cpu cleaning procedure

chrome-187

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Dec 4, 2007

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Indiana

• Dec 13, 2007

• #1

i just got my e4300 and it was dirty and had some thermal paste on it...i usually just use rubbing alcohol to clean my cpus and heatsinks...is there anything better around the house that i might have or should buy or should the alcohol be adequate cleaning? thanks in advance

 

Last edited: Dec 13, 2007

Automata

Destroyer of Empires and Use

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Joined

May 15, 2006

• Dec 13, 2007

• #2

chrome-187 said:

i just got my e4300 and it was dirty and had some thermal paste on it...i usually just use rubbing alcohol to clean my cpus and heatsinks...is there anything better around the house that i might have or should buy or should the alcohol be adequate cleaning? thanks in advance

Click to expand...

If you just mean around the house, that will be the best you can get. If you can, get higher concentration, it will clean better.

If you want to order something, this is the absolute best you can get:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=arctic+clean&x=0&y=0

 

P

Prisoner1138

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Jul 17, 2002

• Dec 13, 2007

• #3

If you already have rubbing alcohol, stick with that.

 

CGR

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Jan 4, 2001

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Lower NY

• Dec 13, 2007

• #4

When using rubbing alcohol make sure its the highest percentage you can get.

 

OP

chrome-187

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Dec 4, 2007

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Indiana

• Dec 13, 2007

• Thread Starter
• #5

the alcohol i have is 91% isophryl...thats high enough i assume? its been awhile i cant remember... lol

 

hokiealumnus

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Oct 14, 2007

• Dec 13, 2007

• #6

Yes, that's high enough...and is usually as high as you can get in a drug store. Avoid the 70%(ish) stuff.

 

OP

chrome-187

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Indiana

• Dec 13, 2007

• Thread Starter
• #7

yea i noticed...i actually got this from the dollar tree store...when i go to walmart or osco drug all i can find is stuff in the 70's and 80's....weird i go to the ghetto store and they have the strongest alcohol at even a cheaper price...

 

blackersabbath

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Feb 22, 2007

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Norwich, NY

• Dec 14, 2007

• #8

I use the 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and Q-Tips. Works great for me. Just make sure you let it dry before applying your thermal paste.

 

OP

chrome-187

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Dec 4, 2007

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Indiana

• Dec 14, 2007

• Thread Starter
• #9

i usually use a t-shirt and alcohol to get the old paste off...

 

MadMan007

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Nov 28, 2001

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in a magical field

• Dec 14, 2007

• #10

The only thing better would be Acetone which Viperjohn turned me on to recently. You have to be a bit more careful though because it can and will melt normal plastic but the PCB components on electronics are fine. The fumes can be bad for you too. But man does it cut through junk like no tomorrow.

Also I picked up a few microfiber cloths from an auto store for around $4. No leftover fibers that way, that's being pretty anal retentive about it though for the most part any 'lint-free cloth' or cotton q-tips (not paper) is good.

 

hokiealumnus

Water Cooled Moderator

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Joined

Oct 14, 2007

• Dec 15, 2007

• #11

For a very cheap option, I find coffee filters work great...disposable, no lint and abrasive enough to pull the sticker AS: Ceramique off as well.