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Should I clean this out?

Spev
By Spev
in CPUs, Motherboards, and Memory
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So I attempted to install a Noctua today, however I have to wait for a backplate adapter for LGA1366 boards, so I had to put the liquid cooler I had back on it for now. Upon taking it off (I didn't install it originally) I noticed all this thermal paste on the sides. It's white, you should be able to see it. I cleaned the main part off with iso 99%. However I couldn't get down into the cracks. Should I take off the CPU brackets and clean that stuff out? Or does it not matter.

 

post-155082-0-23530600-1415172580_thumb.

 

I've never installed a processor before, but to my knowledge if I take the brackets off in order to clean that stuff out, I would have to remove the CPU first? Becuase if I remove the brackets to clean and start cleaning it while it's still sitting on the MOBO, could it possibly move and screw something up? Idk if this is even important or if I should worry about it, or what approach I should take, thanks.

Current PC build: [CPU: Intel i7 8700k] [GPU: GTX 1070 Asus ROG Strix] [Ram: Corsair LPX 32GB 3000MHz] [Mobo: Asus Prime Z370-A] [SSD: Samsung 970 EVO 500GB primary + Samsung 860 Evo 1TB secondary] [PSU: EVGA SuperNova G2 750w 80plus] [Monitors: Dual Dell Ultrasharp U2718Qs, 4k IPS] [Case: Fractal Design R5]

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you could just leave it... it's not going to affect the CPU because the core producing the heat is just smack dap in the middle 

Computing enthusiast. 
I use to be able to input a cheat code now I've got to input a credit card - Total Biscuit
 

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So I attempted to install a Noctua today, however I have to wait for a backplate adapter for LGA1366 boards, so I had to put the liquid cooler I had back on it for now. Upon taking it off (I didn't install it originally) I noticed all this thermal paste on the sides. It's white, you should be able to see it. I cleaned the main part off with iso 99%. However I couldn't get down into the cracks. Should I take off the CPU brackets and clean that stuff out? Or does it not matter.

 

attachicon.gifCPU.jpg

 

I've never installed a processor before, but to my knowledge if I take the brackets off in order to clean that stuff out, I would have to remove the CPU first? Becuase if I remove the brackets to clean and start cleaning it while it's still sitting on the MOBO, could it possibly move and screw something up? Idk if this is even important or if I should worry about it, or what approach I should take, thanks.

 

It's not necessary to take it off to clean but a good idea, you can use a Q-tip and go around the edges with Isopropyl Alcohol, you just want to prevent any of that to get on the pins or the socket itself.

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You can leave it. Personally, I like my CPU looking neat, so I'd clean it all up.

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

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So I attempted to install a Noctua today, however I have to wait for a backplate adapter for LGA1366 boards, so I had to put the liquid cooler I had back on it for now. Upon taking it off (I didn't install it originally) I noticed all this thermal paste on the sides. It's white, you should be able to see it. I cleaned the main part off with iso 99%. However I couldn't get down into the cracks. Should I take off the CPU brackets and clean that stuff out? Or does it not matter.

 

attachicon.gifCPU.jpg

 

I've never installed a processor before, but to my knowledge if I take the brackets off in order to clean that stuff out, I would have to remove the CPU first? Becuase if I remove the brackets to clean and start cleaning it while it's still sitting on the MOBO, could it possibly move and screw something up? Idk if this is even important or if I should worry about it, or what approach I should take, thanks.

 

Nahh it won't hurt a thing but you'll have to buy the mounting kit for 1366.

Main: i7 2600 | ASUS P8Z68-V | 2x4GB Vengeance 1600 | GTX 580 | WD Blue 1TB | Antec TP-650C | NH U12S | W7 x64

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Nahh it won't hurt a thing but you'll have to buy the mounting kit for 1366.

Yes I have this arriving in the mail tomorrow:

 

http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=30&lng=en

 

This should allow me to use my NH-U14s with my LGA1366 motherboard. :)

Current PC build: [CPU: Intel i7 8700k] [GPU: GTX 1070 Asus ROG Strix] [Ram: Corsair LPX 32GB 3000MHz] [Mobo: Asus Prime Z370-A] [SSD: Samsung 970 EVO 500GB primary + Samsung 860 Evo 1TB secondary] [PSU: EVGA SuperNova G2 750w 80plus] [Monitors: Dual Dell Ultrasharp U2718Qs, 4k IPS] [Case: Fractal Design R5]

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You can leave it. Personally, I like my CPU looking neat, so I'd clean it all up.

So if I decide to clean it, what should I do? Completely remove my CPU and clean it? Or can I just remove the brackets and clean it while it is sitting in the socket?

