September 30th, 2002, 01:30 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 27
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I've decided to remount my heatsink because I want to use the Artic Silver paste I just got. What are some good cleaning products that are safe on the processor and heatsink? I was thinking of just maybe using rubbing alcohol to clean the processor an heatsink. Would that be ok or are there better cleaning solutions out there that are safer?
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September 30th, 2002, 01:37 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | norml.org
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,436
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Im pretty sure the AS website has cleaning info---I usually just use 91% rubbing alcohol and cotton...
Here ya go:
Remove any thermal pads or other interface material from the heatsink before applying the Arctic Silver. Thermal pads can be scraped off with a plastic tool that will not scratch the bottom then the remnants can be removed with a xylene based cleaner, (Goof Off and some carburetor cleaners) acetone, mineral spirits, or 99% pure isopropyl alcohol.
Never use any oil or petroleum based cleaners (WD-40, citrus based cleaners and many automotive degreasers) on the base of a heatsink. The oil, which is engineered to not evaporate, will fill in the microscopic valleys in the metal and significantly reduce the effectiveness of any subsequently applied thermal compound.
If your heatsink has a thermal 'pad' mounted on it, this pad must be removed before using Arctic Silver thermal compound. Thermal pads are made with paraffin wax that melts once it gets hot. When it melts, it will fill in the microscopic valleys in the heatsink with wax. To minimize the permanent contamination of the mounting surface with wax, the thermal pad should be removed before it is used and melted. Never use heat or hot water to remove the pad, the heat will melt the wax into the heatsink.
Last edited by thekingofpain : September 30th, 2002 at 01:39 PM.
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September 30th, 2002, 01:37 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | dword to your moms
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: ~/
Posts: 3,195
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Rubbing alcohol will work, acetone, in nail polish remover, will also work well. Personally I just use rubbing alcocol as 2 guys dont usually have nail polish remover lying around 
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September 30th, 2002, 02:11 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 27
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Thanks, rubbing alcohol it is! ...hmm or maybe nail polish remover...nm I'm not gonna go there.  | |
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September 30th, 2002, 02:28 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Ultimate Member
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Mauldin, SC
Posts: 1,381
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Nail polish remover is actually acetone - very similar to isopropyl
alcohol. If you use the alcohol, makes sure it's the 90+%. If you
buy lesser concentrations, the difference, made up of water,
increases, which you really don't want in and around components.
So you want good cleaning ability coupled with a high evaporation
rate. Just a heads up. . .
- Bill | |
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September 30th, 2002, 02:33 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Canuck
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Langley, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,603
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You can buy acetone from Home Depot or Canadian Tire (eh.. ok the American Equivalent of that please)
It comes in a big container and is very cheap.
__________________
- Freaky
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September 30th, 2002, 02:34 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Ultimate Member
Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Brunswick, NJ,
Posts: 1,337
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I used my sister's nail polish remover to clean the hsf and cpu. They're both still working. | |
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September 30th, 2002, 03:12 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | PCLinuxOS MiniMe 2008
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,574
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FWIW, I'd recommend not using carburetor cleaners unless you followup with yet another cleaner: there is no need to limit impurities in a cleaner designed for carburetors, but for CPUs, there could be dissolved stuff in the carburetor cleaner which could throw a CPU into whacko land, if it gets used on the CPU semiconductor. Nail Polish remover is similar: I've seen some with Lanolin 'to soften the cuticle'..... can't imagine lanolin being good for semiconductors!
__________________
--Tell the Linux developers to write accurate and timely docs 'cuz they read their own code the best. Tell them to put them in the system, too.
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September 30th, 2002, 03:16 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | PCLinuxOS MiniMe 2008
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,574
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Quote: Originally posted by FreakyOCR
You can buy acetone from Home Depot or Canadian Tire (eh.. ok the American Equivalent of that please)
| Maybe AutoZone or VIP Discount Auto Centers comes close, IMO. I've bought Acetone at AutoZone. | |
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September 30th, 2002, 03:21 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Steeler Fan
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Louisville KY
Posts: 3,252
| Quote: Originally posted by bill1971
Nail polish remover is actually acetone - very similar to isopropyl
alcohol. If you use the alcohol, makes sure it's the 90+%. If you
buy lesser concentrations, the difference, made up of water,
increases, which you really don't want in and around components.
So you want good cleaning ability coupled with a high evaporation
rate. Just a heads up. . .
- Bill | The difference is made up of water but also soapy stuff... | |
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