Removing thermal grease from a cpu

Lee · Post by **Lee** » August 13th, 2005, 16:11

I think i'll probably be buying an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 soon to replace my noisy stock cooler. What should I use to remove the thermal grease? I've never replaced a cpu fan before and the websites i've looked at all have different ideas about what you should use.

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 13th, 2005, 16:13

isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) and some cotton buds.

Lee · Post by **Lee** » August 13th, 2005, 16:15

Ok, thanks

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 13th, 2005, 16:17

just do it in a well ventilated area and be reasonably careful

Lee · Post by **Lee** » August 13th, 2005, 16:21

err, where do you get isopropyl? I asked my parents but they dont know either...

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 13th, 2005, 16:22

chemists.

either that, or in old vcr cleaning kits.

Post by **deject** » August 13th, 2005, 16:32

make sure you use a high percentage bottle, to keep as many contaminants out. also make sure your cotton balls don't leave anything behind. other than that clean away!

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 13th, 2005, 16:33

cotton buds = Q-tips (just to be clear)

wyrd · Post by **wyrd** » August 13th, 2005, 16:55

me mam brought a big bottle of absolute methanol homefrom work, i used that the otherday :D

Post by **FatherJack** » August 14th, 2005, 1:00

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:chemists.

either that, or in old vcr cleaning kits.

I think it's also boat fuel, not that that is especially helpful, it just reminded me of this:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097162/soundtrack which I thought at the time was the best song title ever.

Nickface · Post by **Nickface** » August 14th, 2005, 1:13

Sandpaper...

...

...

...

WHAT?!

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » August 14th, 2005, 10:50

I used a sheet or two of dry kitchen towel but then I'm a cowboy

yeeeeee-haw!

Stoat · Post by **Stoat** » August 14th, 2005, 13:26

I used a ruler.

and a penknife, for those stubborn areas.

Gunslinger42 · Post by **Gunslinger42** » August 14th, 2005, 14:29

I use duct tape and bubble gum a la Macgyver.

cashy · Post by **cashy** » August 14th, 2005, 14:47

i used a garden trowel

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » August 14th, 2005, 14:57

well actually I put my CPU in the washing machine, on a hot cycle, then dried it off in the microwave

shot2bits · Post by **shot2bits** » August 14th, 2005, 16:33

and it still works?

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 14th, 2005, 16:35

I did this to get some old thermal compound off. :D

cashy · Post by **cashy** » August 14th, 2005, 17:06

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:I did this to get some old thermal compound off. :D

i take it that seemed like a good idea at the time?

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » August 14th, 2005, 17:08

It was a planned thing, using a CPU bought for the job (already dead)

http://if.geekfreely.co.uk/ :D