Old paste in AM3 socket? problem

[robbie56]

hi there.

So my aim was to give my pc a massive clean out and a small cpu cleaner upgrade. i took it all apart as usual all fine. I took out the cpu to clean it of old thermal paste. looked back at the motherboard and some dirt, so i tried to blow it away, however a tiny amount looks as if it got sruck in 2 of the little holes of the socket. the dirt looks grey, but almost play dough texture (not actually touched it incase i push it further in).

not sure how to get it out? if it would matter?

worse case is that everything dies because of some dirt. i can get a picture of the socket if you think that would help?

Motgerboard: ASUS M4A77TD
Processor: AMD Phenom II Black edition

Any ideas would be awesome.
cheers, Rob

 

[swifty_morgan]

if you want to try and get it out with a pin?........ some compounds do contain metal. why did you remove the processor? all you had to do is remove the heat sink and rub the old paste off.

 

[robbie56]

i wanted to make sure nothing would get in my way. lesson learnt.

now, to find a pin small enough!