[SOLVED] Can you clean the back of the CPU?

[Krsensei]

Hey guys back with another noob question lol. So I bought 99% alcohol to clean thermal paste off my cpu before my new heatsink gets here. Seems to be two small dots on the back of the cpu is it safe to use a coffee filter & alcohol to get it off?

Thanks guys!

 

[DMAN999]

Yes, 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and paper coffee filters is the recommended way to clean thermal paste off of the top of your CPU (the flat side) and/or your Cooler base.

 

[bit_user]

Seems to be two small dots on the back of the cpu is it safe to use a coffee filter & alcohol to get it off?

You mean on the side with the electrical contacts?

I've used 91% isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth to clean that side, successfully. It got a bit dirty, when I lapped a CPU.

 

[Krsensei]

You mean on the side with the electrical contacts?

I've used 91% isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth to clean that side, successfully. It got a bit dirty, when I lapped a CPU.

Yeah the green part sorry don’t know the actual name for that side xD

 

[Krsensei]

Yes, 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and paper coffee filters is the recommended way to clean thermal paste off of the top of your CPU (the flat side) and/or your Cooler base.

I was talking about the green side with the gold parts

 

[DMAN999]

I would try using Electronic Contact Cleaner for that.
I would spray it on and see if it dissolves the paste without having to touch it.
If spraying it a few times doesn't work then I would spray it again and very carefully wipe it with a paper coffee filter.

 

[bit_user]

I would try using Electronic Contact Cleaner for that.

I knew I was forgetting something. You're right - I first used the alcohol, but then I applied DeoxIT and DeoxIT Gold.

https://caig.com/deoxit-d-series/

Deoxit Gold G Series With Shop - CAIG

DEOXIT® GOLD G-SERIES – CONTACT ENHANCER, CONDITIONER & PROTECTOR Maximize New System Performance and Critical Applications DeoxIT® Gold G-Series (forme ...

caig.com

At work, I might've just used alcohol, since I didn't have deoxIT there. I'm 90% sure I also cleaned that side of a couple CPUs, there.

very carefully wipe it with a paper coffee filter.

Eh, you don't need to be too precious. Just make sure not to use too much force. Worst case scenario would be the paper/cloth catches the edge of one of the contacts, or you wipe it too hard with something too abrasive and remove some of the gold plating. I'm not really sure about the legitimacy of the latter concern, but gold is soft and the plating is very thin.

I wasn't all that careful, since it was an old i3. And, yet, it still worked fine.

 

[Krsensei]

I would try using Electronic Contact Cleaner for that.
I would spray it on and see if it dissolves the paste without having to touch it.
If spraying it a few times doesn't work then I would spray it again and very carefully wipe it with a paper coffee filter.

Alright thanks for the advice!

 

[Krsensei]

I knew I was forgetting something. You're right - I first used the alcohol, but then I applied DeoxIT and DeoxIT Gold.

https://caig.com/deoxit-d-series/

Deoxit Gold G Series With Shop - CAIG

DEOXIT® GOLD G-SERIES – CONTACT ENHANCER, CONDITIONER & PROTECTOR Maximize New System Performance and Critical Applications DeoxIT® Gold G-Series (forme ...

caig.com

At work, I might've just used alcohol, since I didn't have deoxIT there. I'm 90% sure I also cleaned that side of a couple CPUs, there.


Eh, you don't need to be too precious. Just make sure not to use too much force. Worst case scenario would be the paper/cloth catches the edge of one of the contacts, or you wipe it too hard with something too abrasive and remove some of the gold plating. I'm not really sure about the legitimacy of the latter concern, but gold is soft and the plating is very thin.

I wasn't all that careful, since it was an old i3. And, yet, it still worked fine.

Thanks for the info! I appreciate it!

 

[bit_user]

Thanks for the info! I appreciate it!

BTW, the reason I used both is that the instructions of DeoxIT Gold (which is formulated to clean gold-plated contacts) says to use the D-series, first.

Contrary to the instructions of Gold, I think I did wipe it off, after application.

 

[Mr5oh]

I've used just alcohol many of times to clean the "pin" side of CPUs. It won't harm it. No need to get some other special cleaner.

 

[Krsensei]

I've used just alcohol many of times to clean the "pin" side of CPUs. It won't harm it. No need to get some other special cleaner.

Thanks for the response!

 

[Fakharshan]

Is it?, this is something new. Thanks for sharing, being here definitely worth.

 

[theonerm2]

I've also cleaned the side of the CPU that makes contact with the pins. You can be actually pretty rough with that side of the CPU as long as you only touch the gold pins. It looks delicate but it's really not something you absolutely have to be super careful with. CPU's are actually fairly durable. They can take a lot of abuse and still work. Though I wouldn't recommend abusing something you might have paid a lot of money for. I'm just telling you you don't have to be super careful with it to ease your mind.

 

[Krsensei]

I've also cleaned the side of the CPU that makes contact with the pins. You can be actually pretty rough with that side of the CPU as long as you only touch the gold pins. It looks delicate but it's really not something you absolutely have to be super careful with. CPU's are actually fairly durable. They can take a lot of abuse and still work. Though I wouldn't recommend abusing something you might have paid a lot of money for. I'm just telling you you don't have to be super careful with it to ease your mind.

Thanks ! Definitely thought I had to be extra gentle lol

 

[theonerm2]

Thanks ! Definitely thought I had to be extra gentle lol

Well you still want to have some degree of gentleness but not so much that it makes you nervous to work on it. It's not really something that's like brain surgery or something to that degree. Although the CPU is the brain of the computer. lol.