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Are q-tips (not lint-free) good for cleaning thermal paste off of cpu + cooler?

Theminecraftaddict555
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I'm asking this since I'm planning to swap out my cpu with a new one and I want to clean it before i store it somewhere for future use. I heard that q tips that aren't lint free can leave behind some lint which can cause problems for the cpu when it is used again. I used to have coffee filters but I'm not sure where they are, so far q tips are the only option that i have. 

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For me, some alcohol and a paper towel works really well. Q tips might not be as effective 

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5 minutes ago, Theminecraftaddict555 said:

I'm asking this since I'm planning to swap out my cpu with a new one and I want to clean it before i store it somewhere for future use. I heard that q tips that aren't lint free can leave behind some lint which can cause problems for the cpu when it is used again. I used to have coffee filters but I'm not sure where they are, so far q tips are the only option that i have. 

I've used cotton buds before for thermal paste removal/application before (in conjunction with alcohol swabs), and none of my CPUs have had any problems, including direct-die laptops.

REMILIA Mk.IIIE CPU: Ryzen 9 3900X, Cooler: Arctic Freezer II 240 (Noctua NT-H2), RAM: 4x 8Gb sticks of Patriot Viper Steel Series 3600 CL17, Mobo: AsRock X570 Taichi, GPU: Inno3D RTX 3080 iChill x4 10G, Storage: 1TB Intel 670p NVME SSD boot drive, a few 1TB and 512gb SATA/NVME SSDs for game storage, 6 hard drives 1-4 TB, PSU: Corsair RM750 MY2019, Case: Cooler Master Mastercase 5 MC500 (with add-ons, Noctua NF-A14 and Arctic P14 fans), PCIE Cards: Cheap Chinese Marvell 88SE9215 4 port SATA card, Sonnet Allegro USB3.2 Card Monitors: ViewSonic Elite XG270QC (165hz, 1ms MPRT, 1440p, VA, Freesync PP, pneumatic stand), Hp Z27n (IPS, 60hz, 1440p, 8Ms), iiyama G2530HSU-B (75Hz, Freesync, one in landscape, one in Portrait, all on pneumatic monitor stands).

 

Mic: iSK UPM-1 USB XLR interface with Neewer NW700, Audio: Sabaj A3 160W DAC/AMP + Wharfdale Diamond 220 + Mission MS6 Sub, ifi Zen DAC v2 + ifi Zen CAN, Littledot Mk.II (w/ Soviet Power tubes and British Mulard M8100s/Soviet Voshkod 6JP-EV/ American General Electric JAN 5654W dependent on mood), Sendy Aiva (Primary), Beyer Dynamic DT990 250ohm Black Special Edition, Audeze EL-8 Open Back, Sennheiser HD598SE (modified to be a headset, snapped headband held together with gorilla tape), Mouse: SteelSeries Rival 600, Keyboard: Glorious GMMK ISO with Mengmoda MMD Tactile (main) and Kailh Box Navy (Function keys), Tribosys 3203 brush lubed, Taihao Green forest caps.

 

KOAKUMA Mk.IB (24/7 Folding Slave PC made of spare parts): CPU: Core i7 4770, Cooler: Some small antex cooler with 80mm fan, RAM: 2x 4Gb Sticks of 2400Mhz DDR3, Mobo: Asus H81i-Plus, GPU: R9 390 Nitro+ (barely fits in case), Storage: 256gb Korean no-name SATA SSD, PSU: Corsair CX550 (Gray label), Case: Antec ISK600 ITX case. [Given away to friend]

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Qtips aren't all that good for the cooler side of things aside from nooks and crannies, but for CPU's they're fine.

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It'll be fine, especially if used with a solvent which will help things stick together. You can visually inspect for anything left behind.

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I've always used qtips and some high percentage rubbing alcohol.

 

Some people use coffee filters and things..

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I just use a paper towel and alcohol.  Does the job fine, and I've never had a PC overheat after!

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dont really recommend Q-tips for cleaning CPU lids because they are sooooo small.

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2 hours ago, ibabyslapper said:

I've used cotton buds before for thermal paste removal/application before (in conjunction with alcohol swabs), and none of my CPUs have had any problems, including direct-die laptops.

Wait are cotton buds the same thing as q-tips? 

2 hours ago, Bloodshed Romance said:

I've always used qtips and some high percentage rubbing alcohol.

 

Some people use coffee filters and things..

If i do find my coffee filters, I'm probably planning to use the coffee filter first and then use the q-tips for any left-overs

Don't call me a nerd, it makes me look slightly smarter than you

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I just use 5-8 q-tips each time I do it. i'd rather have a small tool I can be accurate with than something big that covers more area than just the CPU. I know pressing your fingers into the filter or whatever you use narrows it but eh.. i've always just used qtips to do it.

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OP - you are just fine.

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1 hour ago, Theminecraftaddict555 said:

Wait are cotton buds the same thing as q-tips? 

If i do find my coffee filters, I'm probably planning to use the coffee filter first and then use the q-tips for any left-overs

Yeah they are

REMILIA Mk.IIIE CPU: Ryzen 9 3900X, Cooler: Arctic Freezer II 240 (Noctua NT-H2), RAM: 4x 8Gb sticks of Patriot Viper Steel Series 3600 CL17, Mobo: AsRock X570 Taichi, GPU: Inno3D RTX 3080 iChill x4 10G, Storage: 1TB Intel 670p NVME SSD boot drive, a few 1TB and 512gb SATA/NVME SSDs for game storage, 6 hard drives 1-4 TB, PSU: Corsair RM750 MY2019, Case: Cooler Master Mastercase 5 MC500 (with add-ons, Noctua NF-A14 and Arctic P14 fans), PCIE Cards: Cheap Chinese Marvell 88SE9215 4 port SATA card, Sonnet Allegro USB3.2 Card Monitors: ViewSonic Elite XG270QC (165hz, 1ms MPRT, 1440p, VA, Freesync PP, pneumatic stand), Hp Z27n (IPS, 60hz, 1440p, 8Ms), iiyama G2530HSU-B (75Hz, Freesync, one in landscape, one in Portrait, all on pneumatic monitor stands).

 

Mic: iSK UPM-1 USB XLR interface with Neewer NW700, Audio: Sabaj A3 160W DAC/AMP + Wharfdale Diamond 220 + Mission MS6 Sub, ifi Zen DAC v2 + ifi Zen CAN, Littledot Mk.II (w/ Soviet Power tubes and British Mulard M8100s/Soviet Voshkod 6JP-EV/ American General Electric JAN 5654W dependent on mood), Sendy Aiva (Primary), Beyer Dynamic DT990 250ohm Black Special Edition, Audeze EL-8 Open Back, Sennheiser HD598SE (modified to be a headset, snapped headband held together with gorilla tape), Mouse: SteelSeries Rival 600, Keyboard: Glorious GMMK ISO with Mengmoda MMD Tactile (main) and Kailh Box Navy (Function keys), Tribosys 3203 brush lubed, Taihao Green forest caps.

 

KOAKUMA Mk.IB (24/7 Folding Slave PC made of spare parts): CPU: Core i7 4770, Cooler: Some small antex cooler with 80mm fan, RAM: 2x 4Gb Sticks of 2400Mhz DDR3, Mobo: Asus H81i-Plus, GPU: R9 390 Nitro+ (barely fits in case), Storage: 256gb Korean no-name SATA SSD, PSU: Corsair CX550 (Gray label), Case: Antec ISK600 ITX case. [Given away to friend]

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