Removing Thermal Paste

[Saar]

Can I remove thermal paste using water instead of alcohol? If not, what else can I use?

[W-L]

Can I remove thermal paste using water instead of alcohol? If not, what else can I use?

 

Barely damp paper towel will work just dry it off afterwards before you reapply, I've done it before when I didn't have any alcohol handy.

[Saar]

Barely damp paper towel will work just dry it off afterwards before you reapply, I've done it before when I didn't have any alcohol handy.

Thank you!

[Fulgrim]

A wet wipe would work, as long as it's not one of those ones which drip liquid easily. 

[IdortMasterRace]

Barely damp paper towel will work just dry it off afterwards before you reapply, I've done it before when I didn't have any alcohol handy.

 

I researched this recently and kept reading water is bad to use on a CPU, which is why I'm personally tedious to doing it.

[W-L]

I researched this recently and kept reading water is bad to use on a CPU, which is why I'm personally tedious to doing it.

 

We'll I'm not saying immerse the whole CPU in water just wiping off the excess from the metal heatspreader with a barely damp towel won't have any bad affect, like Fulgrim said as long as it's not overly wet it will be fine. Besides you'll be drying it off right after to reapply new thermal paste. The only real benefit of using alcohol is it's a non-conductive solvent and it can remove any contaminates on the metal surface and down into the metal pores a bit better than a paper towel and a little water.

[loccilucas]

I researched this recently and kept reading water is bad to use on a CPU, which is why I'm personally tedious to doing it.

 

We'll I'm not saying immerse the whole CPU in water just wiping off the excess from the metal heatspreader with a barely damp towel won't have any bad affect, like Fulgrim said as long as it's not overly wet it will be fine. Besides you'll be drying it off right after to reapply new thermal paste. The only real benefit of using alcohol is it's a non-conductive solvent and it can remove any contaminates on the metal surface and down into the metal pores a bit better than a paper towel and a little water.

Exactly what this guy said^

 

You can use any liquid really to clean the CPU if you are careful, the microscopic dirt alcohol removes that water can't is not gonna affect temps.

[IdortMasterRace]

We'll I'm not saying immerse the whole CPU in water just wiping off the excess from the metal heatspreader with a barely damp towel won't have any bad affect, like Fulgrim said as long as it's not overly wet it will be fine. Besides you'll be drying it off right after to reapply new thermal paste. The only real benefit of using alcohol is it's a non-conductive solvent and it can remove any contaminates on the metal surface and down into the metal pores a bit better than a paper towel and a little water.

 

Exactly what this guy said^

 

You can use any liquid really to clean the CPU if you are careful, the microscopic dirt alcohol removes that water can't is not gonna affect temps.

 

Probably will get around to re-doing my own thermal paste tonight. I'm idling 40-45 Celsius on Idle somehow, though I did the pea method originally. Might have put too much/less on?

[Schoolofmonkey]

Can I remove thermal paste using water instead of alcohol? If not, what else can I use?

 

I'm not trying to argue, but never use tap water.

The micro organisms, chlorine, dirt partials, not good for cooper or nickel heat sinks and leaves residue.

Distilled water if you hard up to use water.

 

Also if you don't want to use isopropyl alcohol get some ArctiClean and coffee filters, don't use water, its the stuff you don't see that causes a issue.