removing thermal paste

kingsownall · Apr 12, 2006, 10:04 AM

i wanna remove the thermal paste off my video card so i put in a new vga cooler. ppl keep saying use 90 to 91% alcohol, y not use 70% rubbing alcohol. is there a difference?

Lowfat · Apr 12, 2006, 10:56 AM

nothing wrong with regular rubbing alcohol. I personally use alcohol wipes used for needles in such, works great.

kingsownall · Apr 12, 2006, 10:58 AM

i meant like the percentage. wahts the difference between 70 and 91 or 99

~~bobbytomorow~~ · Apr 15, 2006, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingsownall

i meant like the percentage. wahts the difference between 70 and 91 or 99

The diference is that there is more water in 70%. Alchohol disipates\evaporates quikly while water does not. So using alchohol with less water content would evaporate quikly.

Tipstaff · Apr 15, 2006, 02:44 AM

In the case of removing thermal grease, the higher the alcohol content, the better the results.

Before you do that though the best thing to do is get as much of the old goop off first. Grab yourself a credit or debit card, or some sort of stiff plastic (plastic kniffe will do too), and scrape off the hardened compound. Wipe it down with a cloth after that, and then clean with the rubbing alcohol. If you've got thermal paste there then wipe it off with a cloth first, then clean with rubbing alcohol. In both cases you should leave the GPU and heatsink sit for a few minutes before applying the new paste.

Apr 12, 2006, 10:04 AM	#1
kingsownall DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 50 Rep Power: 0	removing thermal paste i wanna remove the thermal paste off my video card so i put in a new vga cooler. ppl keep saying use 90 to 91% alcohol, y not use 70% rubbing alcohol. is there a difference? __________________ [color=Lime][color=Red]ComSpecs asus p4rvm 2.8GHZ Northwood corsair value select pc-3200 [/color][color=Red]Ati Radeon X850pro(540,610 on zalman fata1lty)[/color] [/color]

Apr 12, 2006, 10:56 AM	#2
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	nothing wrong with regular rubbing alcohol. I personally use alcohol wipes used for needles in such, works great. __________________

Apr 12, 2006, 10:58 AM	Thread Starter #3
kingsownall DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 50 Rep Power: 0	i meant like the percentage. wahts the difference between 70 and 91 or 99 __________________ [color=Lime][color=Red]ComSpecs asus p4rvm 2.8GHZ Northwood corsair value select pc-3200 [/color][color=Red]Ati Radeon X850pro(540,610 on zalman fata1lty)[/color] [/color]

Apr 15, 2006, 02:44 AM	#5
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	In the case of removing thermal grease, the higher the alcohol content, the better the results. Before you do that though the best thing to do is get as much of the old goop off first. Grab yourself a credit or debit card, or some sort of stiff plastic (plastic kniffe will do too), and scrape off the hardened compound. Wipe it down with a cloth after that, and then clean with the rubbing alcohol. If you've got thermal paste there then wipe it off with a cloth first, then clean with rubbing alcohol. In both cases you should leave the GPU and heatsink sit for a few minutes before applying the new paste. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.