Jump to content

Removing thermal paste

shadowkiller64
By shadowkiller64
in Cooling
 Share
Posted

I want to remove my stock cooler so i will need to remove the thermal paste but i dont have a micro fiber cloth other than the cloth i use to clean my glasses will i be able to clean the thermal paste off my cloth and afterward and still be able to use it on my glasses?

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Erm no, but you can just use toilet paper and isopropyl alcohol to clean of the thermal paste

 

"My opinion is that your opinion is wrong." - AlwaysFSX    CPU I5 4690k MB MSI Gaming 5 RAM 2 x 4GB HyperX Blu DDR3 GPU Asus GTX970 Strix,  Case Corsair 760T Storage 1 x 120GB 840EVO 1 x 1TB WD Blue, 1 x 500GB Toshiba  

 The cave/beast v2 (OLD) http://imgur.com/a/8AmeH                                  PSU 600W Raidmax RX600AF Displays ASUS VS278Q-P x2, BenQ Xl2720z Cooling Dark Rock 3, 4 AP120s Keyboard Logitech G710+ Mouse Razer Deathadder 

 

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3740268
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

a drop of lemon juice and let stand for about 30 sec(eats at the tuff stuff) then wipe of and the clean up with alcohol

Cpu: Intel i7 4770k @4.4 Ghz | Case: Corsair 350D | Motherbord: Z87 Gryphon | Ram: dominator platinum 4X4 1866 | Video Card: SLI GTX 980 Ti | Power Supply: Seasonic 1000 platinum | Monitor: ACER XB270HU | Keyboard: RK-9100 | Mouse: R.A.T. 7 | Headset : HD 8 DJ | Watercooled

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3740304
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I've found that paper towel dampened withe methylated spirits works well at removing thermal paste.

           .;ldkO0000Okdl;.                michael@SUSE-BlackBox
        .;d00xl:^''''''^:ok00d;.            OS: openSUSE 20260405
      .d00l'                'o00d.          Kernel: x86_64 Linux 6.19.11-1-default
    .d0K^'  Okxoc;:,.          ^O0d.        Uptime: 2d 21h 52m
   .OVVAK0kOKKKKKKKKKKOxo:,      lKO.       Packages: 6556
  ,0VVAKKKKKKKKKKKKK0P^,,,^dx:    ;00,      Shell: bash 5.3.9
 .OVVAKKKKKKKKKKKKKk'.oOPPb.'0k.   cKO.     Resolution: 3840x1080
 :KVAKKKKKKKKKKKKKK: kKx..dd lKd   'OK:     DE: KDE
 lKlKKKKKKKKKOx0KKKd ^0KKKO' kKKc   lKl     WM: KWin
 lKlKKKKKKKKKK;.;oOKx,..^..;kKKK0.  lKl     GTK Theme: Breeze-Dark [GTK2], Breeze [GTK3]
 :KAlKKKKKKKKK0o;...^cdxxOK0O/^^'  .0K:     Icon Theme: breeze-dark
  kKAVKKKKKKKKKKKK0x;,,......,;od  lKP      Disk: 13T / 22T (60%)
  '0KAVKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK00KKOo^  c00'      CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D 8-Core @ 16x 4.55295GHz
   'kKAVOxddxkOO00000Okxoc;''   .dKV'       GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (radeonsi, navi22, ACO, DRM 3.64, 6.19.11-1-default)
     l0Ko.                    .c00l'        RAM: 13127MiB / 48094MiB
      'l0Kk:.              .;xK0l'          
         'lkK0xc;:,,,,:;odO0kl'             
             '^:ldxkkkkxdl:^'    
 

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3740478
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Paper towel, toilet paper, or cotton swabs with rubbing alcohol is fine.

Don't use your glasses cloth. Especially if it's silver based compound.

I dont have paper towels and wont cotton swabs and toilet paper leave little peices everywhere?
Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3740761
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I dont have paper towels and wont cotton swabs and toilet paper leave little peices everywhere?

 

nope, toilet paper is great to use, 

Desktop - Corsair 300r i7 4770k H100i MSI 780ti 16GB Vengeance Pro 2400mhz Crucial MX100 512gb Samsung Evo 250gb 2 TB WD Green, AOC Q2770PQU 1440p 27" monitor Laptop Clevo W110er - 11.6" 768p, i5 3230m, 650m GT 2gb, OCZ vertex 4 256gb,  4gb ram, Server: Fractal Define Mini, MSI Z78-G43, Intel G3220, 8GB Corsair Vengeance, 4x 3tb WD Reds in Raid 10, Phone Oppo Reno 10x 256gb , Camera Sony A7iii

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3740790
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I dont have paper towels and wont cotton swabs and toilet paper leave little peices everywhere?

If you're referring to the toilet paper just breaking apart then it really depends on how abrasive you are with it. Just wad up a little ball of it and pour some rubbing alcohol onto it and you'll be fine. Once the IHS is dry you can give it a good blow with your mouth or compressed air to get rid of any microfibers. It's usually only a one time operation.  :)

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3740842
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

If you're referring to the toilet paper just breaking apart then it really depends on how abrasive you are with it. Just wad up a little ball of it and pour some rubbing alcohol onto it and you'll be fine. Once the IHS is dry you can give it a good blow with your mouth or compressed air to get rid of any microfibers. It's usually only a one time operation. :)

What do you mean by wad it into a ball?
Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3740851
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

What do you mean by wad it into a ball?

Wad it, fold it, whatever you wanna do with it. It's just not strong enough to use as a single layer, we all know that by now (ahem).

 

Something like this would be acceptable. There's no art to it just make it so it's strong enough that you don't blow through it while rubbing with it.

full-2100-34304-tp_001.jpg

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3740871
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

 It's just not strong enough to use as a single layer, we all know that by now (ahem).

 

 

HAHA, thanks for making me laugh so hard, tea came down my nose

i5 4670k @4.2ghz / MSI Z87 G45 / EVGA GTX 960 SSC / Samsung  840 EVo SSD / WD Green 1tb HDD / Corsair H75 / Corsair Obsidian 750D / Corsair CS750M

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3741271
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Paper towel. Anything 80% or more alcohol will work as cleaning fluid, as long as it doesn't contain water.

 

Well whats the other 20% then? It should be nothing but water. Otherwise you risk having residues on your CPU.

 

a drop of lemon juice and let stand for about 30 sec(eats at the tuff stuff) then wipe of and the clean up with alcohol

 

I'd skip the lemon juice for the same reason as above, but okay.

who cares...

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3741314
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

The absolute best thing to use that I didn't see mentioned is a coffee filter and 90%+ isopropyl alcohol. The coffee filter doesn't leave fibers behind and the alcohol makes quick work of breaking down the thermal paste. A near pure (90%+ isopropyl) alcohol is necessary as it evaporates quickly.

BUILD LOGS [ Serious Black ] [ Project Lumos ] [ SrsB ]

 

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3741483
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Wad it, fold it, whatever you wanna do with it. It's just not strong enough to use as a single layer, we all know that by now (ahem).

Something like this would be acceptable. There's no art to it just make it so it's strong enough that you don't blow through it while rubbing with it.

Posted Image

Is this method better or should i use a cotton swab
Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/275441-removing-thermal-paste/#findComment-3746721
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 Cooling

×