Cleaning Thermal Grease From CPU?

NullUnit2000 · 10-26-2005, 12:42 PM

Quick question. I'm going to be swapping out my motherboard soon and I'm trying to avoid a problem I've had in the past.

After removing my heat sink I've got a fair amount of thermal grease on the CPU. Attepmts to wipe it off generally result in just smearing it around. Is there a safe, effective way to clean this stuff off with damaging the CPU?

Thanks!

DarkFury · 10-26-2005, 12:50 PM

Isopropyl alcohol and a lint free cloth does the trick for me.

Maybe a Q-Tip for the "oversmear".

PrObLy · 10-26-2005, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkFury

Isopropyl alcohol and a lint free cloth does the trick for me.

Maybe a Q-Tip for the "oversmear".

Exactly what I do

Grimm · 10-26-2005, 01:11 PM

Make sure you get good alcohol for this. You don't want 70% you want 99%.

NullUnit2000 · 10-26-2005, 01:16 PM

Thanks all! I tips my hat to ya's!

shocky123 · 10-26-2005, 03:41 PM

I find a lil bit of Jack, maybe a shot of everclear will clear that stuff up right away! Take a swig... stare at the thermal compound.. take another swig, stare more intensely at the compound. Repeat 10-20 times. Soon enough you'll have that thermal compound disappearing... (but yeah.. like they said.. lots of alcohol and the least static-y cloth you can find to wipe it all off with) Unless you have a Pentium4.... in which case feel free to use a belt sander

~Kyle

DarkFury · 10-26-2005, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shocky123

Unless you have a Pentium4.... in which case feel free to use a belt sander

~Kyle

Always a hater.

10-26-2005, 12:42 PM	#1
NullUnit2000 Lieutenant Commander Join Date: May 2000 Location: SF by way of OC Posts: 586	Cleaning Thermal Grease From CPU? Quick question. I'm going to be swapping out my motherboard soon and I'm trying to avoid a problem I've had in the past. After removing my heat sink I've got a fair amount of thermal grease on the CPU. Attepmts to wipe it off generally result in just smearing it around. Is there a safe, effective way to clean this stuff off with damaging the CPU? Thanks! __________________ ------------ -NU2K

10-26-2005, 12:50 PM	#2
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	Isopropyl alcohol and a lint free cloth does the trick for me. Maybe a Q-Tip for the "oversmear". __________________ DarkFury's Pimptopia - Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game! Home of the Original OG Pimp (accept NO imitations)

10-26-2005, 03:41 PM	#6
shocky123 Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ames, Iowa Posts: 828	I find a lil bit of Jack, maybe a shot of everclear will clear that stuff up right away! Take a swig... stare at the thermal compound.. take another swig, stare more intensely at the compound. Repeat 10-20 times. Soon enough you'll have that thermal compound disappearing... (but yeah.. like they said.. lots of alcohol and the least static-y cloth you can find to wipe it all off with) Unless you have a Pentium4.... in which case feel free to use a belt sander ~Kyle __________________ "me awaits onslaught of estrogen fury." -CornMonkey "5. When your friend dates a woman that is absolutely terrible for him, and she's wrecking his life, it's your duty to openly hate her, and point out how evil she is." -ialsohaveadream

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-26-2005, 01:11 PM	#4
Grimm 100% Pure Evil Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 7,861	Make sure you get good alcohol for this. You don't want 70% you want 99%.

10-26-2005, 01:16 PM	#5
NullUnit2000 Lieutenant Commander Join Date: May 2000 Location: SF by way of OC Posts: 586	Thanks all! I tips my hat to ya's!

User Name
Password
Remember Me?