Thermal grease question

[Lummoxx]

Is the Radio Shack thermal grease conductive? Redoing my machine, and made a bit of a mess...heh. Got it off, but there's a white haze around the die...

Any tips to cleaning that off?

Thanks!

 

[Iron Hawk]

I use a paper towel and rubbing alcohol to remove thermal paste. Use a lint-free cloth instead of a papertowel if possable Just be sure that none of the paste is on any of the bridges

 

[Lummoxx]

Thanks. That stuff is tough! heh...

 

[Hoot]

I've had better (faster) luck using a more aggressive solvent than alcohol. Acetone, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, good ol' Gumout Carburetor Cleaner, TFE based Brake Cleaners, just about anything is better than Alcohol. I chase the residue off with Q-Tips. FWIW, the average "white" thermal compounds, like what R.S. sells are not-conductive.

Hoot

 

[Starfoxer]

goof off, lighter fluid, acetone work the best for me.
and try to use a lint free cloth or rag that you aint gonna
use again.

 

[Yodums]

I just use a lint-free cloth and a bottle of isopropyl, I just wet one part of the cloth wipe it, switch to another area, so you aint smuding

 

[Wonko The Sane]

I've had good luck with rubbing alcohol and q-tips. if it's a larger area you're cleaning you may want to use the paper towel/lint free floth to get most of it ans use q-tips to get the smaller areas that the cloth can't.

 

[Lummoxx]

Picked up a can of acetone yesterday, in preparation to correct any mistakes when I go to connect my L1.

Visited a couple auto parts stores, neither had the conductive, rear window defogger paint.

Any danger of using too much acetone/alcohol, and it getting inside the processor and doing damage? Just thought of that one, heh.

Thanks!

 

[Koooler King]

Just a thought on thermal grease application ... I agree with previous posts ... use simple alchohol to remove residue. I would avoid acetone or other harsh solvents as I don't think they are necesary. Do remember that the pupose of thermal grease is to fill in voids ... if really concerned about residue, use alchohol to remove old (cpu & heat sink base), then apply a layer of the new grease you wish to use, both to the cpu top and to the cleaned heat sink bottom. Wipe both off with a clean cloth, then re-apply once more. Then install ... you should be 99% OK at that point. Good luck!


Koooler King