Is it okay to use White Spirits for removing Thermal paste?

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AesisVanex

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Jan 22, 2014
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I've ordered a new heatsink to replace the stock AMD one I'm currently using. I just wan't to know if White Spirits is okay to use in order to remove the thermal paste? I've gone to the pharmacy and local hardware store today to ask about getting Isopropyl Alcohol however neither of them had any of it. Any household alternatives would also be nice to hear. Thanks.
 
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synthaside
short answer Yes but i wouldn't ... ;-) You can probably use it but it will leave a residue , white spirit is often paraffin based and can leave a film on your cpu which wont "damage" it but isnt going to specifically help with your heat transfer from your cpu

The reason why we use isopropyl alchohol is it evaporates almost instantly leaving no mess , its sometimes called rubbing alcohol or surgical spirit ... ideally you want a 90% or higher ration to water but i think anything > 80% you will probably get away with .

if you need it today places like maplins will have it , Amazon sells it , larger supermarkets probably will too

good luck.
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synthaside

synthaside

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May 2, 2011
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short answer Yes but i wouldn't ... ;-) You can probably use it but it will leave a residue , white spirit is often paraffin based and can leave a film on your cpu which wont "damage" it but isnt going to specifically help with your heat transfer from your cpu

The reason why we use isopropyl alchohol is it evaporates almost instantly leaving no mess , its sometimes called rubbing alcohol or surgical spirit ... ideally you want a 90% or higher ration to water but i think anything > 80% you will probably get away with .

if you need it today places like maplins will have it , Amazon sells it , larger supermarkets probably will too

good luck.
 
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AesisVanex

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Jan 22, 2014
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Would there be any way to deal with removing the film? Or even another option which would be easier to acquire?
 
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synthaside

synthaside

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May 2, 2011
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To be honest if you do a good job scraping using something like a tesco clubcard then take a cotton bud and go very very sparingly with the white spirit you might be alright .... but I'd still just be patient and next day some surgical spirits from amazon.
 
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Pinhedd

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Aug 7, 2007
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A good alternative to rubbing alcohol is electronic contact cleaner. It is found at most hardware and automotive shops
 
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