Current PC build: [CPU: Intel i7 8700k] [GPU: GTX 1070 Asus ROG Strix] [Ram: Corsair LPX 32GB 3000MHz] [Mobo: Asus Prime Z370-A] [SSD: Samsung 970 EVO 500GB primary + Samsung 860 Evo 1TB secondary] [PSU: EVGA SuperNova G2 750w 80plus] [Monitors: Dual Dell Ultrasharp U2718Qs, 4k IPS] [Case: Fractal Design R5]

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Yes I have this arriving in the mail tomorrow:

 

http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=productview&products_id=30&lng=en

 

This should allow me to use my NH-U14s with my LGA1366 motherboard. :)

Yep, them Noctua's are pretty beastly. I have the U12s model. People complain about the $70-$100 price but I think it's well worth it, even comes with thermal paste and their packaging is outstanding. Better than most AIO's to an extent. Yes, I even love their shit colored fans too unlike most people.

Main: i7 2600 | ASUS P8Z68-V | 2x4GB Vengeance 1600 | GTX 580 | WD Blue 1TB | Antec TP-650C | NH U12S | W7 x64

Backup: X6 1090T | MSI K9A2 Platinum | 4x2GB XMS2 800 | GTX 550Ti | WD Blue 1TB |  Antec VP-450 | CM TX3 | W7 x64

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Posted (edited)

So if I decide to clean it, what should I do? Completely remove my CPU and clean it? Or can I just remove the brackets and clean it while it is sitting in the socket?

You can just clean the CPU the way it is with Q-tips and Iso 99%. However, if you wanna make sure nothing gets into the socket, you can remove the CPU and clean it that way.

Edited by Godlygamer23

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

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You can just clean the CPU the way it is with Q-tips and Iso 99%. However, if you wanna make sure nothing gets into the socket, you can remove the CPU and clean it that way.

Ok thank you. The problem is on the sides where the bracket comes in a little, it's too hard to clean it there, and I doubt a qtip will get in there. Around the majority of it it's accessible via qtip though. I'll try it.

Current PC build: [CPU: Intel i7 8700k] [GPU: GTX 1070 Asus ROG Strix] [Ram: Corsair LPX 32GB 3000MHz] [Mobo: Asus Prime Z370-A] [SSD: Samsung 970 EVO 500GB primary + Samsung 860 Evo 1TB secondary] [PSU: EVGA SuperNova G2 750w 80plus] [Monitors: Dual Dell Ultrasharp U2718Qs, 4k IPS] [Case: Fractal Design R5]

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Yep, them Noctua's are pretty beastly. I have the U12s model. People complain about the $70-$100 price but I think it's well worth it, even comes with thermal paste and their packaging is outstanding. Better than most AIO's to an extent. Yes, I even love their shit colored fans too unlike most people.

Yeah, I got the U14 but was looking at the U12. The biggest thing for me was how far the fan stuck out. Fortunately, the U14 will barely fit in my case. The U12 sticks out 7mm less though so I almost chose it. I kind of like the look of it better too as it is square :) Anything beyond the U14 is too massive. I'm getting double fans on mine too. However the double heat sink versions are just too massive lol.

Current PC build: [CPU: Intel i7 8700k] [GPU: GTX 1070 Asus ROG Strix] [Ram: Corsair LPX 32GB 3000MHz] [Mobo: Asus Prime Z370-A] [SSD: Samsung 970 EVO 500GB primary + Samsung 860 Evo 1TB secondary] [PSU: EVGA SuperNova G2 750w 80plus] [Monitors: Dual Dell Ultrasharp U2718Qs, 4k IPS] [Case: Fractal Design R5]

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Shouldn't cause any trouble. But, for good measure, use a qtip soaked in iso and scrub off the paste.

CPU -AMD R5 2600X @ 4.15 GHz / RAM - 2x8Gb GSkill Ripjaws 3000 MHz/ MB- Asus Crosshair VII Hero X470/  GPU- MSI Gaming X GTX 1080/ CPU Cooler - Be Quiet! Dark Rock 3/ PSU - Seasonic G-series 550W/ Case - NZXT H440 (Black/Red)/ SSD - Crucial MX300 500GB/ Storage - WD Caviar Blue 1TB/ Keyboard - Corsair Vengeance K70 w/ Red switches/ Mouse - Logitech g900/ Display - 27" Benq GW2765 1440p display/ Audio - Sennheiser HD 558 and Logitech z323 speakers

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It shouldn't really cause you any trouble, but it's down to personal preference, I'd clean that as I'm a bit of a clean freak inside of my PC.

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So if I decide to clean it, what should I do? Completely remove my CPU and clean it? Or can I just remove the brackets and clean it while it is sitting in the socket?

 

If there is so much TIM around the chip, you risk it getting into the socket if you attempt to remove it for cleaning. If that happens, you're in a whole new level of shit.

 

Leave it.

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