Best way to clean a CPU

Judas · Aug 25, 2003, 07:23 AM

got a my ol 1900+ athlon xp sitting here..... it's got thermal paste dried up... somewhat caked on top..and a little around the edges....and i've got a machine i have to put it in...

What the best WAY to clean it with house hold tools....

I was going to whip out the alchol and Q-Tips (cotton swab)

But i'm not sure about the sides... i don't know if my q-tip will get the stuff off the sides....

Should see if i can get a pic...

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 25, 2003, 09:15 AM

i use wd 40!!! always have allways will (even in the shop nothing works better ... ) but i often take the extra step of wipeing it down with alchol ...

put on flat absorbant sufrace (paper towel) spray very lighty ony use only what need.(aviod getting it on the pins if ya can).. then wipe it down... then again with rubbing alchol or just pour it over the cpu in the sink ... give it a good amount of time (a couple minutes to be safe) to dry before reinstall....then mabe bast it with comressed / canned air if you have any to nock off any lint etc. that could be on there....

please note: CPU must be DRY before install..... and i am useing ordanary rubbing alchol (like 91%)

people who say not to use it :-P keep reading

becouse they sa it fills the microscopic vallyes in the cpu core wiuth residue....

but i have done this repeatedly and didn't have the cpu temps change even 1C higher!!!! the system was just fine
if not cooler if i was changeing to something like as3 from regular paste...

tip works great on any generic compounds as well as as,as2,as3 and i have used this on 486, cyrex,p1's,pII's pIII's , amd durons, tbrids,treds,bartons,xp etc never had any issues...

Judas · Aug 25, 2003, 08:43 PM

ok.. Excellent Neon... i'll try that out first.. ( i luckly have a can of WD-40 available....)

Got make sure it's not silicon based.... that'd be a no no....

Robert McClelland · Aug 25, 2003, 08:57 PM

Or used air compresser to blow it out I did

Judas · Aug 26, 2003, 09:00 AM

Gernally, that's the last thing people would like to do...

No to be offensive or anything but

A compresser in general doesn't have very "clean" air.... usually contained moisture and very small metal or other kind of particles that air blown out at high speeds and can damage circutry... thus... it's very likely to damage a cpu

I've heard horror stories of people taking off the cover on a pc..taking an air compressor... blowing it out...then finding out that the computer either won't boot.....or has errors and problems down the road very well right after doing so...

Enless you have a VERY good filter on it.... it's a dangerous thing to deal with..

Rayder · Aug 27, 2003, 03:47 AM

So, alcohol and WD40 won't hurt the circuitry on the chip? I've been considering getting some higher quality compound to use on my CPU, but I'd need to clean off the old stuff first. My bro is the one that put the stuff on there and I think he used WAY too much, plus he just used the same cheapo heat transfer compound that he uses for his electronic gadgets that he makes.

Another question: Will using too much compound adversely affect temps?

Driver 7 · Aug 27, 2003, 03:53 AM

Dish Soap and water works well to. You caaan accually takw most any Computer component (without a motor), Fill the sunk. And bathe it. As long as it's dry first it will be all good. I drowned my 5600 ultra after i got arctic silver on it. And it worked fine after.

tek · Aug 27, 2003, 03:57 AM

Yeah I just use alcohol, a lint free cloth, and a cotton swab, no biggie
.

Judas · Aug 27, 2003, 05:14 AM

Alot of water in areas have high consitrate of chlorine and other materials..... Here, we have Lime and Calcuim built up that would drive anyone crazy.....

So in that sence.... it might be a very bad idea for me to bath it...

i'll go with the alchol and cotton swab (q-tip)

I think if you USE to much thermal paste...it will damage the cpu....considering that the heatsink on applies to the top of the die... the rest should be aloud to breather as well.... if you apply to must thermal paste... it will be squeeze out and around the die in which case...alows for NO direct airflow past the sidewalls of the die.... Although there isn't exactly to much airflow.... it's surprising to see that it DOES make a large difference.....

Driver 7 · Aug 27, 2003, 05:51 AM

Thermal paste helps push more heat into the heatsync. Makes it more effecient. I think conductive thermal paste is a really bad Idea. I just went and bought a tube of Ceramique today. Does anyone have aany special instructions for me before I start to dismantel?

~~craig588~~ · Aug 27, 2003, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Judas
Gernally, that's the last thing people would like to do...

No to be offensive or anything but

A compresser in general doesn't have very "clean" air.... usually contained moisture and very small metal or other kind of particles that air blown out at high speeds and can damage circutry... thus... it's very likely to damage a cpu

I've heard horror stories of people taking off the cover on a pc..taking an air compressor... blowing it out...then finding out that the computer either won't boot.....or has errors and problems down the road very well right after doing so...

Enless you have a VERY good filter on it.... it's a dangerous thing to deal with..

