Question CPU Rear Discolouration - Help!

[CelticPharaoh]

Hi all,

I was wondering can tell me what this discolouration on the rear of my CPU is and is it something to worry about?

I have been building systems for over a decade but I have never seen this before and worried to install it back in my system and damage GPU, RAM Motherboard. I have been having system shutdown issues so I was going to try to reapply thermal paste and reseat the cooler but when I noticed this on the back of the CPU, I got concerned. I can't determine if its a burn mark, due to the system shutdown issues I was having, or is it spillage from the thermal paste removal liquid I used.

I use ArctiClean Thermal Material Remover to clear off thermal paste then use ArctiClean Thermal Purifier. I applied several drops to the centre of the CPU and wiped it off with a microfibre cloth and the same to my Noctua NH-U14S, so I have a suspicion it may have spilt over a little, when I had applied thermal paste and seated the cooler. In hindsight, I wish I had just used ArctiClean by applying it to the cloth directly and cleaning the CPU but this is the situation right now. I don't have another motherboard, RAM, GPU to test the CPU in isolation.

I am really freaking out as this is a 5950X and concerned that its ruined so any clarification on this would be much appreciated!

 

[COLGeek]

Are you using the two bottle version of the cleaner? If so, do you know which of the two got on the back of the CPU?

Compound #2 is just alcohol and should remove #1. Once completely dry, the CPU should be okay.

 

[CelticPharaoh]

Are you using the two bottle version of the cleaner? If so, do you know which of the two got on the back of the CPU?

Compound #2 is just alcohol and should remove #1. Once completely dry, the CPU should be okay.

When I seated the cooler before, I had only used the first bottle but wiped as much of it as I could. This time, I did use both bottles but haven't installed the CPU

 

[COLGeek]

The first bottle had a citrus-y smell and likely to cause the oily look. The second is just alcohol and should remove #1.

Let dry overnight and give it a go. Good luck.

 

[CelticPharaoh]

The first bottle had a citrus-y smell and likely to cause the oily look. The second is just alcohol and should remove #1.

Let dry overnight and give it a go. Good luck.

Thanks for the help. Would you recommend that I clean the pins with the #2 solution or just leave it as it is? I'm a little hesitant to do it out of worry that any liquid would get into the socket and boom

 

[COLGeek]

The alcohol in #2 will evaporate quickly. Little risk there.