What should I use to clean old thermal paste off of a cpu

[Cote]

I'm helping my friend move his cpu on to a new motherboard with new ram and a new ssd, but I don't know what I should use to clean the old thermal paste off of his cpu. Any tips on how to clean it would be helpful. (He has an intel cpu if that's any help).

[DoctorNick]

1 minute ago, Grand Admiral Thrawn said:

Isopropyl alcohol

This, but no drink. Plx

 

 

[CommanderAlex]

I personally use alcohol pads, Q-tips, and tissues. I usually use 80% isopropyl alcohol but its hard to find in my area right now for a decent price, so alcohol pads are my backup. 

[Moonzy]

use a tissue or something disposable to get rid of majority of the paste first, then use a solvent like isopropyl alcohol to wipe it down

hand sanitizers work too

 

then wipe off with lint free cloth and it should be squeeky clean

 

if u dont have any solvent, getting rid of most of the old paste will do, a little of the old paste remaining wont hurt temps by that much

unless it's a dried up layer on top of the cpu

[Cote]

14 minutes ago, CommanderAlex said:

I personally use alcohol pads, Q-tips, and tissues. I usually use 80% isopropyl alcohol but its hard to find in my area right now for a decent price, so alcohol pads are my backup. 

It doesn't have to be 80% right

[Hairless Monkey Boy]

1 minute ago, Cote said:

It doesn't have to be 80% right

The higher the better, but even 70% will do the job. Just be more diligent about drying it off, and not using too much since it does not evaporate as well as higher percentage solutions.

[CommanderAlex]

2 minutes ago, Cote said:

It doesn't have to be 80% right

As long as its a high enough percentage or otherwise you'll be introducing more water. They recommend 97% but they never sell that in any stores near me even before the pandemic. 

[DoctorNick]

Avoid 

On 12/2/2020 at 1:32 PM, Moonzy said:

use a tissue or something disposable to get rid of majority of the paste first, then use a solvent like isopropyl alcohol to wipe it down

hand sanitizers work too

 

I agree with the first part but avoid using any products containing gel.

[Moonzy]

5 minutes ago, DoctorNick said:

Avoid using any products containing gel.

Curious as to why

[brian105]

Isopropyl or Clorox/Lysol/whatever antibacterial wipes.

[DoctorNick]

1 hour ago, Moonzy said:

Curious as to why

It's made for keeping in moisture for hands. It make a layer on the cpu. Your better of using ethanol or  even vodka