[SOLVED] Thermal paste leaked on CPU..

[UncleFelow]

I'm building my first PC ever and I made a huge mistake it looks like that I applied too much thermal paste and it leaked to the side of the CPU.. I already install the cooler and fans...

https://imgur.com/a/bEGKKzF

View: https://imgur.com/a/bEGKKzF


The thermal paste is Arctic mx-4 2019.. I can't clean it because I can't reach it took me 4 hours to install everything..
Thank you.

 

[Gam3r01]

Thats not really a big deal, its not running off the IHS into the socket, so I wouldnt worry about it.

 

[DMAN999]

You could use Q-tips dipped in Isopropyl Alcohol to clean it up.

 

[UncleFelow]

Will my CPU did if I don't? I really don't want to mess it up I thought about just leaving to drive and clean it the next time I want to change CPU...

You could use Q-tips dipped in Isopropyl Alcohol to clean it up.

 

[hang-the-9]

Will my CPU did if I don't? I really don't want to mess it up I thought about just leaving to drive and clean it the next time I want to change CPU...

Even if it dries now what do you think will happen the second the CPU heats up in use?

You won't be "cleaning it" if you replace the CPU, you will be removing it and putting on new thermal paste, and hopefully reading a bit about how much to use first.

Using a small thing like a Qtip or a small pipe cleaner with stiff handle like these to reach https://www.amazon.com/Hiware-Drink...+pipe+cleaner&qid=1564621428&s=gateway&sr=8-6 You can just blow out any chunks that fall down.

The other issue is that if you used that much thermal paste, you would have make the heat transfer worse and you will have higher heat, although in most cases nothing to worry about.

 

[UncleFelow]

Even if it dries now what do you think will happen the second the CPU heats up in use?

You won't be "cleaning it" if you replace the CPU, you will be removing it and putting on new thermal paste, and hopefully reading a bit about how much to use first.

Using a small thing like a Qtip or a small pipe cleaner with stiff handle like these to reach https://www.amazon.com/Hiware-Drink...+pipe+cleaner&qid=1564621428&s=gateway&sr=8-6 You can just blow out any chunks that fall down.

The other issue is that if you used that much thermal paste, you would have make the heat transfer worse and you will have higher heat, although in most cases nothing to worry about.

Thank you kindly but I already put the PC together I can't reach that place anymore I'll just hope that it'll be ok and count on the non conductivity of the paste and doesn't thermal paste dry off with time? Isn't that why we replace it?.

 

[Karadjgne]

In about 6-8 years it'll get kinda doughy and not so tacky anymore.

Paste itself is an insulator. It's the reason why it's sorta recommended to use as absolutely little as possible. It's only purpose is to act as a medium, a body to hold the silicates and other minerals etc that are good thermal conductors. So it's perfectly OK for paste to dry out. However, dry paste has no stickyness to it, so if you break the seal, it's done, it won't reseal itself. Kinda like the caulking around your bathtub is good, even dry, but tear it, and it's time to fix it cuz it doesn't re-stick. And, unfortunately, it doesn't take much to break that seal. Vibrations from the fan, a small bump when cleaning etc is all it takes. It's a common theme 'help, I cleaned my pc and now my temps are crazy high! Did I break something?' Yes, you broke the seal on the thermal paste when you messed with the cpu fan.