I blow my computer out with a air compressor about 2 times a year. I have never had anything die on me after I did.

Judas · Aug 27, 2003, 06:15 AM

Your lucky! or you got a GOOD clean Air compressor

~~craig588~~ · Aug 27, 2003, 06:28 AM

I have a very good air compressor. It was origanally from a shop that almost exclusively used compressed air powered tools, but then they switched over to electricy, and they sold it cheap. (I don't remember the exact price, but I think it was around 200$)

Driver 7 · Aug 27, 2003, 06:47 AM

I clean my computer regularly. At least once a week I vacuum. Every so often I clean it with en-dust. I also give it the air treatment but I buy cans of it from London Drugs. I believe it's for keyBoards. Works quite well. Dirty computers make me sick. Last week a friend dropped off his computer for repair. Damn man. I'm suprised nothing crawled out when I opened it. He said that after just 10 min. of gaming the system would freeze. Get this. Durring My major cleaning on this thing I pulled off the video card and there was so much grime and dirt on the heatsink and fan that the fan would not spin anymore. I could not believe how much dirt was in this thing.

~~Crash Override~~ · Aug 27, 2003, 08:24 AM

heres what I do

wait a few seconds for the HSF to cool enough so you can touch it

remove the HSF and take the CPU out of the motherboard

use a soft brand of paper towel (not toilet paper) to remove the thermal paste from the die.

and also use it to wipe the edges clean carefully.

use a good thermal paste (and quite contrary to what driver7 may say AS3 is not as conductive as he thinks....matter of fact I use it to fill the pits of my CPU's for when im going to connect the bridges.) and make sure you apply a thin layer, just enough to cover the CPU die. then put just the tiniest bit more on there for good measure (and i do mean a tiny bit).

replace the HSF and away you go

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 27, 2003, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Judas
Gernally, that's the last thing people would like to do...

No to be offensive or anything but

A compresser in general doesn't have very "clean" air.... usually contained moisture and very small metal or other kind of particles that air blown out at high speeds and can damage circutry... thus... it's very likely to damage a cpu

I've heard horror stories of people taking off the cover on a pc..taking an air compressor... blowing it out...then finding out that the computer either won't boot.....or has errors and problems down the road very well right after doing so...

Enless you have a VERY good filter on it.... it's a dangerous thing to deal with..

THats becouse air carries a charge can be positive or negitive .... to use just a regular compressior in elecrtic repair companies use a specail ionized (static safe) air guns ..... or canned... both are safe.... but just a regual air i dunno....

Quote:

Originally posted by Rayder
So, alcohol and WD40 won't hurt the circuitry on the chip? I've been considering getting some higher quality compound to use on my CPU, but I'd need to clean off the old stuff first. My bro is the one that put the stuff on there and I think he used WAY too much, plus he just used the same cheapo heat transfer compound that he uses for his electronic gadgets that he makes.

Another question: Will using too much compound adversely affect temps?

no they wont hurt it but use very spareing and make sure the cpu is 101% dry before useing... wd40 dont know what if you get it on the pins under (just dont do it / avoid it as i do)but on top its fine .... alchol works ok on both but try to use a stroger (91% or higher) solution to minumize any possablity of resude .....

yes to much heatsink compond will hanper it effectiveness (can evern sort and kill cpu) try this guide .... for proper instructions ...

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/showthre...threadid=10575

Quote:

Originally posted by Driver 7
Dish Soap and water works well to. You caaan accually takw most any Computer component (without a motor), Fill the sunk. And bathe it. As long as it's dry first it will be all good. I drowned my 5600 ultra after i got arctic silver on it. And it worked fine after.

BAD.....
never ever use water on electronics ... especally tap water!!! it contains traces of conductive and corrosive impurites... i do not reccomend useing and whater in any elecrtonics but in some cases distilled water may be used (have less impuritys) but it is very very rare .... lead solder on cirutbord + watter = corrision or shorts .....do not try this ....use alchol instead

Quote:

Originally posted by Driver 7
Thermal paste helps push more heat into the heatsync. Makes it more effecient. I think conductive thermal paste is a really bad Idea. I just went and bought a tube of Ceramique today. Does anyone have aany special instructions for me before I start to dismantel?

see link above......

it fills the microscopic gaps and helps provide better contact beween pu and hsf... allsowinf for better thermal transfer of heat....

conductive thermal paste is used by many people includeing me ... they work great but only when used with care .....in some cases Ceramique is much better ... now that amd says as/as2/as3 will viod your warranty so yea the new Ceramique has quite and advantage .... but i dont understand how it cools better as the main ingreadant is "aluminum oxide" metal instand of silver or copper wich are much better condutors but it truns out the Ceramique is better than anything out there right now...

Judas · Aug 27, 2003, 09:19 AM

i've only used water on Old Nintendo controllers.... (because the circuits are HUGE.... and hard to screw up)

I think i posted in that thread.....

