Arctic Silver on CPU

[AndyTomaka]

I have just applied some Arctic Silver Compound to my CPU and have gotten some on the actual chip and not just the core. Since I don't feel like frying my CPU, I felt like being safe and asking if it could cause any harm if left there. I have been trying to get it off, but it just smears. I assume since it is just stuff that helps heat flow, it won't hurt anything but I though I better make sure. So, is it dangerous to leave it there?? Let me know!

 

[Viper GTS]

It won't hurt anything. If you really want it off, Goo Gone & a toothbrush works great. Rinse the CPU with water after the Goo Gone to get rid of the lemon smell, blow dry, & call it good.

Works like a charm.

Viper GTS

 

[XRaider]

I heard that it "could" short out your cpu if it gets on your L6 , L7 bridges..etc
If your have rubbing alcohol/with soft cloth.. gently try to get it off.
Yea.. you just need about the thickness of a piece of paper of A.S. on the core.
Other people here have had this problem. Maybe they have different solutions..
G/L!

 

[DVDdude]

I got a little bit on the ceramic (around the core) when I installed it on my Athlon. All I did was spray a little WD40 on a q-tip and it took the "extra" arctic silver right off. And then I just cleaned the area with isopropyl alcohol - no problems.

 

[XRaider]

Sounds like DVDdude got it! There ya go Andy.
Just rem.. be nice to your cpu, it likes you.

 

[DVDdude]

The WD40 seemed to discolor the ceramic a little (it looked like a few tiny "lines" where i had used the WD40). This is not harmful though. Just spray a little ON THE Q-TIP (not the ceramic or core). And do make sure to clean up the area with isopropyl alcohol afterwards. It should work fine.

 

[AndyTomaka]

Well, I read on the Arctic Silver page to never use an oil based solution...like WD40. The Goo Gone trick works though?

 

[MulLa]

I also suggest what DVDdude does. Use WD40 and then clean it off with alcolhol. Done that many times to many CPUs / graphics cards / chipsets. Though I normally spray the WD40 on the cloth / tissue instead of directly onto the chip itself.

 

[XRaider]

Well.. if your in doubt then go by what Artic Silver says on their website.
You can't go wrong if you use their recommendations.

 

[cpufast]

Wipe as much off as you can with a Qtip and Alcohol then use a erasure. I've done this many times. Just make sure to rotate the erasure and rub off the paste on a napkin.

 

[DVDdude]

From the Arctic Silver HOW TO INSTALL page :

HOW TO INSTALL ARCTIC SILVER - LINK

>>>>>Never use any oil or petroleum based cleaners (WD-40, citrus based grease removers 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. <<<<<<<<<

Do NOT put WD40 on the heatsink. Just use it to remove arctic silver residue from the core or ceramic. And use alcohol afterwards to clean up.

If you need to remove a thermal pad from a heatsink :
1. use a credit card or label scraper (do not use anything metal - it might cause gouges, etc.) to remove the initial sticky-stuff
2. use nail polish remover and a q-tip (or whatever) to remove the rest of the sticky-stuff (get it nice and smooth with NO sticky-stuff left)
3. use isopropyl alcohol to get the surface nice and clean

 

[XRaider]

Well done Chap! Yeah definitely don't use something sharp/metal (knife) to take off the pad!! very bad! I found out the hardway.
Needless to say, I was a sanding fool later that evening.

 

[Gilby]

DVDDude beat me to it. DO NOT USE WD40! Ordinary dish soap, on a dry cloth, works fine. Use rubbing alcohol to rinse. No problems.

 

[RobsTV]

Gibly is correct.
The fastest and easiest method is Dawn dishwashing liquid.
AS come right off. Then rinse with tap water, and blow dry.

Rubbing alcohol just smears the AS around and makes it discolored, and messy.
Stick with dish soap, and you'll do fine.

 

[AndyTomaka]

So use the dish soap on the CPU?? Alright, thanx for the input!!

 

[Nevin]

It is not a problem to use WD40 or Goo Gone on the ceramic of the processor. Just keep them off of the base of the heat sink. Dawn dish detergent also works well and has the added benefit of keeping your hands soft and supple.

For the base of the heatsink, I use Goof Off.

Always do a final cleaning on everything with alcohol.

Nevin House
Arctic Silver LLC