What to Clean Thermal Paste with?

Bubbleshark on 17/04/2020 - 10:39
Last edited 17/04/2020 - 18:08

Hi,

As many people stuck at home I have started some DIY to keep myself occupied. My present "project" is to clean and repaste my fat ps4 CPU (for those who have one, you know how loud it is) and at the same time do it on my laptop.

My problem is that I never done it (I'm taking it nice and slowly by youtubing it), in most of my viewed video the recommended solution to clean out the thermal paste is to use some isopropyl 100 (apparently acetone could damage some plastic). Apparently eveyone is cleaning nowadays and it's near impossible to find that product or at some ridiculous price. For those who are a bit more familiar than me on how to do it, what do you use?

Thanks for the help!

PS: I saw the linus video, so maybe I'll try orange juice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOd1oN1wPSk&feature=emb_logo

EDIT: I'd like to thank everyone for their insight. A friend had a end of a bottle of isopropyl at home (about 30mL), so I'd better not waste it as it's so hard to come accross. If I couldn't find any, I probably would have gone with methanol (if I could find any) or turpentine (I saw some at bunnings).

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • Bid Sniper on 17/04/2020 - 10:43
    +6

    Methanol (wood alcohol) works too, whatever alcohol. Damp tissue with Vodka will work too.

    • Bubbleshark on 17/04/2020 - 15:39

      Went to bunnings and couldn't find any …

      • Bid Sniper on 17/04/2020 - 18:22
        +1

        Medical alcohol swabs? If you know or ask your doc next time you see them. I had packets of these when I got some stick on car parts.

        ttps://www.medshop.com.au/collections/alcohol-swabs-skin-preparation

    • the Unforgiven on 18/04/2020 - 09:24

      yep Methanol works well, it is 'waste' when you make 'moonshine',
      I also use half methanol & half water in a spray bottle to do the windows around the house.
      I also put some methanol in the washer bottle of the car.

      I also use nail polish remover to get thermal paste off.
      There are 3 types, get one with the highest 'acetone g/L',
      the one I have been using is 640g/L

      stay safe every1

  • Neilzy on 17/04/2020 - 10:49
    +6

    Rubbing Alcohol, I use Isocol which is only 64% isopropyl alochol but it works fine. just clean up as much of the TIM first then use the Isocol. It is available locally from woolies and such, but getting a hand on a bottle might be a bit difficult in the current COVID-19 climate

  • grumps on 17/04/2020 - 10:49

    Do you have a first aid kit? - borrow a alcohol wipe from it

  • theHMASfriendship on 17/04/2020 - 10:55
    +1

    I get by with lens cleaning wipes but they aren't ideal.

    Have a ridiculous amount of them because I got too excited at Costco one time.

  • Slippery Fish on 17/04/2020 - 11:01

    I used a wound wipe. Bought 100 for $2 ages ago.

  • pegaxs on 17/04/2020 - 11:10
    +2

    Isopropyl… if you can stretch to the $8,000 per litre is currently being gouged out at…

    • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2020 - 11:26
      +1

      Darn. Should have posted a deal I found for $5,000/l. Bargain.

      • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2020 - 14:20

        but then you wouldn't have been able to broden it.

  • psyren89 on 17/04/2020 - 11:22

    I got one of these and paired it with a microfibre cloth.

    • Bubbleshark on 17/04/2020 - 15:46

      I tried 2 Bunnings next to my place, it says in stock on the website but it's nowhere to be found in store

  • ramb9 on 17/04/2020 - 11:30
    +1

    Hand sanitizer :)

    • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2020 - 11:33
      +3

      Yes, with added Vitamin E to soften those lag spikes.

      • lunchbox99 on 17/04/2020 - 12:18
        +2

        Well antioxidants work by absorbing and stabilising free electrons (ie radicals), so VitE would be great for any electrons leaking out of the CPU. You could then wring out the VitE to get free electrons for later use. Keep them under your pillow for sweet dreams.

      • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2020 - 14:23

        There's RCT evidence to show Vit E does not reduce lag spikes more than placebo.

        Check Cochrane..

        • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2020 - 14:25

          Pfff. RCTs.

          They obviously didn't account for different types of power.

          I only recognize organic free range wind energy.

  • skid on 17/04/2020 - 11:41

    A couple drops of isopropyl alcohol on coffee filter paper rubbed in until the chip shines. I haven't tried substituting the isopro with anything else.

    • Bubbleshark on 17/04/2020 - 15:48

      I suppose microfiber clothes would do the same trick? (I saw Linus on youtube doing it on a coffee filter … had no idea why)

      • skid on 17/04/2020 - 16:41
        +1

        Coffee filter paper does not leave any lint. Microfibre might work but wouldn't be able to wash and reuse it. It'd absorb the isoprop alcohol quickly too.

  • outlander on 17/04/2020 - 11:46
    +1

    I use methylated spirits, which is really just 95% ethanol. It works well.

    Isopropyl alchol is the recommended product, but I'm sure acetone or Turpentine would work just as well. It's all about how you apply it. I use tissues to remove as much of it as I can, and then cleaner to get rid of the residue. If you transfer a small amount into a jar, then dip a Q-tip in the jar, and use the Q-tip to clean the cpu, then the chances of getting it anywhere it shouldn't be is rather low.

    Don't use orange juice.

    • brad1-8tsi on 17/04/2020 - 12:39

      I've used metho in the past with no issues.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2020 - 14:24

      why not orange juice?

  • hashtagbargain on 17/04/2020 - 11:46

    Brake cleaner.

    • idjces on 17/04/2020 - 12:21
      +1

      That stuff is magic

    • spackbace on 17/04/2020 - 12:42

      WD40?

      • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2020 - 14:24

        no Isopropyl alcohol

  • mr-incredulous on 17/04/2020 - 12:37

    I recently had the same problem and used turps and it did a perfect job. I would have tried meths first if I had any since it stinks less and might leave less residue.

  • Baa on 17/04/2020 - 13:20

    The dishwasher seems to work best for me!

    • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2020 - 14:23

      but what do you do when you need to repaste your dishwasher cpu??

  • Caped Baldy on 17/04/2020 - 14:08

    I think a KFC wipe would work

    • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2020 - 14:23

      I'm not sure what you're using as a heat transfer compound but may I suggest you try something other than chicken fat and deep fried grease…

      unless it works. What are your temps?

      • Caped Baldy on 17/04/2020 - 14:41

        I didn't have anything else handy. It was to clean off the thermal paste on my 3470 when I upgraded to the 3770. It's back in the box now.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2020 - 14:23

      lol any excuse will do!

  • ShannonN on 17/04/2020 - 21:38

    I have used mens after shave most if all contain alcohol

  • ElderyMan on 18/04/2020 - 09:27
    +1

    Be careful with methanol, it’s quite toxic. Better to avoid if you can.
    JayCar also sells electronics cleaning spray.

    • Bubbleshark on 18/04/2020 - 10:37
      +1

      Thanks for the warning, I just googled how dangerous it was and I suppose that I will take it out of my list of consideration

  • Cream on 18/04/2020 - 14:13

    Metho on 3 Pcs and all are running well with low low temps

  • lew380 on 19/04/2020 - 07:26

    Toilet paper, all you need, it doesn't need to be sparkling, it's just a gap of goo!

    • Bubbleshark on 19/04/2020 - 10:10
      +1

      But if any fiber get stuck between the heatsink and the CPU, won’t it get damaged?

      • lew380 on 20/04/2020 - 08:13

        Don't get fibres stuck, blow it off or use a gloved finger to wipe any fibres of. Cpu paste makes zero difference to performance, don't over think it

  • TSH on 29/04/2020 - 21:40

    I scrape the dried stuff off and use Diggers Shellite (stove/lighter fuel) and an old t-shirt.
    Best value for cleaning and a bottle lasts a few years.

    Final clean with q-tip and a drop of alcohol.

    Edit: $9 at Bunnings for a litre.

    • Bubbleshark on 29/04/2020 - 22:24

      Thanks for the advice, good alternative to the impossible to find isopropyl

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