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Cleaning Thermal Compound

ToneBone

So I'm cleaning out my PC and I decided to take the heatsink off the CPU and forgot that there was thermal compound there. I'm dusting out the case and replacing everything. How do I clean the thermal compound that was there before?

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Isopropyl alcohol with a paper towel or something 

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CPU: R5 3600 || GPU: RTX 3070|| Memory: 32GB @ 3200 || Cooler: Scythe Big Shuriken || PSU: 650W EVGA GM || Case: NR200P

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Just now, Slottr said:

Isopropyl alcohol 

This, plus something to put the alcohol one and wipe the compound away with. 

popular choices include paper towel, toilet paper, coffee filters...

Main Rig: R9 5950X @ PBO, RTX 3090, 64 GB DDR4 3666, InWin 101, Full Hardline Watercooling

Server: R7 1700X @ 4.0 GHz, GTX 1080 Ti, 32GB DDR4 3000, Cooler Master NR200P, Full Soft Watercooling

LAN Rig: R5 3600X @ PBO, RTX 2070, 32 GB DDR4 3200, Dan Case A4-SFV V4, 120mm AIO for the CPU

HTPC: i7-7700K @ 4.6 GHz, GTX 1050 Ti, 16 GB DDR4 3200, AliExpress K39, IS-47K Cooler

Router: R3 2200G @ stock, 4GB DDR4 2400, what are cases, stock cooler
 

I don't have a problem...

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13 minutes ago, tarfeef101 said:

popular choices include paper towel, toilet paper, coffee filters...

Don't use toilet paper, it easily breaks in little pieces.

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6 minutes ago, matt-fr said:

Don't use toilet paper, it easily breaks in little pieces.

Exactly, I have had many o' paper towels/toilet paper flake away and leave residue all over the cpu. I always have used a microfibre cloth that I only use to wipe off thermal compound.

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20 hours ago, matt-fr said:

Don't use toilet paper, it easily breaks in little pieces.

 

20 hours ago, Netivity said:

Exactly, I have had many o' paper towels/toilet paper flake away and leave residue all over the cpu. I always have used a microfibre cloth that I only use to wipe off thermal compound.


Speak for yourselves. Used it dozens, if not hundreds of times without issue. 

Main Rig: R9 5950X @ PBO, RTX 3090, 64 GB DDR4 3666, InWin 101, Full Hardline Watercooling

Server: R7 1700X @ 4.0 GHz, GTX 1080 Ti, 32GB DDR4 3000, Cooler Master NR200P, Full Soft Watercooling

LAN Rig: R5 3600X @ PBO, RTX 2070, 32 GB DDR4 3200, Dan Case A4-SFV V4, 120mm AIO for the CPU

HTPC: i7-7700K @ 4.6 GHz, GTX 1050 Ti, 16 GB DDR4 3200, AliExpress K39, IS-47K Cooler

Router: R3 2200G @ stock, 4GB DDR4 2400, what are cases, stock cooler
 

I don't have a problem...

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First aid wipes are the best I've found. Little silver packet that comes with a pre prepared isopropyl alcohol soaked little towel thats made to not come apart. No mess, no fuss, cheap as chips from your pharmacy/chemist.

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2 hours ago, tarfeef101 said:

 


Speak for yourselves. Used it dozens, if not hundreds of times without issue. 

I did... I did speak for myself. I thought I made that part clear.

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3 hours ago, Netivity said:

I did... I did speak for myself. I thought I made that part clear.

To be fair, you did. I just multi-quoted out of laziness. You weren't the one making a blanket "don't do it" statement

Main Rig: R9 5950X @ PBO, RTX 3090, 64 GB DDR4 3666, InWin 101, Full Hardline Watercooling

Server: R7 1700X @ 4.0 GHz, GTX 1080 Ti, 32GB DDR4 3000, Cooler Master NR200P, Full Soft Watercooling

LAN Rig: R5 3600X @ PBO, RTX 2070, 32 GB DDR4 3200, Dan Case A4-SFV V4, 120mm AIO for the CPU

HTPC: i7-7700K @ 4.6 GHz, GTX 1050 Ti, 16 GB DDR4 3200, AliExpress K39, IS-47K Cooler

Router: R3 2200G @ stock, 4GB DDR4 2400, what are cases, stock cooler
 

I don't have a problem...

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Coffee filters are good stuff

Before you reply to my post, REFRESH. 99.99% chance I edited my post. 

 

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19 minutes ago, Plutosaurus said:

Coffee filters are good stuff

this and vodka

and it helps yourself too

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On 2/26/2019 at 4:44 PM, TheGlenlivet said:

Image result for Cleaning motherboard soap and water

Just kidding don't do this.  Alcohol and towels/napkins is plenty.

 

64512416-4F57-4925-899C-A7D940C13935.jpeg

There is no enemy. The foe on the battlefield is merely the manifestation of that which we must overcome. The doubt, and fear, and despair. Every battle is fought within. Conquer the battlefield that lies inside you, and the enemy disappears like the illusion it is.

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