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Cleaning a CPU

F

[FX]Roman

Gawd
Joined
Apr 16, 2002
Messages
819
Hi all I have a quick question about how to clean a CPU.

Right now my CPU and Heatsink have old and dried thermal compound on it. I don't think cleaning the heatskink will be a problem, but the CPU may be.


I have done some reading around and I have realized that using rubbing alcahol is a good choice for use on the CPU.

I've got a bottle of Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol (%70), and I'm wondering if this will be good to use. If so, could someone give me a good method of cleaning a CPU as well, or link me to a good tutorial.


Thanks.
 
Yep, rubbing alcohol works great. It also evaporates fast, which makes it dry quickly. I use rubbing alcohol with a paper towel, and then I use compressed air to make sure none of the paper towel bits are left on the surface.
 
I'm curious about the 70 percent factor of the rubbing alcahol... is that too little, or should it be higher?


Thanks again.
 
I assume (yea, I know the little saying about assumeing things) that you do this in the socket or what? Wouldn't it be near impossibly to do it outside of it without bending a pin or something. (hey, theres an advantage to th new 775 socket:) )
 
I scrubbed off my A64 with rubbing alcohol and it seems to work okay, but I've heard things about residue and stuff that gets left behind. I'd reccomend looking around for a bottle of 99% Isopropyl Alcohol, they're only about $4-$10.
 
I have no doubts about that part, thought. Of course I'll take the CPU out of the socket... Basically, the thing that worries me the most is:

- Using the right solution for cleaning.
- Breaking the CPU core when I put the heat sink back.
 
Isopropyl alcohol or acetone work nicely. 70% Isopropyl is nice, 90% or higher is recommended (higher alcohol content, faster drying). Just be sure the surface is dry and free of foreign objects when you're done (and don't be touching it with your fingers either).
 
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