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Should i leave the thermal paste on or take it off?

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  • Thermal Compound
  • CPUs
Last response: in CPUs
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July 5, 2013 2:55:45 PM

Im getting a new heat sink and some arctic silver in a few days since i put my crappy stock intel heatsink on wrong. Now i took it off and the cpu is sitting there with the thermal paste on it. Im wondering if i should take it off now or leave it on until i get the new thermal paste and heatsink on tuesday

More about : leave thermal paste

a b à CPUs
July 5, 2013 2:59:11 PM

You should take it off with isopropyl alchohol and q-tips
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Best solution

a c 95 à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:00:04 PM

Take it off now. You dont want to leave it as it will get hard.

Many people spend ridiculous money on products (like purifier solution) to get rid of the thermal paste. I use wipes and then use a cloth (like that which you clean glasses lenses with). And Q-tips (cotton swabs) to go round the edges.

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a b à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:03:41 PM

if you get isopropyl you clean a CPU core with 4 q-tips- That bottle will last you for 100000000000000000000000 cpus
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a c 95 à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:04:52 PM

It isn't necessary though.
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a b à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:06:49 PM

how come?
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a c 95 à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:10:26 PM

Rune Olsen said:
how come?


I have never used for any of my builds, and my CPU operates fine and the CPU temperature is great also.

I think if you want to be really safe then possibly use it but 99% of the time you don't need it.
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a c 252 à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:11:14 PM

Take it off and Id suggest using something else other than AS5 ... read the bottom of the AS5 home page

http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm

Quote:
Important Reminder:
Due to the unique shape and sizes of the particles in Arctic Silver 5's conductive matrix, it will take a up to 200 hours and several thermal cycles to achieve maximum particle to particle thermal conduction and for the heatsink to CPU interface to reach maximum conductivity. (This period will be longer in a system without a fan on the heatsink or with a low speed fan on the heatsink.) On systems measuring actual internal core temperatures via the CPU's internal diode, the measured temperature will often drop 2C to 5C over this "break-in" period. This break-in will occur during the normal use of the computer as long as the computer is turned off from time to time and the interface is allowed to cool to room temperature. Once the break-in is complete, the computer can be left on if desired.


Do the math and ya talking about a year before it cures.

http://archive.benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=co...

Quote:
So by my estimation of this statement it would take almost a year of normal use to properly cure the AC5 compound, or almost nine days of continuous power cycles to meet their recommendation. Benchmark Reviews feels that this is a characteristically unreasonable requirement for any TIM product, and we do not support it. We want products that perform without the burden of sacrifice on our time, especially with some many competing products offering performance without this extra requirement.


http://archive.benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=co...

Quote:
Arctic Silver 5 Polysynthetic Thermal Compound (4) Polysynthetic Silver Low / Thin 37.55°C A+
Shin-Etsu MicroSi G751 (0) Aluminum Oxide Moderate 37.55°C A+

Each product tested received the curing time recommended (see below), or approximately one hour of thermal cycling prior to testing when no cure time was specified.
(0) No Curing Time or Special Application Suggested
(4) Arctic Silver 5 Application Instructions (up to 200-hours recommended curing time)


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
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July 5, 2013 3:16:00 PM

Azrael47 said:
Take it off now. You dont want to leave it as it will get hard.

Many people spend ridiculous money on products (like purifier solution) to get rid of the thermal paste. I use wipes and then use a cloth (like that which you clean glasses lenses with). And Q-tips (cotton swabs) to go round the edges.


I removed the paste but now there seems to be some type of residue i cant get off also, there is some left around the IHS which isnt going to touch the heatsink when i get a new one because its on the sides. Should i try removing the paste there or not?
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a c 95 à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:16:55 PM

travis575757 said:
Azrael47 said:
Take it off now. You dont want to leave it as it will get hard.

Many people spend ridiculous money on products (like purifier solution) to get rid of the thermal paste. I use wipes and then use a cloth (like that which you clean glasses lenses with). And Q-tips (cotton swabs) to go round the edges.


I removed the paste but now there seems to be some type of residue i cant get off also, there is some left around the IHS which isnt going to touch the heatsink when i get a new one because its on the sides. Should i try removing the paste there or not?


yep that is when you use the cloth to wipe all of the excess residue off.
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July 5, 2013 3:30:07 PM

Azrael47 said:
travis575757 said:
Azrael47 said:
Take it off now. You dont want to leave it as it will get hard.

Many people spend ridiculous money on products (like purifier solution) to get rid of the thermal paste. I use wipes and then use a cloth (like that which you clean glasses lenses with). And Q-tips (cotton swabs) to go round the edges.


I removed the paste but now there seems to be some type of residue i cant get off also, there is some left around the IHS which isnt going to touch the heatsink when i get a new one because its on the sides. Should i try removing the paste there or not?


yep that is when you use the cloth to wipe all of the excess residue off.


Yeah this stuff is glued to the edges, not were the heatsink touches but i cant get it off with the cloth. Should i just leave it there or put a screw driver to it and scrape it off
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a c 95 à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:33:11 PM

travis575757 said:
Azrael47 said:
travis575757 said:
Azrael47 said:
Take it off now. You dont want to leave it as it will get hard.

Many people spend ridiculous money on products (like purifier solution) to get rid of the thermal paste. I use wipes and then use a cloth (like that which you clean glasses lenses with). And Q-tips (cotton swabs) to go round the edges.


I removed the paste but now there seems to be some type of residue i cant get off also, there is some left around the IHS which isnt going to touch the heatsink when i get a new one because its on the sides. Should i try removing the paste there or not?


yep that is when you use the cloth to wipe all of the excess residue off.


Yeah this stuff is glued to the edges, not were the heatsink touches but i cant get it off with the cloth. Should i just leave it there or put a screw driver to it and scrape it off


Get it of with a cloth or use the Q-tips (cotton swabs) to reduce inflict on your CPU chip.
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a b à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:34:55 PM

I find MX-2 excellent, no harden time and within -1+1 of all the so called hardcore costly brands
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a c 95 à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:38:24 PM

At the end of the day thermal compound doesn't have a significant effect on the CPU temps, it is more the CPU cooler itself. I believe that liquid cooling is superior to air cooling but I have overclocked my CPU by quite a bit.
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a b à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:52:42 PM

I do agree that a proper liquid cooling set is far superior, yet that is not for all users
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a c 95 à CPUs
July 5, 2013 3:54:00 PM

true, the price and the thought of water going all other their system puts them off. :) 
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