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I have an Abit IP-35 Pro motherboard, and an Intel E6600 installed.
Yesterday, I removed the stock HSF to replace it with an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7.
While removing the existing thermal compound, a small amount got dropped in to the ZIF socket for the CPU.
Anybody got any ideas on how to get it out? its not electrically conductive so thats not a worry, but it does make a mess. The pins in the socket are very fine a delicate.
TIA!
Mut.
Only way I can think of is to blast it out with a jet of IPA from an aerosol. You might try sucking it out with a straw, but as it is pretty sticky, I don't think you will have much luck. A piece of fine wire (5 amp fuse wire?) might pull it out, but there is a risk of damaging the socket. If it is on the surface of the socket, a fine (model maker's) paint brush might lift it off.
Hmm, I'll give a brush a try. Once the stuff is cold, its pretty rigid stuff, and I might be able to tease it out.
I've had some success with a "soft" tooth brush, although I don't think I got most of the TIM out, the pc still works fine >.> (for the past 6 mothns anyway)
Yep, second that 'soft tooth brush should do the trick for you' .
Thought I would update this thread with my progress...
The soft tooth brush is the solution! When its cold, that TIM goes hard and brittle (its the bog stuff that comes pasted on the bottom of the stock e6600 cooler).
Using a soft tooth brush, I was able to remove the muck.
Thanks for everyone's advice!
Mut.
Good news (I like a happy ending!) :)