Thermal Paste?

[xtox]

Recently my 2500+ Barton computer has been getting a little hot.

The CPU is hitting 60C all the time usualy, and this being winter!

Im thinking the thermal paste has maybe come to its end in life?

Im looking for a guide to tell me how to clean the CPU and heatsink to reapply new thermal paste.

 

[trust_no1]

I don't think that TIM is the only culprit here. Check your CPU heatsink for dust. They usually end up catching a lot of crap after a while (pet hair and whatnot). And while you're there, dust off the entire case.

As for cleaning of TIM, you can get high purity isopropyl alcohol at the pharmacy and use a coffee filter or something similar to remove it. Something >90%. Or simply get Arctic Silver's Arctic Clean if you want.

 

[DeadlyAura]

The heatsink is easy enough to clean, water and a paper towel while trying not to get it all over everything. The processor you will need about 90% alcohol (howeveryou are supposed to word that). When you re-apply the paste, do it with a credit card edge in a nice thin layer. Too much paste will also cause bad temps. Make it as even as possible so that it fills in the grooves nicely and settles nicely. While your at it, consider lapping the heatsink too. (PM me or search the Show Off Your Heatsink thread for instructions).