How to clean thermal paste off cpu

Now they can leave it alone to run in peace, yes? Well… yes, but also no.

Last Updated: January 8, Fact Checked. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed , times.

How to clean thermal paste off cpu

So you've recently decided to peel back your CPU cooler and look at the thermally-conductive paste, or what's left of it, stuck beneath. You brave PC builder, you. And now you want it gone. Since you might be reading this with a phone in one hand and a messy CPU in the other, I'm going to cut to the chase: The easiest way to clean up old thermal paste is a paper towel. Now some may say that near-infinitesimally small fibres from the paper towel will stick to the heat spreader and prevent adequate cooling, but so long as you're not rubbing the paper towel to tatters, you'll probably be just fine. We do it all the time at PC Gamer towers when we're switching chips and have never run into any trouble. That said, when we really want to ensure a completely clean contact point, for thermal testing, we use a microfibre cloth to remove all the gunk with the minimal chance of leaving anything else behind. And when we really want to go the extra mile, we use a CPU cleaning solution or wipe. One part clears away the old thermal paste, and the other "purifies" the surface. Essentially you give the heat spreader a good spring cleaning. A microfibre cloth also works well here. The key to any CPU cleaning, especially once removed from the motherboard, is to hold only it by the edges and avoid touching any of the contact pads or pins on the underside of the chip.

Part 3. Low-quality alcohol may leave impurities or stains on your CPU, which can negatively affect the new thermal paste's heat transfer efficiency. This wikiHow will show you how to clean old thermal paste and apply a new coat on your desktop computer.

Hjem Diskusjoner Workshop Marked Kringkastninger. Installer Steam. So I wish to remove old thermal paste from the bottom of my fan and top of processor. Is that true? Is rubbing alcohol from the local pharmacy too impure? Second, what is the best method for applying thermal paste?

If you're building a computer , you need thermal paste, or heat paste, to ensure that your computer's processor doesn't overheat. It's a gloopy, silvery material that you squirt between the processor and the cooler to fill in all the micro cavities in their surfaces, enabling a more efficient transfer of heat from the processor to the cooler. The best heatpastes work so well they let your processor run harder and faster, at lower temperatures, making your PC quieter in turn. You need to replace the thermal interface material every few years, too, so if you haven't opened up your PC in a while, it might be time to give it a spring clean. If your CPU and cooler are clean and ready to go, we can jump right in to applying new heat paste. If they aren't clean, and have old hea tpaste on them, scroll down to the section on how to clean your CPU first. The key to applying thermal paste is not to overdo it; you only need to use a small, pea-sized bit of paste — anything more would be excessive.

How to clean thermal paste off cpu

Besides cleaning your rig , removing junk files, and defragmenting drives , you can fine tune your system by reapplying the thermal paste on the CPU. Over time, the thermal paste between your processor and the heatsink can dry out and lead to high temperatures in addition to causing stability issues when you attempt to overclock the CPU. So, we've compiled a guide detailing all the safety precautions and the steps you should take to clean the thermal paste from your CPU! Finally, you should get some high-quality thermal paste if you plan to put your system back together after removing the remains of the old thermal paste. Before you start disassembling your PC, you should run some CPU-intensive games or benchmarks to heat up the processor and the thermal paste. Should you attempt to unmount the CPU cooler when the thermal paste is cold, it will act as a glue to bind the processor to the heatsink, and, in the worst-case scenario, you could end up ripping the CPU out of its socket. Also, be sure to unplug your system and hold the power button for 30 seconds to get rid of the residual charge stored in the capacitors.

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Updated: January 8, If you're building a computer , you need thermal paste, or heat paste, to ensure that your computer's processor doesn't overheat. The second worst way or wrong way would be to use low-quality rubbing alcohol. Vis mobilnettside. Well… yes, but also no. Step 2: Place the microfiber cloth over the end of the isopropyl alcohol bottle and upend it until some of it has saturated the cloth, then wipe the CPU down until all the old heat paste has been removed. Thermal pads perform the same job as heat paste, but they're a malleable material with strong thermal conductivity. Intel lands foundry deal for custom Microsoft processor — 18A process tech to be used for 'very exciting platform shift'. But it pays to take things a little slower when you're dealing with expensive and sensitive PC parts. Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to clean the CPU. If I remembered the link where I got this info from I'd give it to you but unfortunately I don't. Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies. So you've recently decided to peel back your CPU cooler and look at the thermally-conductive paste, or what's left of it, stuck beneath.

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Use the thermal paste wipe to wipe the old thermal paste off the surface of the CPU. Once the new paste is on the processor, you can put the heatsink back in its place. Featured Articles How to. Then with a small plastic bag wrapped tightly around my finger, spead it evenly so the whole chip has a very thin covering. Put your computer back together. No comments yet Comment from the forums. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Before beginning, ensure that the CPU cooler has been removed, and you can visually see the thermal paste; it is generally white or gray. It's that sinking feeling you get when your expensive new GPU droops in its PCIExpress slot, testing the strength of its mounts to keep it in place. Next, hold the power button down for at least 10 seconds to discharge any residual electricity. They may also be confused as to what the exact reason is. I have an i7 dual quad, but it must be a first gen since I ordered it almost 5 years ago. Switch off all power. Detach any other devices that are connected to the computer. More often than not, this only puts your computer into sleep mode.