Does rubbing alcohol work for cleaning CPU?

[someone16]

Is there any problems cleaning the CPU with 70% isopropyl alcohol instead of 99%+? Would I need to wait longer for it to dry? Will there be a big difference in getting the residue off?

[sam]

just ran and checked what i have

i have been using Isopropyl alcohol 70% and had no problems cleaning my cpu's

[Chiguy]

I've been using 70% also with no problems.

I've used acetone before too with similar results.

[Jeordiewhite]

For best results, use isopropyl with 97%-99% or scentless fingernail polish remover. Using the less ammount of alcohol isn't going to make or break the processor, but it will have water get into the crevices on the die and will stop it from effectively cooling like with out using the higher alcohol precentage.

[brandon184]

I've never cleaned a processor. Ever.

Is this something I should be doing?

[paul9]

don't use nail polish remover, as it contains (usually) oils to condition fingernails. get proper acetone from a chemist/pharmacy. the lower pecrcentage in the isopropyl indicates it has water added, so it may take a little longer to evaporate. make sure it doesn't leave a residue behind, though. you would be cleaning a processor to replace the heatsink and fan (hsf) assembly before applying fresh thermal compound when building or rebuilding a system, so if you don't build or mod, then just blow out the dust now and then with a brush or airduster. be careful with vacuum cleaners, due to static electricity concerns.

[Bovon]

On AMD processors, when the thermal paste (Artic Silver..any version) is allowed to get out on the base of the CPU around the core, it can cause problems due to the capacitive effect of the silver in the paste. It rarely will short the processor, but remains a possibility (when someone spreads the silver paste onto the entire CPU like butter on a biscuit).

Acetone (used sparingly) will remove the traces of the goo from down in the exposed electronics on a CPU. Just don't "soak" the CPU in acetone... a cotton swab on a stick is quite enough, then wash the residue off with alcohol. Sometimes an old soft bristle tooth brush will work good with alcohol only when there is just traces of the thermal goo out on the base...except alcohol is pretty well a non solvent for the goo-base.

[skybolt_1]

I use 70% alcohol but what I do is get an air duster (dry gasses, no water vapor) and blast the heck out of the processor to dry it off. You'd be surprized how much alcohol stays under the resistors on an AMD.

skybolt_1

[HeddaLora]

Be very careful with the acetone (nail polish remover), as it will melt many plastics.

I've been using alcohol for years. Stupid me, I cleaned the T.V. with it and the black on the black plastic part (body) came off, leaving grey streaks all over it.

Hedda Lora

[MitaDC]

lol

when someone spreads the silver paste onto the entire CPU like butter on a biscuit

uh.... I "know a guy" who did that on the first comp he built.... lol :P

[Bovon]

Originally posted by HeddaLora
Be very careful with the acetone (nail polish remover), as it will melt many plastics.

Yes, acetone cannot be applied to plastics (although I have used a cloth very lightly dampened with acetone...not fingernail polish remover with its oils etc.) to clean a plastic item prior to painting.

To my knowledge, no processor has any plastic parts...and I have used acetone on several to clean the saturated goo off with no bad effects. After applying acetone to a CPU (just enough to do the job..and quickly) I always use a small brush saturated with alcohol to remove any traces of acetone. The entire project time is less than one minute.

Acetone will attack some epoxies and fiberglass if allowed to soak or too much is applied.