what I've experienced, if you reseat the cooler, you should clean the existing thermal paste off and put a new layer on. I suspect if you don't, you'll run the risk of the old paste not adquately covering the cpu. Hope that helps!
 
Okay cheers guys.

Yeah i will be completly removing the heatsink.

Is it worth getting some paste removal and surface purifier?
 
not in my opinion, I just got some white spirit from Superdrug and put it on kitchen towel and used that. Got rid of everything and was sparkly clean!
 
Dont use white spirit to clean your cpu/heatsink, it leaves an oily residue on the surface, best thing to use (and its cheap) is cd cleaning fluid, it contains isopropyl alcohol which cleans old thermal paste without leaving a residue.
 
Gunna order some Arctic Silver 5 now.

So what should i use to clean the paste thats on now? CD fluid cleaner? :D
 
Use the CD fluid cleaner that Setter suggested.
Failing that, you could try to get isopropyl alcohol itself but you need to go to a chemist for that and they may need to order it in for you.
 
Yep cd cleaner fluid contains isopropyl alcohol, which removes thermal paste without leaving a film on the surface, im a painter and decorator and i use white spirits daily, id never let it near something like a cpu because of the oily residue it leaves behind. Ipa evaporates extremely quicly so any components you clean with it arent gonna be damp.
 
lol. The smallest size i could get was 500ml and i only used a pea size amount to clean the old paste off, now i'm not sure what to do with the rest :(
 
ive got half a litre of isopropyl/isopropanol and its lasted me ages and really does the trick in getting rid of paste.
setter is right about drinking it though, just cause its 99% volume, doesnt mean youl get wasted.......youl get dead :D
 
Keep a lid n it and ill be fine, ive been using a 200ml bottle of cd cleaner for 2 years now, ive never cleaned a cd with it, but ive cleaned cpu's and heatsink bases without issue (and no ive never drunk it, i prefer aftershave):D
 
Ordered some Arctic Silver 5 and gunna get some cd cleaner in a bit me thinks :)

Thanks for your help guys :D
 
Im probably using the completely wrong stuff but I used cheap nail varnish remover with acetone in ('tis what made it cheap ) :)
 
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