I need a lesson... GPU Clean-up 101

[Titanion]

I thought I was "with it" for I have had success modding and overclocking over the last few years with no major mistakes, but with some setbacks of late, I may well need a lesson on the Dos and Don'ts of cleaning up a video card's gpu... I could just be in a batting slump, but man, it hurts... and if I get a 9700 Pro back via RMA or when I eventually do upgrade to a 9800 Pro or XT or X800 or whatever, I know I am going to want to at the very least get a better heatsink on those cards... so WTF did I do wrong... if some of my trusted peers/friends here want to walk me through how they go about it cleaning up the stock goo, step by step, I will put myself back in the role of an active, listening student...

Thanks all... almost everything I have learned about computers, especially overclocking, has come from this community...

My confidence has been shaken...

<font color=red><b>NF7-S/Mobile Barton 2600+
211x11.5 1.824v SLK900A
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200
Sapphire 9500np@9700np</font color=red><font color=black>
NF7-S/Barton 2500+
200x11.5 1.76v
512MB XMS PC2700
XFX Ti4200

 

[jammydodger]

What did you manage to do the first time? Just remove the old HSF and the clean the core with a bit of alcohol...how did u manage to destroy a card doing that?

<font color=blue>P4c 2.6@3.25
512Mb PC4000
2x120Gb 7200.7 in RAID0
Waterchill KT12-L30
Abit AI7
Radeon 9800Pro
</font color=blue>

 

[Titanion]

No sh1t... that is what I am asking myself...

<font color=red><b>NF7-S/Mobile Barton 2600+
211x11.5 1.824v SLK900A
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200
Sapphire 9500np@9700np</font color=red><font color=black>
NF7-S/Barton 2500+
200x11.5 1.76v
512MB XMS PC2700
XFX Ti4200

 

[Titanion]

No, I do not thinks so... and the card was warm because i had just ram 3DMark03 with it...

I have been wondering about rubbing the core with a piece of plastic to get all the goo off of it... it is very hard to remove... I should have used my finger and just cleaned it thoroughly before I put the sink back on...

<font color=red><b>NF7-S/Mobile Barton 2600+
211x11.5 1.824v SLK900A
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200
Sapphire 9500np@9700np</font color=red><font color=black>
NF7-S/Barton 2500+
200x11.5 1.76v
512MB XMS PC2700
XFX Ti4200

 

[Titanion]

Ya, I am thinking that was it, too...

What kind of stuff are we talking about using here?

<font color=red><b>NF7-S/Mobile Barton 2600+
211x11.5 1.824v SLK900A
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200
Sapphire 9500np@9700np</font color=red><font color=black>
NF7-S/Barton 2500+
200x11.5 1.76v
512MB XMS PC2700
XFX Ti4200

 

[PukePile]

I used a paper towel and rubbing alcohol to clean the goo of my 9800 pro came off easyly.

40k in aquamark 3
<A HREF="http://arc.aquamark3.com/arc/arc_view.php?run=77119011
" target="_new">http://arc.aquamark3.com/arc/arc_view.php?run=77119011
</A>
P4b2.4@2.8||1024mb DDR@392mhz||9800pro@414/732||Viewsonic UltraBrite 19"||Kensington 800 dpi mouse.

 

[Titanion]

OK, I am not shaken anymore... I am ready to tear apart my next new card... It is kind of like a speeding ticket... you get over it and start driving fast again after a few days... it can cost about the same as toasting a video card, too...

<font color=red><b>NF7-S/Mobile Barton 2600+
211x11.5 1.824v SLK900A
1GB Corsair XMS PC3200
Sapphire 9500np@9700np</font color=red><font color=black>
NF7-S/Barton 2500+
200x11.5 1.76v
512MB XMS PC2700
XFX Ti4200