Jump to content

How to clean this CPU??

Nmmdroid
By Nmmdroid
in CPUs, Motherboards, and Memory
 Share
Posted

I have this first gen I7 and my X58 SLI mobo that I'm gonna start running in a Nas and I wanna swap the cooler because my current cooler isn't working which is what caused me to upgrade my PC. I know I need to replace the thermal compound but the old compound isn't coming off. I've tried everything. Any advice on how to clean this off so I can put new compound on my CPU??

20220201_145224.jpg

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/1411580-how-to-clean-this-cpu/
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Just to confirm, you used isopropyl alcohol (>90%) and the thermal paste isn't coming off?

It's entirely possible that I misinterpreted/misread your topic and/or question. This happens more often than I care to admit. Apologies in advance.

 

珠江 (Pearl River): CPU: Intel i7-12700K (8p4e/20t); Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming Plus Z690 WiFi; RAM: G.Skill TridentZ RGB 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 @3200MHz CL16; Cooling Solution: NZXT Kraken Z53 240mm AIO, w/ 2x Lian Li ST120 RGB Fans; GPU: EVGA Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 10GB FTW3 Ultra; Storage: Samsung 980 Pro, 1TB; Samsung 970 EVO, 1TB; Crucial MX500, 2TB; PSU: Corsair RM850x; Case: Lian Li Lancool II Mesh RGB, Black; Display(s): Primary: ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM (1440p 27" 240 Hz); Secondary: Acer Predator XB1 XB241H bmipr (1080p 24" 144 Hz, 165 Hz OC); Case Fans: 1x Lian Li ST120 RGB Fan, 3x stock RGB fans; Capture Card: Elgato HD60 Pro

 

翻生 (Resurrection): CPU: 2x Intel Xeon E5-2620 v2; Motherboard: ASUS Z9PR-D12 (C602 chipset) SSI-EEB; RAM: Crucial 32GB (8x4GB) DDR3 ECC RAM; Cooling Solution: 2x Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO; GPU: ASRock Intel ARC A380 Challenger ITX; Storage: Crucial MX500, 500GB; PSU: Super Flower Leadex III 750W; Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro; Expansion Card: TP-Link Archer T4E AC1200 PCIe Wi-Fi Adapter Display(s): Dell P2214HB (1080p 22" 60 Hz)

 

壯麗 (Glorious): Mainboard: Framework Mainboard w/ Intel Core i5-1135G7; RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 SODIMM @3200MHz CL22; eGPU: Razer Core X eGPU Enclosure w/ (between GPUs at the moment); Storage: Samsung 970 EVO Plus, 1TB; Display(s): Internal Display: Framework Display; External Display: Acer (unknown model) (1080p, 21" 75 Hz)

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/1411580-how-to-clean-this-cpu/#findComment-15259581
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Isopropyl with a microfiber cloth should do the trick, and its OK to scrub it pretty vigorously 

Work Rigs - 2015 15" MBP | 2019 15" MBP | 2021 16" M1 Max MBP | Lenovo ThinkPad T490 |

 

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X  |  MSI B550 Gaming Plus  |  64GB G.SKILL 3200 CL16 4x8GB |  AMD Reference RX 6800  |  WD Black SN750 1TB NVMe  |  Corsair RM750  |  Corsair H115i RGB Pro XT  |  Corsair 4000D  |  Dell S2721DGF  |
 

Fun Rig - AMD Ryzen 5 5600X  |  MSI B550 Tomahawk  |  32GB G.SKILL 3600 CL16 4x8GB |  AMD Reference 6800XT  | Creative Sound Blaster Z  |  WD Black SN850 500GB NVMe  |  WD Black SN750 2TB NVMe  |  WD Blue 1TB SATA SSD  |  Corsair RM850x  |  Corsair H100i RGB Pro XT  |  Corsair 4000D  |  LG 27GP850  |

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/1411580-how-to-clean-this-cpu/#findComment-15259608
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
6 minutes ago, Nmmdroid said:

Yes I tried that and it didn't work

Douse a cotton pad in the isopropyl alcohol and let the paste residue soak in the IPA from the pad. Then try to scrub it again. Maybe that would help loosen up the paste.

