What should be avoided when cleaning thermal paste?
Before starting, we will tell you that what we are going to tell is perfectly applicable to both CPUs and GPUs graphics cards, only you are much more likely to do this more often with your processors than with the graphics.
In case of lack of isopropyl alcohol (which is not “bad” as such, but it is not recommended) one should not use substitutes such as lemon juice or its derivatives, which seems to have still a reputation in certain sectors.
These don’t help dissolve silicone which binds the particles of the paste, but rather creates a chemical reaction with the nickel due to its high acid concentration and slightly oxidizes the surface and, above all, damages it at the microscopic level.
In case the the thermal paste is solidified (because of time, temperature or because it is of poor quality), that is, it is more or less hard, it should not be removed with a rigid element, whether spatulas, cards or the like. The remains could jump to nearby components in case we have the PC next to us.
In this case, the best is again Arctic Cleanwe will only have to take a few drops and wait a few minutes for it to take effect and then start removing it.
With the pasta already soft or dispersed, we will take a fine cotton fabric which we have already talked about and we will bypass the IHS of the processor. In this way we will eliminate most of the thermal paste that is on its surface. So we will scrub the surfaces where there was paste until all traces of it have been eliminated and always leaving the product to act. If we are talking about wipes, then removal can be done without any problems and without waiting, but we must make sure that the surface is perfect.
Of course, everything explained would be done in the same way in the CPU block or in the heatsink, except that in the second if it does not have a cold plate and it is in Direct Touch via heat pipes, it will be necessary to take into account that the thermal paste penetrates between them and it is advisable to stop and try to get it out of there so that it does not interfere with the heat transfer.
Obviously, a liquid product will work better than wipes for obvious reasons. This done, we only have to let the processor dry out a bit and the radiator (a few minutes are enough) before apply the new layer paste.
You have to be very careful with isopropyl alcohol, because it is a type of alcohol that occurs in a very high concentration and, if consumed in large quantities, it can reach be lethal to people. Similarly, since it is an alcohol, it should be do not handle near a flame.
In fact, and we insist again, isopropyl alcohol is not indicated for this task, because despite the fact that laboratory alcohol is very pure, it continues to leave traces of the same paste or powder, remember You know that it does not dissolve the greases or materials that make up modern pastes, so it only acts as a lubricant and separator like an oil between two friction parts. It goes without saying that you should avoid any oil or type of alcohol (let’s not talk about 96º) to remove the thermal paste, and even less when there are products at just over 10 dollars that are safe and specific and we will last a long time.
How to clean thermal paste from a processor and its IHS?
What may seem easy is not so easy. First of all, what we must have are good materials to do it, something that we will discuss later and above all, be clear about which ones we must not use.
To remove the thermal paste, the first thing to know is that it should not be done with the processor stitched to the motherboard and much less if its retention system is open. The processor should be removed and placed on a clean, soft surface or shell (if not, its blister) and stable, lest it fall.
Once done, we will have to have either a microfiber cloth that we will no longer use, paper or even cotton swabs. Removing it from the IHS doesn’t have any major complications with the products we’ll see below, it’s just a matter of removing material from the surface of the IHS and replacing what is already with new ones. the batter for a different area or unit.
What we need to consider are the edges of the IHS and the base of the CPU touching them, because there excess thermal paste is a problem and needs to be removed so it doesn’t fall on the pins or socket. Here, a cotton swab is ideal, especially if it does not come off easily and is of good quality.
In graphics cards the system is the same, only you have to be more careful with the SMDs and the resistors they may have around them. The ideal is to remove the paste with cotton swabs also in these places, where we have specific products for this.
Products for removing thermal paste
We know that for many Isopropyl Alcohol is like the holy grail in the matter, but the reality is that it has more shadows than lights. What we need is a product that removes or dissolves the oils and greases/silicones that thermal pastes use as a base, whether liquid metal or traditional capacitive.
Isopropyl alcohol accomplishes neither of those two things, the only thing it does is create a dispersion of the pastes that allows for its partial and waste-based removal, with the consequent danger of it falling where she should not.
Not that it’s dangerous on its own, but mixed in with the dough it can cause damage if it falls where it’s not needed.
For this reason, we opt for professional products that not only guarantee these two key points, but also protect against corrosion, IHS or matrix, leaving the surface ready for the thermal paste to adhere in the best way:
Arctic Arctic Clean
It’s him best product existing despite the fact that it has been sold for more than 20 years. There is currently no product on the market that comes close to the dissolving power of these two compounds used in tandem. Nothing can resist them, they clean, prepare and protect the surface, it’s not expensive, it lasts a long time and it’s enormously simple to use because with a few drops and letting compound 1 stand we will see how it dissolves or separates the paste to be removed.
What compound two does is purify the surface, finish cleaning it in case there are any microscopic remnants, and most importantly protect the silicon chip or the IHS, depending on whether it’s GPUs or CPUs.
Noctua Wipes
is another very valid option to clean the thermal paste. These are typically shaped wipes in individual sachets that contain a detergent-based compound which, by keeping them moist, allows the paste to be removed without much effort. The compound is safe so there would be no problem and with the spikes we can remove it.
Arctic MX Cleaner
Is essentially ArcticClean in wipes. Logically, it does not impact the surface like a liquid, but it is just as useful. It does not contain compound 2 to purify and protect the nickel, but for what we need it is more than enough and they also come in boxes of 40 units and are very cheap.
And that’s all we need to know about how to clean thermal paste from a CPU or graphics card, isn’t it simple?
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