Modding What to use to wipe Thermal Compound off?

Yea, so what do you use to wipe off old thermal compound on the heatsink (before applying a fresh coat)?

I was thinking of using Whisky or White Spirit but doesn't sound like a good idea because i dont want my place to go Ka-BooM! and catch on fire the moment i turn on my PC and temps go 60oC

 

What a waste of whisky

Isopropyl alcohol?

*n

 

What's that and where do i getit?

 

I use Nail Varnish Remover

 

Whisky is a tasty alcoholic beverage and can be bought from most off licences or large stores.

*n

 

At this very moment i am using Isopropyl Alcohol to do the same job.

Put it on a rag and or ear bud type things.

you can get it from www.maplin.co.uk

AW3K

 

For Artic Silver 3 I use plain old toilet paper, available at your nearest arcane sanctum!

 

One of those blue&white 'paper' cloths works fine...

 

I use good old Nail Polish remover or when work has some going spare IPA, with a lint free cotton cloth also from work.

Looking at work does have some advantages.

 

if you have no nail polish around, use some acetone...its the same stuff and worked well for me

 

i use akasa thermal grease remover from overclockers
edit/ and a J-cloth thingy

 

Simple, cheap, effective....

Isopropyl alcohol (/me nods to Penski). You can get it at any pharmacy for about a buck a bottle. Don't get the cheap 51% stuff, get the 91% as there is less water in it. You can also get the alcohol pads which work just as good (doctors use them to clean your arm before giving you a shot). I use the pads all the time, but I can get them, for free at work (hospital).

 

You can also get absolutely wrecked/very ill on it.

*n

 

i just went to my local store (eckards or whatever) and they sold a bottle. if in the US, go to wegmans, or some such store, just sells groceries... and buy a bottle, for a 30oz bottle, it was $1.40 i think, i use it for everything, clean tons of stuff with it... evaporates inl ike 2 seconds too. just grab a tissue- put some on, wipe it off, let it evaporate, apply new thermal compound.. and your set.

 

A bottle of what r3Q?

Anyway, I think Isopropyl alcohol is more common in the US. I asked a few places round here and they didn't have anything of the sort. Then I tried a chemists and I found a bottle of acetone - which was probably sold as nail varnish remover though it didn't have any markings to suggest so. But in any case I honestly don't think you'd notice the difference if you used your finger and a rag than if you used 100% pure solvent and a lint free cloth.

 

are we talking removing Goop off the core or the entire chip surface cause just for the core use toilet roll its the biz and for the hole shipc well that alcahole stuff i tend to jsut clean the core the rest of the chip iis clean anyway unless your messy with the goop

 

seems like im going to use the nail-varnish remover

 

I use 'Force' electrical cleaner that I 'borrowed from work.

'rapid evaporation'

'leaves no residue'

'non-chlorinated'

'effectively removes grease, dirt and oil'

It's good sh*t but it stinks, you could get high on it I reckon.

I have also used lighter-fuel to remove thermal grease - kinda works.

 

My fingers....

 

lol, the isopropyl alcohol , i cant believe i forgot to mension that =) you guys were talking about it =)

easy stuff to find, and cheap to clean EVERYTHIN and your mother with too.