BTW, WD-40 is a cleaner... it's actually ment to clean eletrical pins and whatnot.... i'm not saying use all you wall..but it won't hurt anything in large quantatees.... however, waiting for it to dry is another story...

digerati · Aug 28, 2003, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by craig588
I blow my computer out with a air compressor about 2 times a year. I have never had anything die on me after I did.

Lucky, I do it once about ever 3 weeks -.-'

Al_Vampyre · Aug 28, 2003, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Judas
i've only used water on Old Nintendo controllers.... (because the circuits are HUGE.... and hard to screw up)

I think i posted in that thread.....

BTW, WD-40 is a cleaner... it's actually ment to clean eletrical pins and whatnot.... i'm not saying use all you wall..but it won't hurt anything in large quantatees.... however, waiting for it to dry is another story...

Actually WD-40 is a water displacer which is where its name comes from - the successful formula was the inventors 40th attempt at a water displacing fluid hence Water Displacement - 40....and as far as its usage goes any engineer will tell you that the only two tools you need in life are WD-40 and Duct Tape - If it moves and it shouldn't use the duct tape, if it doesn't move and it should use the WD-40...Tada!!!!!

Rayder · Aug 28, 2003, 05:04 PM

Too bad that for some reason I break out severely whenever I touch WD-40. I start getting blisters within an hour of coming in contact with the stuff.

mike2h · Aug 29, 2003, 05:36 AM

lol

! i have both in each vehicle, & of course in my toolbox.

mike2h · Aug 29, 2003, 05:39 AM

try blue shower or enviro tech 1677. this stuff is designed as a spray cleaner for electical & electronic equipment.
i also spray it on foam swabs for those difficult places. do not use qtips.

Judas · Aug 29, 2003, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Al_Vampyre
Actually WD-40 is a water displacer which is where its name comes from - the successful formula was the inventors 40th attempt at a water displacing fluid hence Water Displacement - 40....and as far as its usage goes any engineer will tell you that the only two tools you need in life are WD-40 and Duct Tape - If it moves and it shouldn't use the duct tape, if it doesn't move and it should use the WD-40...Tada!!!!!

WD-40 is not a lubercant... the silicon based WD-40 is though...

DO NOT use WD 40 on any motor enless you wish to clean it first, THEN use oil or something to lubercate it....

WD-40 also dries up rather quickly....

Judas · Aug 29, 2003, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike2h
do not use qtips.

is that to me about CPUS?

cause i'm not quite sure.....

Aug 25, 2003, 09:15 AM	#2
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	i use wd 40!!! always have allways will (even in the shop nothing works better ... ) but i often take the extra step of wipeing it down with alchol ... put on flat absorbant sufrace (paper towel) spray very lighty ony use only what need.(aviod getting it on the pins if ya can).. then wipe it down... then again with rubbing alchol or just pour it over the cpu in the sink ... give it a good amount of time (a couple minutes to be safe) to dry before reinstall....then mabe bast it with comressed / canned air if you have any to nock off any lint etc. that could be on there.... please note: CPU must be DRY before install..... and i am useing ordanary rubbing alchol (like 91%) people who say not to use it :-P keep reading becouse they sa it fills the microscopic vallyes in the cpu core wiuth residue.... but i have done this repeatedly and didn't have the cpu temps change even 1C higher!!!! the system was just fine if not cooler if i was changeing to something like as3 from regular paste... tip works great on any generic compounds as well as as,as2,as3 and i have used this on 486, cyrex,p1's,pII's pIII's , amd durons, tbrids,treds,bartons,xp etc never had any issues... __________________ Last edited by The_Neon_Cowboy; Aug 25, 2003 at 09:21 AM.

Aug 25, 2003, 08:57 PM	#4
Robert McClelland PAX Tweaker, PAX Expert. Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere in Wood County Ohio Same Town :) Posts: 10,648 Rep Power: 196 System Specs	Or used air compresser to blow it out I did __________________ "XTREME AUDIO IS CRAP!" "There no support for it. It's crapist card on face of the earth it should be throw into the sun" http://www.speedtest.net/result/1949536385.png

Aug 27, 2003, 03:53 AM	#7
Driver 7 Discombobulated NVidiot Join Date: May 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC - CANADA Posts: 1,015 Rep Power: 0	Dish Soap and water works well to. You caaan accually takw most any Computer component (without a motor), Fill the sunk. And bathe it. As long as it's dry first it will be all good. I drowned my 5600 ultra after i got arctic silver on it. And it worked fine after. __________________ [COLOR=Black]Asus A8N Deluxe SLI, AMD64 4200 X2 Dual Core, 2x 6800's, Corsair TwinX PC4000 DDR500, Yamaha F1 cdrw, Soundblaster Audigy 2, 2 SATA 120 gig Maxtor HD's, Raid 0 array, Altec Lancing 5.1 Surround Speakers, Thermaltake Xaser III Case, Stealth 470w Power supply, 21.3" Samsung widescreen, MX1000 Lazer mouse.[/COLOR]

