Is it fine to use 70% Alcohol to clean CPU thermal paste?

[Saleh_5]

My dad went and bought 70% alcohol instead of 99%
What is the difference between 70% and 99%?
Also should should i return it and get 99% instead?
Or is it the same?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

90-99% is ideal , but you can get it done with 70% , just takes a little longer to cut through it.

USE the 70% no need to return it.

 

[Ali Tauseef]

70% will be fine, no need for 99%.

 

[ThatVietGuy]

I use 70% all the time, no issues here.

 

[Rexper]

I used ~60% isopropyl alcohol. Sure it took a while to rub it all off but it still got the job done. 70% is absolutely fine!

 

[4745454b]

It's the alcohol content that's different. 90+ contains more alcohol in it than the 70+ stuff. Due to the lower alcohol content it will be harder to remove the TIM. More scrubbing will be involved from what I remember. You don't need to return it as it should get the job done. Just don't be surprised if it takes longer to do it. You might also need to be careful with the chip if it has pins on it.

 

[maikutech]

You can use either one of them, just be sure to dip the q tip lightly or lint free paper towel and wipe off the grease sparingly.
Any smears left by the grease you use hot tap water with a paper towel to get the rest of it off the cpu.
Dry it off with a lint free cloth and let it sit in a tiny box for 10 minutes.
Been doing this for nearly 18 years and never had a problem with it.

 

[Saleh_5]

You can use either one of them, just be sure to dip the q tip lightly or lint free paper towel and wipe off the grease sparingly.
Any smears left by the grease you use hot tap water with a paper towel to get the rest of it off the cpu.
Dry it off with a lint free cloth and let it sit in a tiny box for 10 minutes.
Been doing this for nearly 18 years and never had a problem with it.

How can i know if my CPU is dry? Can i touch it to check?

 

[4745454b]

People will tell you not to touch the CPU. Oil from your finger can stay on the heatspreader. Honestly unless you are going for records this doesn't really matter much. Alcohol evaps into the air rather quickly so it should be dry nearly immediately.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It dissipates vert fast almost instantly , drying won't be a waiting game.

 

[mrobscura]

70 will work, but give it a little longer to evaporate.

also coffee filters work well.

 

[Saleh_5]

I will use glasses cloth to clean the thermal paste and i will put the CPU in the CPU plastic from the original CPU box does that work well?

 

[mrobscura]

as long as the glasses cloth hasnt been used and doesnt leave fibers behind it should be fine. and you dont even need to remove the cpu from the socket.

 

[maikutech]

You can use either one of them, just be sure to dip the q tip lightly or lint free paper towel and wipe off the grease sparingly.
Any smears left by the grease you use hot tap water with a paper towel to get the rest of it off the cpu.
Dry it off with a lint free cloth and let it sit in a tiny box for 10 minutes.
Been doing this for nearly 18 years and never had a problem with it.

How can i know if my CPU is dry? Can i touch it to check?

Yes use your finger tip and touch the top of the cpu, if you don't feel any wet spots or moisture.
Then you put it back into the mobo, apply the grease properly, hook on the heatsink.
Boot into bios setup and let it run for 3 minutes, then boot into windows and check it later with hwmonitor.

 

[pohemi]

70% works fine, the difference between the 70% and 90+% ISO is that the 70% contains more water (hence, the extra drying time needed).

 

[mrobscura]

You can use either one of them, just be sure to dip the q tip lightly or lint free paper towel and wipe off the grease sparingly.
Any smears left by the grease you use hot tap water with a paper towel to get the rest of it off the cpu.
Dry it off with a lint free cloth and let it sit in a tiny box for 10 minutes.
Been doing this for nearly 18 years and never had a problem with it.

How can i know if my CPU is dry? Can i touch it to check?

Yes use your finger tip and touch the top of the cpu, if you don't feel any wet spots or moisture.
Then you put it back into the mobo, apply the grease properly, hook on the heatsink.
Boot into bios setup and let it run for 3 minutes, then boot into windows and check it later with hwmonitor.

no, dont touch the heat spreader on the cpu. your finger will leave oils that can effect thermals. simply, clean off the thermal paste with the alcohol and then let it sit for a few minutes to assure that its dry. with 91% you can literally see it evaporate before you eyes as you clean the cpu, so 70% shouldnt take long. like i said just let it sit a few minutes after your done and itll be fine.

 

[maikutech]

I've been doing this far much longer than you even realize and I know what I am doing.

 

[4745454b]

From my first post.

People will tell you not to touch the CPU. Oil from your finger can stay on the heatspreader. Honestly unless you are going for records this doesn't really matter much.

I agree that there is no need to touch it. But there is also no need to treat it like it belongs in a clean room. It's ok, stand down.