How do I remove the leftovers?

syko86 · Mar 6, 2003, 07:48 AM

Hmm... How do I remove the thermal grease left on my cpu and heatsink before I re-apply...? Just wipe it off or...? Thanks =].

ToshiroOC · Mar 6, 2003, 11:17 AM

Just use a little bit of soapy water and paper towels for the heatsink, and some slightly soapy water, some paper towels, and qtips for the cpu...

syko86 · Mar 6, 2003, 12:55 PM

You serious?

ToshiroOC · Mar 6, 2003, 01:03 PM

Why would I be joking? Of course you would rinse the heatsink off to get rid of the soap, and you wouldn't pour water onto the CPU - you use the qtips to put just a bit of water on the core, then you take a paper towel and wipe it off carefully. I've done it before and it hasn't hurt my CPU... if you are worried about it, used distilled water without soap on the CPU since distilled water doesn't conduct, and then once you are done just CAREFULLY use a hair dryer on the CPU... I've done it a couple times before and that's all I've needed to do / all I've done

BWX · Mar 6, 2003, 01:42 PM

You could use some alcohol too (normal rubbing alcohol) w/ Q-tips if you don't want to use water.

It also works well. I can see why you might be worried about water on the cpu-- but I am sure it wouldn't hurt anything if it was comletely dry before you reboot.

ToshiroOC · Mar 6, 2003, 01:54 PM

Those lens wipes with isopropyl alcohol also work somewhat well, but they won't pick up the thermal grease well if there is a lot of grease left.

BWX · Mar 6, 2003, 02:03 PM

Yup, I noticed I had to take the big gobs off w/ the paper towel or Q-tip, then use the alcohol just for the cleanup.
I actually used an old t-shirt after the first couple seconds w/the Q-tips and paper towels because they left so much lint on everything. Maybe even one of those lint-free cloths would be a good thing to use.

JavaFox · Mar 6, 2003, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by syko86
You serious?

Sure. You can actually wash your CPU in the sink if you want, so long as you let it dry.

Realistically, though, all you really need to do is wipe the grease off with a tissue thoroughly. At least that's what I do.

digitalwanderer · Mar 6, 2003, 04:24 PM

I wipe off the excess with paper towels and if I REALLY want to get it off I use lighter fluid squirted onto a paper towel, it takes thermal paste right off.

WyreTheWolf · Mar 6, 2003, 04:32 PM

no comment

digitalwanderer · Mar 6, 2003, 06:12 PM

Hey, any naptha-based lighter fluid is about the only thing I know that will actually clean that stuff off without leaving a residue...I was serious.

syko86 · Mar 7, 2003, 12:05 AM

Hmm... Thanks! Lol, sorry Toshiro :X. I really didn't know it's safe..

ToshiroOC · Mar 7, 2003, 12:47 AM

Bah, don't worry - I nearly had a heart attack the first time I saw it done, since my friend (who enjoys the shock value inherent in such things) turned on his computer, opened a bottle of distilled water, and said something to the effect of "It's cleaning time again" and started pouring water down his motherboard

It was distilled water, so no electrolytes were present, and thus didn't conduct... but it was impressively frightenting

shuki · Mar 7, 2003, 01:03 AM

toothbrush and a dab of toothpaste work great

syko86 · Mar 7, 2003, 02:19 AM

LOL @ ToshiroOC. I'll definitely punch my friend before he has a chance to do it. It'll REALLY shock me! :X Hmm..Toothpaste. Serious? =]

ToshiroOC · Mar 7, 2003, 02:20 AM

Well, this thermal grease is really just that - grease. Toothpaste will clean up near anything with enough brushing, but it might leave your CPU a little minty

syko86 · Mar 7, 2003, 12:26 PM

Ok, thanks. I just replaced my HSF =P.

