Did I just commit a unspeakable mistake...

[mikeny]

I was attaching the CM Hyper 212 + and I didn't realize I had a minute smudge of thermal compound on my finger. When I was holding the motherboard on the side tightening the nuts, it looks like I smudged a very small spot on the back of the motherboard. Did I kill my motherboard without even turning it on or there shouldn't be a problem? I didn't wet my finger or use a cloth...i gently tried to take it off but to no avail.


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[jaquith]

If all you did was to smudge some Thermal Paste on the MOBO then clean it off using Isopropyl Alcohol (90%) and allow it to dry for 5~10 minutes. The big problem is getting conductive Thermal Paste on the CPU pins...which is a nightmare to remove without bending the CPU pins.

 

[mikeny]

Phewww...dodged a bullet. No, I never touch or go near the CPU pins. What do you use to wipe the area? Toilet paper? I figure paper towel would be too rough and a cotton ball would break apart and make a bad situation worse.

 

[mavroxur]

Just use some isopropyl alcohol and clean it off. I'd recommend using a Q-Tip with the alcohol and swabbing the area. Change Q-Tips a few times until there's nothing left on the board. Just make sure you get it all, as some compounds are conductive / capacitive (especially those that contain silver / aluminum compounds.

 

[jaquith]

Phewww...dodged a bullet. No, I never touch or go near the CPU pins. What do you use to wipe the area? Toilet paper? I figure paper towel would be too rough and a cotton ball would break apart and make a bad situation worse.

Don't tell my wife - I use older washed 'good' cotton towels (lower lint), but as mentioned Q-Tip's work fine.

Don't worry you'll be fine!

 

[Proximon]

It won't make any difference there, but when you need to control lint contamination coffee filters work very well.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

It won't make any difference there, but when you need to control lint contamination coffee filters work very well.

^ This.

Coffee filters work great.

 

[kitsunestarwind]

It won't do any Damage motherboard tracks and most solder points are coated with something similar to varnish making them non conductive, the problem only occurs on cpu pins/any slots or exposed copper/solder joints for mounted circuitry

 

[jaquith]

I've tried the coffee filter the problem is it smears more than it 'cleans' -- there's no (tiny amount) absorbency. A lint-free towel is your best bet -- trust me.

 

[Proximon]

I think we use different coffee filters, or maybe different TIM

 

[jaquith]

I've lost count how many times I cleaned-off thermal paste (CPU, HSF, & Blocks). I've tried both the Mr. Coffee white & brown filters both are not good for (CPU, HSF, & Blocks) paste cleaning. Try a lint free towel and you'll leave the filters to your coffee.

In the case of the OP - a thin smear can be cleaned with a filter, Q-Tip, or lint free towel.

 

[mikeny]

Thanks everyone. I couldn't believe it! When dealing with the motherboard Im super careful. This slipped.

 

[jaquith]

To make you feel better I dropped one on a tile floor and cracked it in two 10 seconds after getting it out of the box. I felt like a dumba$$. Like my wife backing into my new car with her 20 minute off the lot as new as it gets car. Stuff happens and you learn to laugh about after &^*%&% everything else is out of your system.

 

[jaquith]

I really like the idea but in most cases not the thermal conductivity, at least for the CPU. They seem to work fine for GPU blocks.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

I have used both the Q-tips, coffee filters and even used fabric sheets; they all work well in parts. Using filters/fabric sheets to clean most of the old junk off and then the Q-tip and alcohol and than dry with another filter/fabric sheet to make sure that isnt any lint left.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[mikeny]

Thanks guys. I used a q-tip; got it off pretty good. I'm actually hooking up power cables as we speak