removing thermal paste

[keynes]

Hello,
Jut a quick question, I want to take old thermal paste from a CPU. Would ethanol be ok? Got some from the college lab.
Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Buzz]

Its best if it has a very high % of alcohol. I think some say 70% or higher is best. That or use something like ArctiClean

Personally id go with the bought stuff as thats what its designed for. I have heard of people melting parts of the board using the wrong stuff. Also if going with Alcohol personal opinion id go even higher then a 70% concentrate

 

[keynes]

I was told by the lab technician is 95% (i think), any recommendation on what to use? Qtips or cloth?

 

[Buzz]

I was told by the lab technician is 95% (i think), any recommendation on what to use? Qtips or cloth?

Use a lint-free cloth

 

[adahil]

I bought a special thermal paste removing kit, and it works a treat. One to remove the paste, one to prime the surface for new paste to be added. I think it was the one for_the_buzz suggested.

I used a cotton wool pub (as in the ones you clean your ears with, lol!) for the sides and fiddly places.

 

[keynes]

Thanks for the feedback, I know the one you refer to adahil. I just want to get a new cooler fitted straight away and it would take days for me to get the removal paste delivered. The old thermal paste is just placed in the center of the cpu, I was thinking of using q-tips but as suggested by for_the_buzz a cloth may be more appropriate, perhaps the microfibre cloth that comes with monitors to clean the screen.

 

[Buzz]

I just want to get a new cooler fitted straight away and it would take days for me to get the removal paste delivered

Less haste more speed mate

 

[tom_gr7]

if you use alcohol, make sure you only apply a drop or two, n make sure it doesn't run on the mobo,

the articlean stuff smells like oranges by the way : )

 

[DeadEyeDuk]

the articlean stuff smells like oranges by the way : )

That's weird...most cleaning stuff smells like lemons...once again proving PCs are AWESOME (no idea how, it just does )

 

[Corfate]

Seriously, the nicest smelling oranges i've ever smelt. I could get high off it!

I used kitchen roll for mine

 

[Finn]

I've always used my mrs' nail varnish remover and cotton buds

 

[keynes]

I've always used my mrs' nail varnish remover and cotton buds

That is what I was thinking! but read online that alcohol is better. I'll never find out until I try.

 

[ellspeedy]

I used isopropyl alcohol from amazon on my laptop, was 99% alcohol just to be safe

 

[keynes]

Ethanol worked really well, the paste came off pretty quickly and I use the microfibre cloth that came with my monitor.