Heh. I was disassembling a defective Shuttle box and I couldn't get the cpu separated from the heatsink. The cpu actually came out of the socket while I was removing the heatsink, without me even lifting the release bar. After much turning and twisting, I managed to get the cpu (the thermal paste was creating some kind of weird suction effect or something) but some of the paste splattered past the side of the processor onto the pins. Annoying to say the least. Thanks for the reply BTW.Originally posted by: Freeder
I'm not really sure on how to remove all of the paste from under the pins, but I do know that you can safely use isopropyl alcohol to remove it--the more pure/stronger the isopropyl alcohol the better. Thermal paste is very conducive and would lead to faulty processor functioning/voltage if left on the pins when installing.
If it were me, i would use a delicate q-tip soaked with alcohol and slowly go thru all the pins to make sure they're clean. Be sure to use compressed air to blow away all cotton fiber/dust before installing.
How can u be so careless as to get thermal paste on the pins anyway?
Originally posted by: geecee
Stupid question here. I got some thermal paste on the pins and the underside of the CPU. Is it safe to use isopropyl alcohol on the contact side of the cpu? Also, does anyone have any suggestions for getting heatsink compound out from between the pins? A search turned up the usual threads about removing paste off the top of the cpu or the underside of the heatsink but I didn't see anything about this. Forgive me if I missed anything and TIA.
EDIT: Formatting
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
I also managed to get some thermal paste on the underside of an Athlon64 processor so there is very little space between the pins. It happened the same way as most other people....the heatsink rips out the processor from the socket and you end up having to grapple with it to get the processor free.
Just soaking it in alcohol won't do anything if it's AS-5 or something really thick. Here's what to do.
Go buy a generic brand toothbrush for like $0.79. You want one that's flat and rated "soft". Then take the processor outside and pour a little alcohol on the part with the paste and then brush outward from the paste covered area. Stop after every 10 brushes or so to tamp the toothbrush on a clean paper towel and then reapply more alcohol and repeat 7 or 8 times or until the thermal past is all gone. The reason you want to be outside is that this stuff isn't good for you, so you don't want to be flicking tiny specks of it all over your house with the toothbrush bristles.
I just did this with my processor yesterday and it looks brand new. Hope this helps.
Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
I also managed to get some thermal paste on the underside of an Athlon64 processor so there is very little space between the pins. It happened the same way as most other people....the heatsink rips out the processor from the socket and you end up having to grapple with it to get the processor free.
Just soaking it in alcohol won't do anything if it's AS-5 or something really thick. Here's what to do.
Go buy a generic brand toothbrush for like $0.79. You want one that's flat and rated "soft". Then take the processor outside and pour a little alcohol on the part with the paste and then brush outward from the paste covered area. Stop after every 10 brushes or so to tamp the toothbrush on a clean paper towel and then reapply more alcohol and repeat 7 or 8 times or until the thermal past is all gone. The reason you want to be outside is that this stuff isn't good for you, so you don't want to be flicking tiny specks of it all over your house with the toothbrush bristles.
I just did this with my processor yesterday and it looks brand new. Hope this helps.