 

Unless there's something fundamentally different about this paste, the only variable you should need to change is the vigor with which you need to use to clean it.

It's entirely possible that I misinterpreted/misread your topic and/or question. This happens more often than I care to admit. Apologies in advance.

 

珠江 (Pearl River): CPU: Intel i7-12700K (8p4e/20t); Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming Plus Z690 WiFi; RAM: G.Skill TridentZ RGB 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 @3200MHz CL16; Cooling Solution: NZXT Kraken Z53 240mm AIO, w/ 2x Lian Li ST120 RGB Fans; GPU: EVGA Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 10GB FTW3 Ultra; Storage: Samsung 980 Pro, 1TB; Samsung 970 EVO, 1TB; Crucial MX500, 2TB; PSU: Corsair RM850x; Case: Lian Li Lancool II Mesh RGB, Black; Display(s): Primary: ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM (1440p 27" 240 Hz); Secondary: Acer Predator XB1 XB241H bmipr (1080p 24" 144 Hz, 165 Hz OC); Case Fans: 1x Lian Li ST120 RGB Fan, 3x stock RGB fans; Capture Card: Elgato HD60 Pro

 

翻生 (Resurrection): CPU: 2x Intel Xeon E5-2620 v2; Motherboard: ASUS Z9PR-D12 (C602 chipset) SSI-EEB; RAM: Crucial 32GB (8x4GB) DDR3 ECC RAM; Cooling Solution: 2x Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO; GPU: ASRock Intel ARC A380 Challenger ITX; Storage: Crucial MX500, 500GB; PSU: Super Flower Leadex III 750W; Case: Phanteks Enthoo Pro; Expansion Card: TP-Link Archer T4E AC1200 PCIe Wi-Fi Adapter Display(s): Dell P2214HB (1080p 22" 60 Hz)

 

壯麗 (Glorious): Mainboard: Framework Mainboard w/ Intel Core i5-1135G7; RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 SODIMM @3200MHz CL22; eGPU: Razer Core X eGPU Enclosure w/ (between GPUs at the moment); Storage: Samsung 970 EVO Plus, 1TB; Display(s): Internal Display: Framework Display; External Display: Acer (unknown model) (1080p, 21" 75 Hz)

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/1411580-how-to-clean-this-cpu/#findComment-15259617
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
47 minutes ago, Nmmdroid said:

I have this first gen I7 and my X58 SLI mobo that I'm gonna start running in a Nas and I wanna swap the cooler because my current cooler isn't working which is what caused me to upgrade my PC. I know I need to replace the thermal compound but the old compound isn't coming off. I've tried everything. Any advice on how to clean this off so I can put new compound on my CPU??

20220201_145224.jpg

Spray WD-40 onto it (using the straw attachment thing so it doesn't spray anywhere else) and let it sit about 2 minutes. Rub it with a microfiber cloth and then clean off the WD-40 using isopropyl alcohol. I've done this a lot with the crusty thermal paste on some old motherboard chipsets, and it's worked every time.

Highly knowledgeable in all the obscure 2000s hardware & software you'll never need to ask about

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/1411580-how-to-clean-this-cpu/#findComment-15259640
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

An angle grinder should remove all that gunk without any issues.

😐

 

 

 

I also support putting a wet pad of isopropyl alcohol on it to soak for a bit.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3700x / GPU: Asus Radeon RX 6750XT OC 12GB / RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x16GB DDR4-3200
MOBO: MSI B450m Gaming Plus / NVME: Corsair MP510 240GB / Case: TT Core v21 / PSU: Seasonic 750W / OS: Bazzite

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/1411580-how-to-clean-this-cpu/#findComment-15259731
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing CPUs, Motherboards, and Memory

×