New motherboard, strange substance on heatsink??

[heizenbrg]

just bought an Asus P8Z77 V-PRO, noticed some brown substance on the heatsinks, and scratches in a reflective light.
should I try and whipe it off with fiber cloth?

 

[o1die]

No. Never touch a motherboard for cosmetic reasons. Static discharge can happen at any time causing blown circuits. Your board is made in layers, up to six. Internal damage can't even be seen.

 

[heizenbrg]

No. Never touch a motherboard for cosmetic reasons. Static discharge can happen at any time causing blown circuits. Your board is made in layers, up to six. Internal damage can't even be seen.

i have an anti static wrist wrap, what if it's rust? I should just llet it there?

 

[o1die]

Chances are it's some thermal or glue material. Unless you live in the deep south and leave your window open all the time, you don't have to worry about rust. Again, I would leave it alone.

 

[C12Friedman]

i have an anti static wrist wrap, what if it's rust? I should just llet it there?

There won't be rust on a heatsink (iron/steel are not good conductors). I personally would probably clean it, since foreign material on the heatsink will affect it's performance - the scratches are of course cosmetic and shouldn't affect the heatsink performance.
My $0.02 worth

 

[heizenbrg]

Best answer selected by heizenbrg.