Bathing a CPU

[TubsAlwaysWins]

Is it a bad idea to bathe a CPU? I have some old cpu (Like it shares a socket with a Pentium 3) and it has some thermal paste basically glued to it. I figured hot water would be the only way to get it off. (The CPU's operation isn't critical)

 

[RollinLower]

very bad idea, if any water comes into the heat spreader you might be looking at corrosion.

just use something strong to scrape it off? or alcohol or something

[MageTank]

1 minute ago, TubsAlwaysWins said:

Is it a bad idea to bathe a CPU? I have some old cpu (Like it shares a socket with a Pentium 3) and it has some thermal paste basically glued to it. I figured hot water would be the only way to get it off. (The CPU's operation isn't critical)

 

Well, i bathed my CPU in acetone after delidding (to make the glue easier to scrape off) and it was perfectly fine afterwards. 

[Verrierr]

You can isopropyl alcohol to get it off. That's the "linus" way.

[TubsAlwaysWins]

6 hours ago, RollinLower said:

very bad idea, if any water comes into the heat spreader you might be looking at corrosion.

just use something strong to scrape it off? or alcohol or something

Don't have alchahol. Acitone?

 

6 hours ago, Verrierr said:

You can isopropyl alcohol to get it off. That's the "linus" way.

I don't have any

[Zyndo]

use a flat razer blade to scrape it off. If you do it properly you can't even scratch the surface of the heatspreader. This method is similar to how one would get a sticker off a window pane. Never tried it on a CPU heatspreader before, but I don't see why it wouldn't work just as well.

 

You could also use Isopropyl alcohol if you're looking for a liquid to rub it off with.

[RollinLower]

Just now, TubsAlwaysWins said:

I don't have any

acetone should also work, though make sure the thing is completely dried up before putting it back in a pc.

[SLAYR]

3 minutes ago, RollinLower said:

very bad idea, if any water comes into the heat spreader you might be looking at corrosion.

just use something strong to scrape it off? or alcohol or something

That is really only for long term submersion and exposure to air for months.

1 minute ago, TubsAlwaysWins said:

Don't have alchahol. Acitone?

Heat, get a heat gun or hair dryer and the tgermal paste will liquefy, and unstick. 

[TheProfessionalAmateurs]

fine grit sand paper

[Verrierr]

1 minute ago, TubsAlwaysWins said:

Don't have alchahol. Acitone?

IT should do but make sure you don't leave any on the heat spreader before reinstalling your CPU.

[SageOfSpice]

18 minutes ago, RollinLower said:

very bad idea, if any water comes into the heat spreader you might be looking at corrosion.

just use something strong to scrape it off? or alcohol or something

Aren't cpu heat spreaders nickel plated copper?

Scraping down to the copper would be more detrimental than exposing nickel to water.

Nickel is highly resistant to corrosion.

 

That said, water being dielectric and the best solvent in the world, it's probably not great to get on things unless it's distilled or else your risk mineral deposits forming in places you don't want mineral deposits.

[MageTank]

1 minute ago, SageOfSpice said:

Aren't cpu heat spreaders nickel plated copper?

Scraping down to the copper would be more detrimental than exposing nickel to water.

Nickel is highly resistant to corrosion.

Let's not forget the die itself isn't going to magically corrode either. I'd be more impressed if you somehow got water through that wall of glue Intel uses under the IHS. Mine was air tight, and was a tough cookie to delid. 

[asand1]

I like brake cleaner on a rag for baked on paste. BBQ lighter fluid works too, although it leaves an oily residue. Just put a little on a rag.