Aug 27, 2003, 03:57 AM	#8
tek DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, US Posts: 2,103 Rep Power: 0	Yeah I just use alcohol, a lint free cloth, and a cotton swab, no biggie . __________________ [COLOR=White][/COLOR]

Aug 27, 2003, 05:51 AM	#10
Driver 7 Discombobulated NVidiot Join Date: May 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC - CANADA Posts: 1,015 Rep Power: 0	Thermal paste helps push more heat into the heatsync. Makes it more effecient. I think conductive thermal paste is a really bad Idea. I just went and bought a tube of Ceramique today. Does anyone have aany special instructions for me before I start to dismantel? __________________ [COLOR=Black]Asus A8N Deluxe SLI, AMD64 4200 X2 Dual Core, 2x 6800's, Corsair TwinX PC4000 DDR500, Yamaha F1 cdrw, Soundblaster Audigy 2, 2 SATA 120 gig Maxtor HD's, Raid 0 array, Altec Lancing 5.1 Surround Speakers, Thermaltake Xaser III Case, Stealth 470w Power supply, 21.3" Samsung widescreen, MX1000 Lazer mouse.[/COLOR]

Aug 27, 2003, 03:47 AM	#6
Rayder Mostly lurking lately.... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,161 Rep Power: 73	So, alcohol and WD40 won't hurt the circuitry on the chip? I've been considering getting some higher quality compound to use on my CPU, but I'd need to clean off the old stuff first. My bro is the one that put the stuff on there and I think he used WAY too much, plus he just used the same cheapo heat transfer compound that he uses for his electronic gadgets that he makes. Another question: Will using too much compound adversely affect temps?

Aug 27, 2003, 06:28 AM	#13
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	I have a very good air compressor. It was origanally from a shop that almost exclusively used compressed air powered tools, but then they switched over to electricy, and they sold it cheap. (I don't remember the exact price, but I think it was around 200$)

Aug 27, 2003, 06:47 AM	#14
Driver 7 Discombobulated NVidiot Join Date: May 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC - CANADA Posts: 1,015 Rep Power: 0	I clean my computer regularly. At least once a week I vacuum. Every so often I clean it with en-dust. I also give it the air treatment but I buy cans of it from London Drugs. I believe it's for keyBoards. Works quite well. Dirty computers make me sick. Last week a friend dropped off his computer for repair. Damn man. I'm suprised nothing crawled out when I opened it. He said that after just 10 min. of gaming the system would freeze. Get this. Durring My major cleaning on this thing I pulled off the video card and there was so much grime and dirt on the heatsink and fan that the fan would not spin anymore. I could not believe how much dirt was in this thing. __________________ [COLOR=Black]Asus A8N Deluxe SLI, AMD64 4200 X2 Dual Core, 2x 6800's, Corsair TwinX PC4000 DDR500, Yamaha F1 cdrw, Soundblaster Audigy 2, 2 SATA 120 gig Maxtor HD's, Raid 0 array, Altec Lancing 5.1 Surround Speakers, Thermaltake Xaser III Case, Stealth 470w Power supply, 21.3" Samsung widescreen, MX1000 Lazer mouse.[/COLOR]

Aug 27, 2003, 08:24 AM	#15
~~Crash Override~~ Banned Join Date: May 2002 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 2,448 Rep Power: 0	heres what I do wait a few seconds for the HSF to cool enough so you can touch it remove the HSF and take the CPU out of the motherboard use a soft brand of paper towel (not toilet paper) to remove the thermal paste from the die. and also use it to wipe the edges clean carefully. use a good thermal paste (and quite contrary to what driver7 may say AS3 is not as conductive as he thinks....matter of fact I use it to fill the pits of my CPU's for when im going to connect the bridges.) and make sure you apply a thin layer, just enough to cover the CPU die. then put just the tiniest bit more on there for good measure (and i do mean a tiny bit). replace the HSF and away you go

Aug 28, 2003, 05:04 PM	#20
Rayder Mostly lurking lately.... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,161 Rep Power: 73	Too bad that for some reason I break out severely whenever I touch WD-40. I start getting blisters within an hour of coming in contact with the stuff.

Aug 29, 2003, 05:36 AM	#21
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	Al_Vampyre lol ! i have both in each vehicle, & of course in my toolbox. __________________

Aug 29, 2003, 05:39 AM	#22
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	cleaner try blue shower or enviro tech 1677. this stuff is designed as a spray cleaner for electical & electronic equipment. i also spray it on foam swabs for those difficult places. do not use qtips. __________________