Cleaning a CPU

[Disturbedguy]

Hello all,

I am in the process of building a new PC for the family and am planning on hopefully selling some of the items from the PC.

CPU + Cooler.
4GB DDR2 (I think, will check sticker later)
And a 7950 (GT I think will check later)

Was going to sell Mobo as well but looks like one of the components on the board has burnt out.

So, my question is, how/ what is the best way to clean a CPU + Cooler?

Want to get it as clean as possible in regards to removing the paste.

Cheers!

[PeterStoba]

Tissue or kitchen roll and wipe it off as much as you can if you have no TIM remover.

If you do, then just one drop and wipe it off. Acetone can be used too.

[Disturbedguy]

Looks like it is going to be kitched towel..

[Infinite]

Dont forget the vodka

[Terbinator]

Kitchen roll and cotton buds worked fine for me.

[Disturbedguy]

Cheers for the advice guys.

Rather than start a new thread, how much do people think I can realistically get for the following: -

512Mb EVGA GeForce 7950GT (OC'ed out the box if I remember)
Corsair DDR2 TX 2GB 3200 is what it says on the sticker.
AMD 4200 X2 S939
Cooler Master HyperTX AMD HSF
Asus DRW1608P x15DVD-1RW 8XDL

Would sell the motherboard..but summets gone on it, so its not up for sale.

[Pob255]

Depends of the thermal paste, it may be solid to to point of having to scrape off the worst of it, in these cases I tend to use a wooden cocktail stick to srape off the worst, then some kitchen roll to wipe it down, some vodka (or some medicinal rubbing alcohol from a chemist) and a cotton bud work very well for a final clean

[Disturbedguy]

Cheers, I have a feeling it will be solid.

I cant turn the system on just to try and warm it up either..what a weekend.

[ArtAddiction]

Arctic Silver ArctiClean Thermal Material Remover & Surface Purifier 60ml Kit

Arctic Silver 5 3.5g Thermal Paste

[razer121]

can i ask....what motherboard is it?? and what is burnt out on it?? you know it may well have parts some people "myself" may want to salvage from it

[amjedm]

512Mb EVGA GeForce 7950GT (OC'ed out the box if I remember)
Corsair DDR2 TX 2GB 3200 is what it says on the sticker.
AMD 4200 X2 S939
Cooler Master HyperTX AMD HSF
Asus DRW1608P x15DVD-1RW 8XDL

I've received CPUs with the thermal paste still on so don't bother taking it off, you might be doing them a favour and saving them a bit of paste

I'm not too good with GPU prices , about £25ish?
CPU - 40ish
Heatsink - 10ish
DVDRW - 10ish
RAM - 30ish

[Disturbedguy]

Yup 2 x 2Gb

[Disturbedguy]

Not sure what it is that is burt out, I know aint a capacitor, its something smaller.

It is/ was an Ip35 board.

[amjedm]

Yup 2 x 2Gb

See above post for price of RAM

[Singh400]

Get yourself some isopropyl alcohol. It is dead cheap from your local chemist. I got a load for 79p. Use kicthen towels to get the majority of the gunk off, and then use cotton buds lightly soaking in isopropyl alcohol to scrub down the rest of the CPU. It will evaporate once it comes into contact with air, so work quickly, and make sure you keep the lid on the bottle. Unlike this muppet here

[peterb]

As Singh400 says:

Isoprpyl Alcohol (you can also get it from Maplins).

Personally I use TIM remover first, then clean that off with IPA.

DON'T use nail varnish remover (contains oils) or acetone - it is an agressive plastic solvent.