Cleaning CPU before repasting

[Bivoca]

Hello All. I have a question:

 

I need to repaste my laptop. To clean the old thermal paste, i went to the pharmacy and bought an acohol solution with 78% alcoohol (highest content they had).

 

However, the same solution is also 2% salicilic acid. There are no other components in the solution (except 20% water). Can i usr it to clean the CPU anyway?

 

Thanks!

[Bloetschkopf]

You don`t need special Cleaner for this,only a soft Papertowel

[Bivoca]

Thanks!

[houmles]

In most casses papertowel should work but it doesn't clean grease completely.

IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) is best for this.

[SpideRMaN]

papertowel should do the job

[3RYL]

I just use toilet paper lol
with Isopropyl alcohol. It usually can be found in electronics, repair or component stores.

Also easy to buy from the internet.

[Piter]

+1 for IPA and some paper towel, cotton buds or just a piece of cloth. You may also use a toothpick to clean the grease around the die if there's any (goes off nicely) or the gaps in heatsink.

 

Also, if the grease is already so hard that it won't clean up easily, try to soften it with IPA first - spread some over the grease, wait a few minutes, and you're good to go.

[Gaucho 001]

I was told I could use Ethyl alcohol 98º, so I went for it, everything ok so far. It was easy for me to find it in the supermarket.

[dj_reed]

IPA should be good with brush.

[krystian5559]

Ethyl alcohol is the way to go, just put some liquid on a paper towel and remove the old paste nice and easy, remeber to be carefull when touching other components!

[XTeK]

I also use ipa.
Sometimes there is a paste between the resistors.
IPA cleans up there quite effectively.

[darkerhorizons]

the acid can affect the components if you use too much, but with the amounts you'll probably be using, it'll be okay.

[marcin3327]

najlepiej alkohol izopropylowy 

[mighty_mEx]

I use a paper towel first, grabbing most of the old thermal past, and then use a very little amount of ethyl alcohol into a good solid paper towel to pick up the rest, make sure you dont put too much alcohol, only 4 or 5 small drops are needed.

[ARGH]

just use acitone.  its cheap and works well.

[bartlett]

I use q-tips and isopropyl alcohol.

[The Overseer]

I use 90% IPA and it's never failed me. The truth is with a lower proof solution you just have to wait slightly longer. And considering how fast it vaporizes, this isn't really a big deal.