Bought a used B550, some paste in and around socket

[Grh255]

Hello,

Bought a used GIGABYTE B550M DS3H and there is somehow a bit of thermal paste on the socket. How should I go about cleaning this up without damaging anything or should I just not use the board at all? Doesn't look too bad but want to be safe before dropping 5900x in it. Thanks

 

[GerKNG]

99% IPA and a brush.

 

[ir_cow]

Leave it. I've had paste in the socket before. If it is non-conductive you don't have to worry about it.

 

[freeagent]

I should show you my socket

And I thought I was careful

 

[eidairaman1]

Electronic grade contact cleaner

 

[Ruru]

I'm 99% sure that it won't cause any problems since practically any modern paste isn't conductive (except liquid metal). Though I'd still clean most of it with toilet paper or something.

 

[Shrek]

It's a connector, probably don't want any insulator around.

 

[Ruru]

It's a connector, probably don't want any insulator around.

Yet still it doesn't look like the socket is swimming in TIM. A little drop here or there most like won't cause insulation.

 

[P4-630]

If it was AS5 you're screwed....

 

[Ruru]

If it was AS5 you're screwed....

Gotta wonder that who even uses that anymore. That was the shit like back in 2005

 

[damric]

You could try it first and see if it works.

If you worried though, carefully take apart the plastic socket mechanism (easier said than done) and see if it's actually on the connectors. With the plastic off it will be easier to clean. And if you are like me and break it getting it off, they do sell cheap replacements in ebay.

 

[eidairaman1]

Gotta wonder that who even uses that anymore. That was the shit like back in 2005

I have, its been revised

 

[P4-630]

Gotta wonder that who even uses that anymore. That was the shit like back in 2005

You can still buy it.

 

[Ruru]

I have, its been revised

Does it perform better than let's say, MX-4 or NT-H1?

 

[P4-630]

Does it perform better than let's say, MX-4 or NT-H1?

I know it's very long lasting, I used it in 2010 for the intel E7200 of my dads PC, still running cool upto today 13 years later!

 

[eidairaman1]

Does it perform better than let's say, MX-4 or NT-H1?

All 3 are the same.

 

[delshay]

99% IPA and a brush.

YES, but do this with the motherboard socket facing the floor. This way none of the paste is pushed around & risk going deep into the socket. It's standard practice here when removing paste around GPU die when paste is stuck between capacitors. The paste will just fall towards the brush or floor. Method works perfect on CPU socket too removing every single bit of paste.

 

[Ruru]

YES, but do this with the motherboard socket facing the floor

Hella good point there. At least the shit from the socket will truly come out.

 

[LabRat 891]

Leaving it is okay but, I've usually cleaned it using 91% isopropyl and a clean soft-bristle toothbrush.
Yes, let gravity help you, rather than gunk up the pins with particles.

 

[Grh255]

Thanks for the help guys. Board also came with 2 standoffs cross-threaded with the wrong screws but freed these with 5mm socket underneath and PH1. Can't find a speck of dust on it so it seems someone messed up and couldn't get the screws out and returned it in this shape without really using it. Cooler was delayed so can't test it until Tuesday.

Here is a better photo:

 

[Mr.Scott]

Leave it. It's fine.

 

[Grh255]

Got the board to post. Only paid $55 for it so was a little worried. Have a 5900x in there now but I'm downgrading to a 5600 instead. Bought 5900x used and just want to test it before I sell it, what is the best way to do this? Just cpuz and cinebence? It has a number scratches on the IHS and want to make sure thermals are fine. It's been a while since I messed around with any hardware so I'm forgetting the simple stuff

 

[natr0n]

Gotta wonder that who even uses that anymore. That was the shit like back in 2005

I bought a tube months ago for like $19 since I never used it till now. I always used ceramique 2 which lasted prob 10 years.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Got the board to post. Only paid $55 for it so was a little worried. Have a 5900x in there now but I'm downgrading to a 5600 instead. Bought 5900x used and just want to test it before I sell it, what is the best way to do this? Just cpuz and cinebence? It has a number scratches on the IHS and want to make sure thermals are fine. It's been a while since I messed around with any hardware so I'm forgetting the simple stuff

Huh? Why not keep the 5900x?

 

[Grh255]

Huh? Why not keep the 5900x?

I was shopping for a 5600 but stumbled upon a deal for 5900x that was too good to pass on. So I ended up buying both, but makes more sense to put the difference towards a better gpu since 6 cores is sufficient for me.