Liquid Metal, Cleaning, Razor blades, & scratches

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volkgren

volkgren

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Aug 13, 2017
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I've delided my i7-7700K months ago and it was doing great. At some pointi had removed some of the liquid metal and added some more. Spreading it with a Q-tip, I was experiencing higher temps thani had previously.

Seeing some lent in the liquid, I decided to use a coffee filter and alcohol to remove and clean all liquid metal. There was some residue and died metal still on the underside of the IHS. It just won't come off.

I've began scraping it with a razor blade, but if course it's scratching the IHS. Is that going to be a bad thing?
 
Solution
R_1


low grit is rough, you will want like a 1200-1600 or even ultra fine steel wool. think polishing

if using steel wool use a magnet to remove any filings/steel wool breakage before using.
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R_1

R_1

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Sep 8, 2015
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you do not want to scratch/gouge the IHS. every scratch will need to be filled with paste, which no matter how good it is is never as good as a smooth polished surface. the top is what I'm referring to here the sides do nothing to cool. but the top should remain pristine as can be. if you have de-lidded you should know that the liquid metal will stain, chemicals will react to metals in the IHS and that can dye the surface. I do not think the discoloration hampers the thermal ability of the material.


Personal Opinion: in my view liquid metal is more trouble than its worth. it never sets and always flows. it reacts to various metals and alloys, has to be replenished regularly due to the flowing.
Arctic silver has never failed me
 
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volkgren

volkgren

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Aug 13, 2017
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Yeah I won't be using it again. Too much throug trouble for not enough gain.

But this is the underside of the IHS. I think it's more than discoloration, it's dried on there. Anywaysi scraped it off and we'll see how it does. I'm wondering howi could smooth out out. Maybe low grout sand paper.
 
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R_1

R_1

Expert
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Sep 8, 2015
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49,290


low grit is rough, you will want like a 1200-1600 or even ultra fine steel wool. think polishing

if using steel wool use a magnet to remove any filings/steel wool breakage before using.
 
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Solution
volkgren

volkgren

Judicious
Aug 13, 2017
5,827
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32,090
After cleaning the liquid metal off with 91% alcohol, cotton swab, coffee filter.
HUo0U86.jpg

After cleaning with razor blade.
pqrPTNS.jpg

After cleaning with fine steel wool.
GtYQYM8.jpg
 
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volkgren

volkgren

Judicious
Aug 13, 2017
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Fine steel wool smoothed out out a bit.

I just experienced my second most frustrating CPU cooler installation ever.

Both of them were a Cryorig R1 Universal.

The first one the screws barely reached the screw holes and had too be forced way too much.

This one the screw on the tower was literally bent and couldn't be screwed down untili removed the cooler and forced the screwdriver in to it and started with it. Scratched the surface of the heat block in the process. Wasted 2 applications of MX4 thermal paste.

Sucks, I'm experiencing poor quality control with Cryorig. The H7 is great. Hard to go wrong with a $30 cooler like that.
 
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