Proper Way to Remove Thermal Paste

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I've been reading some forums and wanted to find out what the consensus is on removing old thermal paste/compound from the bottom of the heatsink and cpu.

Some websites suggested using 99% isopropyl alcohol; others suggested acetone or some special cleaners.

My main goal is to get the old thermal paste off so I can apply a fresh new layer. I have 70% isopropyl alcohol and acetone. Would that work?
 
You can use the 70% isopropyl alcohol, but it may take a while. Use a cotton swap or a paper coffee filter to wipe the TIM off.

I've never heard of anyone using acetone to remove TIM from a processor.
 
arctic silver makes a arcticlean that comes with cleaner and purifier solutions. whats the real harm in just wiping it all off with a cloth tho? i did buy the arctic clean for my recent project but i wouldn't think just wiping the stuff clean would be that much of a problem. other than the arctic silver i'm not really sure tho.
 
just go to the supermarket, ive never seen 99% but i got 91% and thats the standard. 70% will work, but obviously, its less pure, and you might gain a degree or two in temps because of it leaving things u cant see behind.
 
From personal experience, the Arctic Clean solutions work better than rubbing alcohol, but they're not a necessity in this case.
 
tiraides said:
You can use the 70% isopropyl alcohol, but it may take a while. Use a cotton swap or a paper coffee filter to wipe the TIM off.

I've never heard of anyone using acetone to remove TIM from a processor.
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This is what I did with mine. I used a coffee filter and some 70% isopropyl alcohol (cheap stuff too). I had to do a few passes it did not all come up on the first go. It comes pretty clean. Arctic silver recommends this method too (if you DON'T have their cleaning product).
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll probably pick up a bottle of 90% isopropyl just to be on the safer side. I'm going to be building this week so I don't have time to order and wait for the Arctic Silver cleaning solution. I should've ordered it when I ordered the parts but didn't think about it.
 
I know for a fact that they sell it at Fry's Electronics if you've got one near.

Only thing I like is the sanitizer, I forgot to use it once and my new thermal paste started to melt, lol.
 
MightyDiomed said:
I know for a fact that they sell it at Fry's Electronics if you've got one near.

Only thing I like is the sanitizer, I forgot to use it once and my new thermal paste started to melt, lol.
Click to expand...

Which sanitizer? Tube 2? Now that I think about it, I might just order it online from Newegg for $9 shipped, or perhaps I'll get it from the local Frys. Is it really much better than the 90%+ isopropyl alcohol method, or mostly marketing?
 
The Arctic Clean set works better than using isopropyl alcohol. I've used it before and I was able to get more of the TIM removed from the processor by using less of the AC cleaning solution (1) than I ever did with the rubbing alcohol. Then again, I never forgotten to follow up the cleaning solution (1) with the purifying solution (2)... thanks for the head's up.
 
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