70% isopropyl alcohol?

[nightmare3215]

Can I use this stuff to clean off my arctic silver and my heatsink even though its only 70% pure? (I think I need to re apply as5 because I'm getting unusually high temps).

[OC Noob]

Originally posted by nightmare3215
Can I use this stuff to clean off my arctic silver and my heatsink even though its only 70% pure? (I think I need to re apply as5 because I'm getting unusually high temps).


It workd great, 99% is a bit better, but 70% is fine.

[JDXNC]

I use 50% I bought at the dollar store, works perfect :D

[Gnufsh]

99% is better, but 70% will work just fine.

[ciku]

hmmm i got mine from wallgreens... 101% Alcohol, Wild Turkey... works superb! :D

[Andy71600]

the only one iver used was 90% and it worked like a charm. 70% should be fine.

[Fever]

I use 70% all the time.

[SewerBeing]

I used 70% two times and both times it worked great.

[georgelogy]

I've used both 70% and 99%. The 70% worked just fine, but the 99% did a slightly better job getting it all off and evaporating quickly and cleanly. Also, if you ever expect to have to clean off gummy heatsink compound, the 99% will make it a much easier job.

[jamespetts]

You can get very high purity alchohols (ethanol + methanol) from opticians, used for cleaning glasses, or from camera shops, used for cleaning camera lenses. They have to be pure to clean optics, especially coated optics.

[Gnufsh]

Originally posted by ciku
hmmm i got mine from wallgreens... 101% Alcohol, Wild Turkey... works superb! :D
Maybe you mean 101 proof (50.5% Alcohol)? I don't think it is possible to have something 101% Alcohol... but I could be wrong.

[jamespetts]

Nothing can be 101% purity - the concept doesn't make sense.

[ciku]

Gnufish LOL! u got it :D
jamespetts, u a freak or something? hehehe

[jamespetts]

?

[pphx459]

i used 70% and it didn't give me no problems..

[FastFSB]

Go to Pepboys or Autozone and get IsoHeet. It is 100% isopropyl.

[newg]

I use Goof-Off....don't know what's in it but it works great............

[adelphia83]

Hmm... Do I hear an echo?

90% is better, 70% should work just fine.

[ciku]

as long as it gets cleaned, it should be ok :D

[rxc]

If you use 70% it'll take longer to evaporate so be sure it's dry before you apply AS.

[shortyes]

I normally use ascetone

[Gnufsh]

If you go with acetone, make sure you get straight acetone, not nail polish remover with fancy perfumes and things in it.

[nightmare3215]

well, I used the 70%, and didn't really "let" it dry, I just used some cue-tips and applied the as5. Everything seemed fine, put the heatsink on, and then I moved it back and wiggled the heat sink a few times. Last nite I had to change the cpu fan around to blow towards the hs, and I nudged the heatsink a little bit, I was getting load temps of 42-41C for a while, but then I changed how fans were set up and got 45C load, then changed the fan setup back and now Im at 48C load! I thought I should wiggle the heatsink back and forth a few times more to maybe get a better surface between my hs and cpu, but now my idle temps fluctuate between 42-45, and all I know is that my load temps are higher than 48C.

**Do I have to redo the as5?** If I do, I will make sure, this last and final time, that I won't be a moron about it, and will just wiggle the hs 2 times right directly after clipping the hs on (then I am done with the wiggling ;)).

[JDizzle]

Just wondering but you think Everclear would work?

[ciku]

Jdizzle if wild turkey did, im sure everclear will :D

[adelphia83]

you're not supposed to wiggle the heatsink at all.

put the sucker on there, trying NOT to move it. then don't touch it.

you only need a super thin coating on the cpu die, and only enough TIM on the heatsink to create a smooth surface (you are actually supposed to rub the TIM off the heatsink with a paper towel, so that it just fills in the valleys.)

[nightmare3215]

So what should I do? Clean it all with isopropyl alohol, then put a glob o' as5 on the heatsink, apply the as5 to the cpu die transfering it from the hs and then wipe the hs off with a paper towel? No further cleaning needed?

So when I put a very thin amount on, no need to move it back and forth 1 degree each way??

You guys think that my temps are because I moved my hs right?

(Edit)

[rxc]

Just follow the directions on the AS site after you clean with the alcohol.

[nightmare3215]

Im reading the instructions on the site about after cleaning everything... they tell me to put a glob of as5 on the hs, and then to skip tinting processes since I have as5. Clean off the glob that was put on the heatsink? it isn't exactly telling you what to do with as5... and if it is, please interpret it for me.

[rxc]

-clean the top of your die of your 2500+ and the bottom of your heatsink with alcohol (let it dry and make sure you not touch the clean surfaces with your bare hands)

-put a small amount of as5 on the heatsink (where the hs actually touches the top of the die) and a small amount on the die corner

-spread out the dab on the die so that it makes a thin layer that completely covers the top of the die

-use a plastic bag and rub the small dab on top of the heatsink all over the area the contacts the die (you're are just trying to fill in the small imperfections on top your hs

-now wipe off the as from the top of the heatsink with a coffee filter of lint free cloth (you should see that the top of your hs is now slightly discolored)

-mount the hs onto the processor, wiggle and you're done

[Strages]

You might try lapping the hsf, that should improve your temps by a decent margin. Sometimes you can get 2-3C lower with a really good job, however I don't know if you're that comfortable with lapping.

