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What are the best things to use when removing thermal paste?

Mark_Baxt
Go to solution Solved by Hairless Monkey Boy,

Sounds like those Isopropyl wipes will do the trick. You can get the bulk of it with a dry cotton ball.

 

For future reference, the best thing to use is either high percentage (90%+) isopropyl alcohol or acetone.

Hi, I am upgrading my cooler so need to remove the thermal paste, as the new cooler comes with pre-applied thermal paste. I am wondering what do I use? I don't have rubbing alcohol but I do have these adhesive remover wipes with Isopropyl alcohol will they work? And maybe use a cotton pad too? Any ideas??? Thanks.

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Sounds like those Isopropyl wipes will do the trick. You can get the bulk of it with a dry cotton ball.

 

For future reference, the best thing to use is either high percentage (90%+) isopropyl alcohol or acetone.

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If the adhesive wipes with isopropyl alcohol has a high percentage content(at least the bare minimum of 70% or greater), they should work perfectly. Between rubbing alcohol, alcohol pads, Q-tips(I hate seeing it around the edges of the IHS), and a microfiber cloth to remove the residue from the alcohol. 

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3 minutes ago, Mark_Baxt said:

Hi, I am upgrading my cooler so need to remove the thermal paste, as the new cooler comes with pre-applied thermal paste. I am wondering what do I use? I don't have rubbing alcohol but I do have these adhesive remover wipes with Isopropyl alcohol will they work? And maybe use a cotton pad too? Any ideas??? Thanks.

To break it down... you're removing a gel like compound off a flat metal surface.  A paper towel would work perfectly fine :)

 

Just don't use anything leaves a residue.  Like most cleaners, residues are bad.

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most likely it will work

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Wait... you guys don't just lick off the thermal paste? 🥴

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11 minutes ago, GreatnessRD said:

Wait... you guys don't just like off the thermal paste? 🥴

I always used a pressure washer. Gets everything nice and clean.

/s

 

Q-tips or the like are great for cleaning TP. More so around the sides where it's hard to use a paper towel and your finger.

I'm not actually trying to be as grumpy as it seems.

I will find your mentions of Ikea or Gnome and I will /s post. 

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1 hour ago, Voluspa said:

I always used a pressure washer. Gets everything nice and clean.

/s

 

Q-tips or the like are great for cleaning TP. More so around the sides where it's hard to use a paper towel and your finger.

That was me attempting humor and didn't real it didn't say "lick" instead of like.

 

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2 minutes ago, GreatnessRD said:

That was me attempting humor and didn't real it didn't say "lick" instead of like.

 

L's were taken this day. No dance or song were sung. 

If it helps, my attempt at humor was lost too ;)

I'm not actually trying to be as grumpy as it seems.

I will find your mentions of Ikea or Gnome and I will /s post. 

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Why is the 5800x so hot?

 

 

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2 hours ago, GreatnessRD said:

Wait... you guys don't just lick off the thermal paste? 🥴

use doge

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20201212_023955.thumb.jpg.39350d0fca6279c9d5c1f3acb2df5292.jpg

 

+ qtips

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-> Moved to Cooling

^^^^ That's my post ^^^^
<-- This is me --- That's your scrollbar -->
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