[SOLVED] Question about issue with thermal paste - is my CPU safe?

[dustzombie]

I recently built a new PC. I used the dot method to apply the thermal paste. After screwing on the CPU cooler, I realized with horror that I had forgotten to peel the sticker off the bottom of the cooler. I took the cooler off, peeled off the sticker. At this point I thought it might be better to clean off the thermal paste and reapply in order to get the cleanest spread rather than just putting the cooler back on. I read online that the best way to clean thermal paste off the cpu is with 91% isopropyl alcohol and some cotton swabs, so I left for CVS to pick some alcohol up. After driving to every CVS nearby I learned that all isopropyl alcohol is sold out where I live because people are buying it like crazy due to the Coronavirus. So I called my dad and asked if he had any. He had 70% isopropyl alcohol WIPES. It was all I could get so I picked some up from his place. Back at home, I squeezed out the wipes onto the tip of the cotton swab and rubbed it on the cpu in circular motions, then wiped with paper towel. While some paste did come off, I was unable to get the CPU to look shiny as it did when taken out of the package. It still looked matte as if the surface had been stained by the paste. I used up multiple tiny wipes and cotton swabs trying to get it shiny again, but it just wouldn't get that clean. I ended up giving up, applying new paste via the dot method again and finishing the build. The PC works fine right now, but it was only built yesterday.

My question is, do I need to be concerned about the well being of my CPU? The thermal paste I used is Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, the CPU cooler is a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo RGB black edition. Linked here is a picture I took of the CPU after the cleaning:

 

[Phaaze88]

Your cpu is fine. 70% alcohol is also ok.

Your combination of that cpu and that cooler isn't though.

https://imgur.com/YwqWtBb

View: https://imgur.com/YwqWtBb

10th gen power tables.

The Hyper 212 is designed for up to, but not exactly, 150w of heat.
You need something a good bit bigger than that, like an NH-D15, 280mm/360mm hybrid cooler.

 

[dustzombie]

Your cpu is fine. 70% alcohol is also ok.

Your combination of that cpu and that cooler isn't though.

https://imgur.com/YwqWtBb

View: https://imgur.com/YwqWtBb

10th gen power tables.

The Hyper 212 is designed for up to, but not exactly, 150w of heat.
You need something a good bit bigger than that, like an NH-D15, 280mm/360mm hybrid cooler.

Thanks for the response. Yikes. Clearly I should have considered this before I picked a cooler. I guess I'll be acquiring more alcohol and cleaning the CPU off again to put a new cooler in. Perhaps I should turn turbo boost off in the bios until I have replaced the cooler so that the CPU doesn't heat up too much.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I guess I'll be acquiring more alcohol and cleaning the CPU off again to put a new cooler in.

Alcohol is for softening dried up paste.
Your paste is freshly applied. No need for any alcohol at all.
Just remove it with lint free cloth. Coffee filter is good too.

 

[Phaaze88]

Perhaps I should turn turbo boost off in the bios until I have replaced the cooler so that the CPU doesn't heat up too much.

Yep.

 

[geofelt]

Alcohol is fine for cleaning off paste.
91% if you can find it, but 70% is ok.
I would not use cotton, it can leave lint.
A paper coffee filter does a good job.

I doubt you will have a thermal problem so long as your case has sufficient fresh air intake to keep the cpu cooler and the graphics cooler fed.

Run HWmonitor.
It will record the current, min and max temperatures.
If your minimum is 10-15c. over ambient, your cooler is working and mounted well.
The 212 can be difficult to get on level so check that.

If you see a cpu temperature of 100c. it will indicate throttling.
85c. or so with a simple cpu-Z stress test should be ok.

 

[dustzombie]

Alcohol is fine for cleaning off paste.
91% if you can find it, but 70% is ok.
I would not use cotton, it can leave lint.
A paper coffee filter does a good job.

I doubt you will have a thermal problem so long as your case has sufficient fresh air intake to keep the cpu cooler and the graphics cooler fed.

Run HWmonitor.
It will record the current, min and max temperatures.
If your minimum is 10-15c. over ambient, your cooler is working and mounted well.
The 212 can be difficult to get on level so check that.

If you see a cpu temperature of 100c. it will indicate throttling.
85c. or so with a simple cpu-Z stress test should be ok.

Thanks for the detailed response. I'll try this.