Thermal Paste Removal

[AlyxMaz]

I'll be replacing my stock heat sink with a cooler soon and I'm scared because several years ago I did the same thing and destroyed my CPU. I followed all the basic rules (rubbing alcohol, lint free cloth, left the CPU in the socket, etc.) but still managed to screw it up. I think perhaps I applied to much pressure when removing the old paste. It was being stubborn and would not come off. And from what I've seen you need to get as much off as possible. How do you do that without applying pressure to the CPU? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[mlga91]

Just pour some 90% isopropyl alcohol on the lint free cloth (a little, the cloth should be wet on alcohol) and rub it not so hard, in circles, many times, it should take off all the old paste.

 

[Karsten75]

I remove the CPU chip from the motherboard. Put it on a piece og cardboard/paper towel to not damage the bottom. Don't use force to rub the old paste off

Use this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100010
Or ethyl alcohol/isopropyl , a coffee filter (lintless paper) and a lot of patience to remove the thermal paste.

 

[Faredoon]

people say dnt use 90 or 99% isoproply alchohol on motherboards as your motherboard can get a hole and chips on the board can melt and all and on processors it will make the surface rough and corrosive like will will damage it. is this true iv never used it so i dk anyone who has used it please reply i want a personal experience not theory