How To Clean Off Cpu Thermal Paste

Proper way to clean off old thermal paste?

I'll keep it short, since this is kind of a layman's question.

My cousin gave me essentially a full build minus a hard drive from his old pc for me to set up for my gf. Everything is disassembled, and the thermal paste on the CPU and cooler isn't in great shape.

I just want to remove the old and reapply some new stuff when I put it together. I've never had the need to do this, so I'm just curious if there's a proper method to removing old paste, or even just certain "do nots" as it were.

level 1

I use 95-99% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab/ball.

It's what I was taught.

I run a microfiber over it afterwards to catch any stray cotton fibers.

level 2

I use paper towels to get the majority of it off, then got to cotton and always finish with a microfiber and a shot of compressed air.

level 1

I use my wife's cotton makeup removers pads with rubbing alcohol. Works great.

level 2

This combo is op, way better than paper towel

level 1

· 2y · edited 2y

Any type of isopropyl alcohol and a paper towel (what I always use) or a microfiber rag will work, I always use higher percentage just because it dries faster. It's super cheap at any drug store. Try not to use any cloth that leaves behind residue like toilet paper. I've even used 50% isopropyl alcohol it just takes a little more scrubbing and I recommend a bit of drying time. Like 10-15 mins. Also leave the cpu in the socket on the motherboard. This lessens the chance of bending a pin and also saves you hassle of taking it out and putting it back in which also risks damaging pins. Also always apply the alcohol to the paper towel; not the cpu itself. Aka don't pour isopropyl alcohol on your cpu and mobo, just dab a small bit on your paper towel and rub the old stuff away.

level 2

(although even if you do get some isopropyl alcohol on your motherboard and or socket, you don't need to worry, just leave it to completely dry and you will be good).

level 1

coffee filters and rubbing alcohol

level 1

I just used a paper towel and then a baby wipe to make sure its clean

level 1

isopryopyl alcohol, you can find it at your local chemist - wound cleaners are particularly helpful as they come in tiny little soaked non-lint wipes.

level 1

CVS sells boxes of lens wipes premoistened with isopropyl alcohol. They're cheap and I've found that typically 1 wipe = 1 CPU. (I build a lot of systems as a side thing)

level 1

I used a paper towel and very little water

level 2

spit and shine works on more than just shoes!

level 1

Believe it or not, you can soak your cpu in alcohol for up to 24 hours can lightly scrub it with a toothbrush soaked in alcohol. I washed my 3600x with a alcohol tooth brush over pcb and gold pins. Alcohol dried quickly and it worked 100%

level 1

You can do it with some dry tissue. It's no problem if there's a bit of the old stuff on there. It just mixes with the new.

level 1

· 2y · edited 2y

Use something lint free along with iso to scrub. There's lots of mention of paper towels and micro fiber cloths...i personally avoid both those items because they leave behind little bits of fiber. There are too many cheap mf cloths out now that suck. I prefer to either use shop towels (lint free heavy duty paper towels) or a coffee filter. However, in a pinch really anything that is absorbant will work.

level 1

Wipe off as much paste as you can with a dry tissue.

Then, use isopropyl alcohol on a tissue or toilet paper to clean the rest of the paste off the processor