Can I use 91% isopropyl alchohol to remove thermal pomound on original AMD heatsink and CPU?

[dodo]

I just bought some Arctic Silver 3 to cool my AMD 1800+. After I take the heatsink out I found that the original compound is almost melt in the area of CPU core. Some are around CPU core. I want to remove them. According to Arctic Silver website, "remnants can be removed with a xylene based cleaner, (Goof Off and some carburetor cleaners) acetone, mineral spirits, or 99% pure isopropyl alcohol."

I am only familar with isopropyl alchohol so I decide to go with it. But I can only find 91% isopropyl alchohol on CVS or Walgreen website. Can I just use it to remove the compound?

Some people said we have to use acetone first and then isopropyl alchohol. Is that true? Is it neccessary? Where to buy it?

Where did your guys buy 99% isopropyl alchohol?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Budman]

You can also use nail polish remover,that works very well too.

 

[John]

I am only familar with isopropyl alchohol so I decide to go with it. But I can only find 91% isopropyl alchohol on CVS or Walgreen website. Can I just use it to remove the compound?

Yes

Where did your guys buy 99% isopropyl alchohol?

Local Pharmacy should have some.

 

[neuralfx]

.. deja vu ..

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&threadid=800753

-neural

 

[Dion Unroe]

I work in a Quality Control lab... We have all we need of the 99% isopropyl alchohol... maybe if there are no shipping restrictions/laws, we can work out something! Dion

 

[Dre]

Where did your guys buy 99% isopropyl alchohol?

Local Pharmacy should have some.

I've checked a bunch of pharmacys. The only place that seems to carry it is electronics stores (not best buy or circuit city, but real electronics stores)

 

[BD231]

Originally posted by: DreDay

Where did your guys buy 99% isopropyl alchohol?

Local Pharmacy should have some.

I've checked a bunch of pharmacys. The only place that seems to carry it is electronics stores (not best buy or circuit city, but real electronics stores)

As far as I remember, not even Radio Shack has it. You need to find that "hole in the wall" place that has transistors and the like, they should have it.

 

[thorin]

The 91% will work just fine, after you clean it up just give it more then anough time (5 mins or so) for all the alcohol to evaporate (45 sec is likely enough but you can't be too careful).

You could also try looking for alcohol swabs that you'd put in a first aid kit (you can get them at any pharmacy) and they'll work.

Thorin

 

[dodo]

Thanks a lot guys. I think I will just get some 91% isopropyl alchohol.

My only concern is that I have used the heatsink for a while so that it is already melt. Do you think 91% isopropyl alchohol is enough to remove them? Or I have to get some acetone?

Is it safe to use dish washer to clean CPU core?

Thanks a lot.

 

[ripthesystem]

might as well just use acetone(aka nail polish remover) - it's just about as cheap as alchohol and will definately get the job done.. as with anything make sure it has ample time to dry/evaporate..

hth
ripthesystem

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: dodo
Thanks a lot guys. I think I will just get some 91% isopropyl alchohol.

My only concern is that I have used the heatsink for a while so that it is already melt. Do you think 91% isopropyl alchohol is enough to remove them? Or I have to get some acetone?

Is it safe to use dish washer to clean CPU core?

Thanks a lot.

I wouldn't use dish washer fluid to clean the core because of the numerous other chemical that make it dish washer fluid.