Reusing a CPU

[Spailer]

Im gonna be building a new PC soon and Im gonna reuse the CPU I have right now. So my question is when do I clean the thermal paste off? Before or after I remove the CPU from the 'old' PC? And if it's after removing where do I put the CPU, is putting it on a table safe? Will that damage the pins? 

[DocSwag]

Just clean it while it's still in the old mobo, makes things easier  

[Phentos]

You can clean off the thermal paste any time, though cleaning it off while still in the motherboard is easiest. Alcohol is the best method of cleaning it off, being that it's a strong solvent, not nearly as conductive as water, and will not corrode metal components.

 

If you still have the plastic tray the CPU came in, that would be the best place. Otherwise you can put it on a wooden table if you're going to install the CPU soon after. 

[Spailer]

Im a bit afraid that I'm gonna be pushing it down too much, doesn't pushing it down on the socket damage the pins? Im just trying to be careful

[Phentos]

2 minutes ago, Spailer said:

Im a bit afraid that I'm gonna be pushing it down too much, doesn't pushing it down on the socket damage the pins? Im just trying to be careful

If it's an AMD CPU, the pins won't be damaged unless you put a lot of weight on it.

 

If Intel, exercise a little more care while cleaning.

[JoostinOnline]

Use a paper towel and rubbing alcohol to clean it off. I used to tell people to use cotton balls, but this works fine and there's far less chance of strands getting stuck in sharp edges. 

[SpaceGhostC2C]

 

2 hours ago, Phentos said:

If you still have the plastic tray the CPU came in, that would be the best place. 

That's my preferred location for cleaning, as you isolate it from other components while keeping it safe  

2 hours ago, Spailer said:

Im a bit afraid that I'm gonna be pushing it down too much, doesn't pushing it down on the socket damage the pins? Im just trying to be careful

If the CPU is in its socket you cannot push it down: it's not standing on its pins, but on the flat edges on the sides of the socket. I mean, the pins are of course touching the bottom of the socket, but the CPU is resting on the side as well.

You want to avoid pushing it sideways, though. But that's very hard to do anyways. I even pulled a heatsink with the CPU stuck on it without lifting the lever, and no pins were harmed  

You don't need a lot of pressure to clean it anyways. Use repetition rather than pushing harder and you'll be fine.

[Spailer]

just one last question, if im putting it on a table or something do i put it with the pins facing up or down? (i dont have the plastic tray it was a prebuilt)