Need Advice on How to Clean Heat Sink

[oclockernewbie]

I have a Zalman HSF that has been in my rig for about 2 and a half years. I need to remove and clean it since there is too much dust between the fins. Does anyone know the best way to clean between the fins? I tried cleaning it in the case using Q-tips, but that method wasn't working well.

Any help on how to clean a HSF would be appreciated.

 

[chunkymonster]

Once you remove the heatsink, get yourself a can of compressed air and blow it all out. Another option is to take the fan and all electronics off the heatsink so you're left with just the metal parts and then clean it up in the sink. Of course, just make sure that it's dry before you put it back together. Isopropyl alcohol pads and or q-tips with alcohol is best for removing the thermal grease.

Good luck!

 

[Lionhardt]

high grade alcohol.

 

[chuckshissle]

 

[jetfx]

Isopropyl alcohol high purity is the best for tht job u can purchase also a broach (big brush) and fill it with Isopropyl alcohol and wash the hsf, of course it needs to be removed from the mobo

 

[dagonoth]

If its really bad, blow the big pieces away with canned air first and then use alcohol like they said.

 

[proof]

Turn on the hose and blast the sucker. Then dry it off with compressed air. Make sure to reapply thermal grease.

 

[oclockernewbie]

Hey thanks for the advice everyone.

One thing, though -- where can I get high purity isopropyl alcohol? Can I get it at my local Home Depot or Ace Hardware?

 

[apt403]

You can get it pretty much anywhere. Walgreens has it, its like $1.50 for a 16oz bottle of 91% purity alcohol.

 

[wun911]

I had an old Zalman 7700 I take the fan off and put the whole thing in a dish washer.

 

[sirheck]

I have a Zalman HSF that has been in my rig for about 2 and a half years. I need to remove and clean it since there is too much dust between the fins. Does anyone know the best way to clean between the fins? I tried cleaning it in the case using Q-tips, but that method wasn't working well.

Any help on how to clean a HSF would be appreciated.

compressed air from a vaccula type blowgun.
and you dont have to take the hsf off.