Question How to proceed with thermal paste removal covering most socket pins tightly?

[Mattimanden]

Card: EVGA 1080TI FTW3
Block: EKWB FTC 1080 Nickel and plexi
Old thermal paste: Thermal grizzly Kryonaut
New thermal paste: Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut

I've got an 6 year-old 1080ti which has been watercooled for the same amount of time and never changed thermal paste (flaming me is encouraged). It began drastically overheating on me and I have now bought a new one, and are now preparing the 1080ti with new paste to to then sell it. But I am a little frightened by the amount of thermal pasta that is touching the board. Some of it is liquid and some of it is in various stages between solid and "goo-y" liquid. Are the transistors capable of being handled by a q-tip or do i not need to remove it at all? The thermal paste is Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut. The new paste will be the same brand but its Hydronaut version.

https://imgur.com/a/kpNNW81

 

[CountMike]

Card: EVGA 1080TI FTW3
Block: EKWB FTC 1080 Nickel and plexi
Old thermal paste: Thermal grizzly Kryonaut
New thermal paste: Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut

I've got an 6 year-old 1080ti which has been watercooled for the same amount of time and never changed thermal paste (flaming me is encouraged). It began drastically overheating on me and I have now bought a new one, and are now preparing the 1080ti with new paste to to then sell it. But I am a little frightened by the amount of thermal pasta that is touching the board. Some of it is liquid and some of it is in various stages between solid and "goo-y" liquid. Are the transistors capable of being handled by a q-tip or do i not need to remove it at all? The thermal paste is Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut. The new paste will be the same brand but its Hydronaut version.

https://imgur.com/a/kpNNW81

https://www.thermal-grizzly.com/en/remove-cleaner/s-tg-ar-100

 

[SkyNetRising]

https://www.thermal-grizzly.com/en/remove-cleaner/s-tg-ar-100

$12 for 10ml ?
Just get technical grade isopropyl alcohol. $5 for 500ml.

 

[CountMike]

$12 for 10ml ?
Just get technical grade isopropyl alcohol. $5 for 500ml.

That takes forever specially with hardened paste and needs to be physical with it and may cause mechanical damage. All makers of pastes have some kind of thinner/cleaner. I use my own mixture of high percentage alcohol with 10% nail polish solvent (Acetone). needs very tittle for efficient cleaning. 10ml lasts for dozen or more cleanings. That's about $1 per clean.

 

[Imperat0r]

That takes forever specially with hardened paste and needs to be physical with it and may cause mechanical damage. All makers of pastes have some kind of thinner/cleaner. I use my own mixture of high percentage alcohol with 10% nail polish solvent (Acetone). needs very tittle for efficient cleaning. 10ml lasts for dozen or more cleanings. That's about $1 per clean.

Interesting mix you've made.
What kind of alcohol you use in this mix?
Isopropyl alcohol?

 

[CountMike]

Interesting mix you've made.
What kind of alcohol you use in this mix?
Isopropyl alcohol?

Yes, Isopropyl when available but ~97% Ethyl and Methyl alcohol also work just fine. Methyl alcohol is used as some pants solvent and can be found cheaply in stores that sell paints.

 

[Imperat0r]

Well for sure i will test this mix.
Thanks mate!