Safest Way to remove thermal paste

[LouieH]

As my computer hits temps over 90c I've ordered a new cooler, the H55, when it arrives whats the best way to remove the old thermal paste. Alcohol and cloth?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Alcohol + paper towels
Apply tge alcohol to paper towel, they wipe the cpu surface clean. The new cooler should have new paste pre applied already.

[Komrade]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Alcohol + paper towels
Apply tge alcohol to paper towel, they wipe the cpu surface clean. The new cooler should have new paste pre applied already.

^

Make sure the cloth doesn't leave any lint, preferably use a microfiber cloth and 99% isopropyl or as high % you can go.

[-=SOF=-WID99]

try also alcohol and a coffee filter ..they leave no lint behind

[Bad 💀 Motha]

If any lint left behind just brush it away.

[nullable]

I've done OK with paper towel and q-tips (for fine cleaning) and high percentage isopropyl alcohol.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

I use qips dipped into the alcohol to start out getting tge larger clumps removed. Once the majority or it removed that way I use paper towel or coffee filter with alcohol applied to it, then wipe the rest off the cpu and get it all shiny again.

[-=SOF=-WID99]

might help too if ya tint your CPU and cooler with your new paste .. i know the paste i use says to do so.... and i never had an issue doing so with AS 5

helps if ya ask me ... with the break in period ..and helps fill those lil valleys your eye cant see
http://www.arcticsilver.com/methods.html

[LouieH]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

I use qips dipped into the alcohol to start out getting tge larger clumps removed. Once the majority or it removed that way I use paper towel or coffee filter with alcohol applied to it, then wipe the rest off the cpu and get it all shiny again.

Thanks, I'll do that, my paste is 5 years old so I cant imagine there being much left.
Is it ok to leave my CPU in my mobo when cleaning?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Much left? It doesn't go away, it dries up/hardens. The qtips will help with that, just the your time.

[LouieH]

Originally posted by -=SOF=-WID99:

might help too if ya tint your CPU and cooler with your new paste .. i know the paste i use says to do so.... and i never had an issue doing so with AS 5

helps if ya ask me ... with the break in period ..and helps fill those lil valleys your eye cant see
http://www.arcticsilver.com/methods.html

Thanks, but my new cooler has thermal paste pre-applied

[-=SOF=-WID99]

yea you can leave the cpu in .. just do not get paste all over the socket do every step carefully to remove the paste .. takes less then 2 min if you take your time

its also better to leave the CPU in ....so you do not bend a pin re seating the CPU

[LouieH]

Originally posted by -=SOF=-WID99:

yea you can leave the cpu in .. just do not get paste all over the socket do every step carefully to remove the paste .. takes less then 2 min if you take your time

its also better to leave the CPU in ....so you do not bend a pin re seating the CPU

Thanks :)
Cant wait for my cooler to arrive, I'm too scared to even play anything rn, 90 idle at load I would hate to think

[-=SOF=-WID99]

yea i had pre applied paste on my tunic 120 cooler as well as i think my hyper evo 212 ..i wiped that stuff off i like AS 5 ..always found it to work well here ... if used right and i do not need to re apply it for years

just keep in mind some pastes can be conductive so if ya see globs on your CPU edges after you remove the cooller .. get em off with a q tip as Bad motha said

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Which cpu and board are you using?

[LouieH]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Which cpu and board are you using?

Intel I7 4790k
MSI Z97 Gaming 3