I accidentally touched the bottom of my CPU

[Usual guy]

I just bought a 6700k CPU and i'm a complete noob when it comes to hardware. I never knew you shouldn't touch the bottom. Here's a picture of the CPU

I'm afraid i've done something horrible.

 

[USAFRet]

Unless your fingers were coated with peanut butter or motor oil, you're fine.

Now...some people may say that you should clean the bottom with isopropyl alcohol.
I would say that poses more risk, as in maybe knocking off one of the components on the bottom.

 

[Usual guy]

Unless your fingers were coated with peanut butter or motor oil, you're fine.

Now...some people may say that you should clean the bottom with isopropyl alcohol.
I would say that poses more risk, as in maybe knocking off one of the components on the bottom.

I mean, i touched the edges of the cpu and for a sec or two it evaporated some oil. But ofc, i'm not motor oil dirty. Just human oily. Oh, i'm scared.

 

[USAFRet]

Unless your fingers were coated with peanut butter or motor oil, you're fine.

Now...some people may say that you should clean the bottom with isopropyl alcohol.
I would say that poses more risk, as in maybe knocking off one of the components on the bottom.

I mean, i touched the edges of the cpu and for a sec or two it evaporated some oil. But ofc, i'm not motor oil dirty. Just human oily. Oh, i'm scared.

The edges, or the bottom?
Either way, it is fine.

But if you're stressing out on it...get some iso alcohol, and carefully clean the bottom of the CPU.
Carefully.

 

[Usual guy]

Unless your fingers were coated with peanut butter or motor oil, you're fine.

Now...some people may say that you should clean the bottom with isopropyl alcohol.
I would say that poses more risk, as in maybe knocking off one of the components on the bottom.

I mean, i touched the edges of the cpu and for a sec or two it evaporated some oil. But ofc, i'm not motor oil dirty. Just human oily. Oh, i'm scared.

The edges, or the bottom?
Either way, it is fine.

But if you're stressing out on it...get some iso alcohol, and carefully clean the bottom of the CPU.
Carefully.

I've touched the bottom and the edges as seen on the pic. But i've noticed the evaporating while carefully holding it on the edges. I don't know how would you else even use it, especially when the ASUS intallation cpu tool kind of makes you push the cpu to make a click.

 

[Usual guy]

Also, what's the worst that can happen?

 

[USAFRet]

Evaporating?
That means some substance transferred from your fingers to the CPU.

If so...clean it.

 

[Usual guy]

But what happens in the worst case?

 

[Usual guy]

Also, while cleaning with a q-tip, should i clean the whole area, or just the pins? (i mean the center area or how is it called)

 

[USAFRet]

Also, while cleaning with a q-tip, should i clean the whole area, or just the pins? (i mean the center area or how is it called)

q-tip is not recommended. Might leave some fibers behind.
You want something lint free. A coffee filter perhaps.

And just the pin area.

 

[Usual guy]

After i cleaned it with alcohol, do i need to leave it like that? Or take a towel and make the cpu dry? Sorry if it sounds extremely stupid.

 

[USAFRet]

After i cleaned it with alcohol, do i need to leave it like that? Or take a towel and make the cpu dry? Sorry if it sounds extremely stupid.

Just leave it.
Any liquid has already evaporated.

Do you see any foreign material on the CPU?
No.

Now plug it in and build the PC.

 

[Usual guy]

After i cleaned it with alcohol, do i need to leave it like that? Or take a towel and make the cpu dry? Sorry if it sounds extremely stupid.

Just leave it.
Any liquid has already evaporated.

Do you see any foreign material on the CPU?
No.

Now plug it in and build the PC.

I've still yet to wash it with alcohol, as i didn't find one today at my local store. Does it mean that there's a limit to what the CPU can be exposed to fingertips? Don't make me lose my mind over this.

 

[USAFRet]

Going back to Step 1....I see nothing on that picture of the CPU that would cause me to 1) clean it, or 2) worry about it.

 

[Usual guy]

Going back to Step 1....I see nothing on that picture of the CPU that would cause me to 1) clean it, or 2) worry about it.

But you can see my dirty fingernails (haha) that might've caused some trouble. But if you say so, then what exactly is considered dirty pins, (if you have a pic, post it).

 

[USAFRet]

Going back to Step 1....I see nothing on that picture of the CPU that would cause me to 1) clean it, or 2) worry about it.

But you can see my dirty fingernails (haha) that might've caused some trouble. But if you say so, then what exactly is considered dirty pins, (if you have a pic, post it).

Some goo that might have transferred from your actual skin to the gold pads on the CPU. The peanut butter or motoro oil.
I see nothing to indicate that.

However, you, with your local eyeball, have a better image than I do.


You have two options right now.
Wait until you can get the proper cleaning fluid.
or
Plug it in as is.

I know what I would do.

 

[Usual guy]

Going back to Step 1....I see nothing on that picture of the CPU that would cause me to 1) clean it, or 2) worry about it.

But you can see my dirty fingernails (haha) that might've caused some trouble. But if you say so, then what exactly is considered dirty pins, (if you have a pic, post it).

Some goo that might have transferred from your actual skin to the gold pads on the CPU. The peanut butter or motoro oil.
I see nothing to indicate that.

However, you, with your local eyeball, have a better image than I do.


You have two options right now.
Wait until you can get the proper cleaning fluid.
or
Plug it in as is.

I know what I would do.

You'd plug in i suppose?

 

[USAFRet]

You'd plug in i suppose?

Exactly.

 

[sarthak.saswat.das]

So did u plug the cpu and try it out after this? Did the Cpu work as it should?

 

[USAFRet]

So did u plug the cpu and try it out after this? Did the Cpu work as it should?

I'm hoping...2 years later...he's still not holding it in his hand.