HOW DO YOU GET ARCTIC SILVER OFF CPU?

[Subzer0]

hi,just wanna know how to clean off the excess as its now smudged all over the cpu,im worried it will short something , i decided to take off the heatsink to lap it and while i was wiping it clean ,i rubbed it onto the rest of the chip.????????? it doesnt come off maaaan!

[Phil]

It is very 'clingy' especially when you get it on your fingers. I heard a story from some one who used there credit card for it then went and used their credit card to pay for things, the girl chargin it started worrying when she noticed all this silver stuff on her hands and was even more worried when it just didn't wash off.

You need to use an alchohol based cleaning chemical. Nail polish remover is great if your mum/sister/girlfriends got some or buy some isopropryl alchohol

[Subzer0]

thanks mate. ill give it a go today sometime!

[Aman99]

If you don't have a lot on it, a qu-tip (i dunno how to spell it) should work. I have used it before, if some of it sticks on use alcohol like Phil says.

Aaron

[Hoot]

I've had bad luck with simple alcohols getting it off the ceramic part. They just seem to drive it in further. I have had good luck with Heavy Duty Flux Remover and also good old Gumout Carburetor Cleaner. Both attack paint, so be careful. Anything with Methylene Chloride in it kicks butt!

Hoot

[Phil]

Of course the bes solution is to put it on sparingly in the first place which the tube does not help with. The trick is to pull back on the syringe almost as soon as you here the pop and it starts coming out.

[Wahoogie]

A few newbie questions....

What part of the CPU is it safe to clean? Just the top? Is it safe to clean the core and pins?

Thanks

[unixadm]

What I did was remove my CPU, use some warm tap water, a little dish soap and a towel. It cleaned it up very nicely and I just let the CPU dry and then reinstalled. Looked like brand new, no problems.

[bioevolve]

Use some Electro-Clean (universal Degreaser/Washer) for PBC's, CPU's, All electrronic components. Can be bought at local Electronic stores or on-line. Its a spray can that power washes the silver off nice and clean, leaves no residue, also works great to get dielectric grease off too.

[Subzer0]

yes im very happy with the resonses, thanks dudes. many good ideas,im game to use anything ,but as its new i dont want to destroy the warranty sticker, so ill be carefull and ill post what i did and how easy it was .................

[FizzledFiend]

I used Brake cleaner it is very flamable, but it isn't water based (hmm electronics + water? BAD!) or you could use what Print masters use to clean there ink cylnders with they use methyl ethyl ketone again highly flamable but this stuff you could soak your cpu and remover to air drie for a few min and your set!

[Phil]

An alchohol based clenser is best as it evaporates. You only have to leave it for a minute and it's dry, plus it breaks down the grease better than soapy water I don't care how good fairy claims to be :D

[Subzer0]

yep i tried the warm soapy water trick first and it worked just fine ,thanks guys ,theres no place like home!