Mar 6, 2003, 07:48 AM	#1
syko86 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 130 Rep Power: 0	How do I remove the leftovers? Hmm... How do I remove the thermal grease left on my cpu and heatsink before I re-apply...? Just wipe it off or...? Thanks =]. __________________ "Shoot Yourself In The Head, A Better Life Is Ahead." "Who do you side?" "Myself, of course." http://shux-inspir3.spydar.com Shucky Poets

Mar 6, 2003, 11:17 AM	#2
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Just use a little bit of soapy water and paper towels for the heatsink, and some slightly soapy water, some paper towels, and qtips for the cpu... __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Mar 6, 2003, 12:55 PM	Thread Starter #3
syko86 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 130 Rep Power: 0	You serious? __________________ "Shoot Yourself In The Head, A Better Life Is Ahead." "Who do you side?" "Myself, of course." http://shux-inspir3.spydar.com Shucky Poets

Mar 6, 2003, 01:03 PM	#4
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Why would I be joking? Of course you would rinse the heatsink off to get rid of the soap, and you wouldn't pour water onto the CPU - you use the qtips to put just a bit of water on the core, then you take a paper towel and wipe it off carefully. I've done it before and it hasn't hurt my CPU... if you are worried about it, used distilled water without soap on the CPU since distilled water doesn't conduct, and then once you are done just CAREFULLY use a hair dryer on the CPU... I've done it a couple times before and that's all I've needed to do / all I've done __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Mar 6, 2003, 01:54 PM	#6
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Those lens wipes with isopropyl alcohol also work somewhat well, but they won't pick up the thermal grease well if there is a lot of grease left. __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Mar 6, 2003, 01:42 PM	#5
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	You could use some alcohol too (normal rubbing alcohol) w/ Q-tips if you don't want to use water. It also works well. I can see why you might be worried about water on the cpu-- but I am sure it wouldn't hurt anything if it was comletely dry before you reboot.

Mar 6, 2003, 02:03 PM	#7
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Yup, I noticed I had to take the big gobs off w/ the paper towel or Q-tip, then use the alcohol just for the cleanup. I actually used an old t-shirt after the first couple seconds w/the Q-tips and paper towels because they left so much lint on everything. Maybe even one of those lint-free cloths would be a good thing to use.

Mar 6, 2003, 04:24 PM	#9
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	I wipe off the excess with paper towels and if I REALLY want to get it off I use lighter fluid squirted onto a paper towel, it takes thermal paste right off. __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Mar 6, 2003, 04:32 PM	#10
WyreTheWolf Wolfish Bastard Join Date: May 2002 Location: Cave; Ozark Mountains Posts: 2,110 Rep Power: 0	no comment

Mar 6, 2003, 06:12 PM	#11
digitalwanderer Colour Commentator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Highland, IN USA Posts: 5,619 Rep Power: 0	Hey, any naptha-based lighter fluid is about the only thing I know that will actually clean that stuff off without leaving a residue...I was serious. __________________ WTF is up with the sigs?

Mar 7, 2003, 12:05 AM	Thread Starter #12
syko86 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 130 Rep Power: 0	Hmm... Thanks! Lol, sorry Toshiro :X. I really didn't know it's safe.. __________________ "Shoot Yourself In The Head, A Better Life Is Ahead." "Who do you side?" "Myself, of course." http://shux-inspir3.spydar.com Shucky Poets

Mar 7, 2003, 12:47 AM	#13
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Bah, don't worry - I nearly had a heart attack the first time I saw it done, since my friend (who enjoys the shock value inherent in such things) turned on his computer, opened a bottle of distilled water, and said something to the effect of "It's cleaning time again" and started pouring water down his motherboard It was distilled water, so no electrolytes were present, and thus didn't conduct... but it was impressively frightenting __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Mar 7, 2003, 01:03 AM	#14
shuki DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: in the hidden place Posts: 1,975 Rep Power: 0	toothbrush and a dab of toothpaste work great

Mar 7, 2003, 02:19 AM	Thread Starter #15
syko86 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 130 Rep Power: 0	LOL @ ToshiroOC. I'll definitely punch my friend before he has a chance to do it. It'll REALLY shock me! :X Hmm..Toothpaste. Serious? =] __________________ "Shoot Yourself In The Head, A Better Life Is Ahead." "Who do you side?" "Myself, of course." http://shux-inspir3.spydar.com Shucky Poets

Mar 7, 2003, 02:20 AM	#16
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	Well, this thermal grease is really just that - grease. Toothpaste will clean up near anything with enough brushing, but it might leave your CPU a little minty __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Mar 7, 2003, 12:26 PM	Thread Starter #17
syko86 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 130 Rep Power: 0	Ok, thanks. I just replaced my HSF =P. __________________ "Shoot Yourself In The Head, A Better Life Is Ahead." "Who do you side?" "Myself, of course." http://shux-inspir3.spydar.com Shucky Poets