Do i need to clean my heat sink?

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Broskii1994

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Dec 29, 2016
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I recently built my own computer, i had some trouble with the cpu so i took off the fan to check it out.

I noticed when i took off the fan that the thermal paste wasn't connecting the heat sink to my cpu.

I put it back on and only a little bit is on the cpu.

Should i clean them off and reapply thermal paste or just adjust it?

If i do have to clean it, what do i clean it with?
 
Solution
synphul
To clean thermal paste off the cpu and heatsink base you can use something like a paper towel to get the majority of it off. Preferably you have access to a lint free cloth of some kind or coffee filters (paper towels tend to leave little bits behind). Once the main portion of thermal paste is wiped off use a little isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to get the last bit of residue off.

Just moisten a lint free cloth or coffee filter with it and wipe it clean. If a paper towel is all you have so long as you go easy and use a different portion of the paper towel with each wipe it would work in a pinch. The paper towels disintegrate pretty quick so it's best to make one wipe with it moistened with the alcohol then use a different spot...
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synphul

synphul

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Mar 11, 2011
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To clean thermal paste off the cpu and heatsink base you can use something like a paper towel to get the majority of it off. Preferably you have access to a lint free cloth of some kind or coffee filters (paper towels tend to leave little bits behind). Once the main portion of thermal paste is wiped off use a little isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to get the last bit of residue off.

Just moisten a lint free cloth or coffee filter with it and wipe it clean. If a paper towel is all you have so long as you go easy and use a different portion of the paper towel with each wipe it would work in a pinch. The paper towels disintegrate pretty quick so it's best to make one wipe with it moistened with the alcohol then use a different spot on the paper towel.

Reapply thermal paste and reattach the cooler. Use a dab of paste around the size of a grain or two of rice or the size of a small pea. If the cooler is properly mounted and tightened down it should spread the paste over most of the cpu's ihs (metal cover). The thermal paste doesn't hold the cooler in place, it's just there to fill in any small gaps between the cooler and cpu. (Not sure if you were aware the way you said the paste wasn't connecting the heat sink to the cpu).
 
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