There are also other TIMs that you should consider looking into that actually outperform AS5. Shin Etsu TIM is notably the best out there, followed by Nanotherm PCM+; AS5 actually is the third best performer out there, yet strangely it's the most widely used and "accepted" as the best there is. These TIMs are slightly more expensive, more exotic, and somewhat more difficult (can be) to apply properly. They can be documented with as much as a 2C or more advantage over AS5 with proper application.

Also, this talk about properly application is extremely important - definitely be as anal about it as possible, this can make the difference between good temps and excellent temps. I've never heard of applying directly to HS and then rubbing with a plastic bag - interesting Idea, will have to try it out - though a good lapping will pretty much eliminate the need.

Good luck in your endeavor!

[polarys425]

you also have to take in to account for ambient temps.

the heat cuts on, the room warms up, so does your computer in an equal amount. or if the room is small and you have enough computers running, they will heat the room.

[Armitage]

Originally posted by ciku
hmmm i got mine from wallgreens... 101% Alcohol, Wild Turkey... works superb! :D

Blasphemy!!!
Turkey should only be used on ice ... in a glass :p

Sure, 70% would work fine, but why not buy 99%?!

[theELVISCERATOR]

its possible to be over 100% if something will over saturate, put not purity..... for example water can hold over 100% o2 at certain temps then if you warm it , it will fizz releasing the saturate....

[nightmare3215]

rubbing the as into the heatsink is called tinting, and on the website, they tell you to SKIP the tinting process if you have as5, because it's thicker than other Tims

[Gnufsh]

Originally posted by theELVISCERATOR
its possible to be over 100% if something will over saturate, put not purity..... for example water can hold over 100% o2 at certain temps then if you warm it , it will fizz releasing the saturate....
However, we were talking about purity...

I got 153.7% of my math education in public schools!

[nightmare3215]

Redid it all, and lapped my hs. I used some 150 grain sandpaper (Don't know how good, but it seemed sorta fine) for 20 minutes. Wow, I think the lapping done by thermalright was nicer, because when I got done it looked like there were scratches all over.

Now my idle temps are 35C... Edit: loads temps maxed out at 42.5

:rolleyes: well, at least I got them back down, I took off the side of the case because I thought I might get better temps that way.. when I put a thermaltake smart fan II in there and close the case up... will it cool better than with 1 out-take fan and the side opened?

[Gnufsh]

Most people lap up to 600 grit, which is a lot finer than 150.

[nightmare3215]

right, I'll get some of that tomorrow, how much a temp drop should I expect after lapping it at 600 grit?

Edit: Wait, did I just wreck my hs with that 150 grit, or can I redo the lapping with 600 grit and make it nice again? You can get 600 grit sandpaper at any hardware store right?

[larrymoencurly]

I've been told that acetone can damage some of the materials used on mobos, and methyl alcohol is really bad on the ABS plastic used for mouses and front bezels (www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/chemcomp.asp has an app that shows the effects of various chemicals on various materials)

Shouldn't we play it safe and use the $29.95 Professional Grade Thermal Paste Removal Kit recommended by the sales person?

[ciku]

laarymoencurly, interesting :) btw, with my cheap hsf, do i need lapping? anybody?

[germanjulian]

cant hurt!
but why dont you get a good heatsink and then lap that :)

[uvaman]

Yes you can get it pretty again... use 400 grit first and the 600, and if you want even 800... you can use a mirror, or any other very flat piece of material, place the sand paper over the mirror and start rubbing the heatsink... I usually use some wd40 or any other thin oil so that its easier to rub the heatsink I think water works too.... get it pretty, and install that heatsink for the last time.. forget about 1 or 2 deg... I think you have installed removed the heatsink too many time already.

[uvaman]

I think even a cheap heatsink could use some lapping... I never tried on those heaksing with copper inserts... I wouldnt lap those because one material might be softer than the other...

[nightmare3215]

after sanding it down nicely, I think I'd be removing the as5 thats stuck in the hs allready, so installing it one more time wouldn't do a difference if it was the 1st time If I cleaned everything properly. That's just my opinion though, and I usually don't know what I'm talking about anyway.

[uvaman]

Im just saying that installin un installing the heatsink is stressful

[nightmare3215]

ur right, it took me forever to redo the heatsink each time... I'm kinda reluctant to do it again, but if I get a few C's down in temperature.. I'd say its worth it.

[dippy_skoodlez]

Originally posted by newg
I use Goof-Off....don't know what's in it but it works great............

[nightmare3215]

I lapped the hs with 600 grit for about 40 minutes and now my idle temps are 35, and last night the load maxed out at 42. I think the load temps will go down, after running sisandra for 24 hours? I heard that it can lower load temps if you run it on a new computer continuosly for a while, am I wrong?

EDIT:
Now on sisoft sandra for 15 burn in tests (just the cpu tests) I get a 43 max load temps, is that bad?

[Quailane]

It workd great, 99% is a bit better, but 70% is fine.

99% is better, but 70% will work just fine.

OMG. No reason to copy what other people said just before you and post the same. Saying "yes, I agree" is better.

I used some stuff that has alchohol in it but it was for cleaning oily skin. It had loads of other chemicals in it, but it worked fine when wiped off.

[dippy_skoodlez]

Originally posted by Quailane




OMG. No reason to copy what other people said just before you and post the same. Saying "yes, I agree" is better.

I used some stuff that has alchohol in it but it was for cleaning oily skin. It had loads of other chemicals in it, but it worked fine when wiped off.



......
You do know its not right above my post right? Saying yes, I agree would confuse people. It was exactly what I was gonna say anyways.

[Chaser]

well i got 91%, but damn i could sure go for some wild turkey :)