Thermal paste on CPU pins

[315shaun]

Hi, I’m currently using a ryzen 3700x... I was placing my cpu onto my fan and got some thermal paste on the cpu pins within the middle lol (don’t ask)

I’m a bit scared if I plug it in something might happen to my cpu or it won’t work.. I’m going to give a clean tomorrow but if I tried to plug it in now without cleaning it would it work, the thermal paste I used was “ ionz IZP8 Ultra High Performance Thermal compound, 8.3W/mK Heatsink Paste For All CPU/GPU Coolers - 4 Gram syringe”

 

[bobbybluz]

Clean the pins first. Use rubbing alcohol on an old soft toothbrush and LIGHTLY clean it off.

 

[Caring1]

Wow, no need to shout.
Clean it off, don't risk it.

 

[Athlonite]

Clean the pins first. Use rubbing alcohol on an old soft toothbrush and LIGHTLY clean it off.

Secondly do yourself and your CPU a favor and throw that jank thermal paste out and buy something decent

 

[R-T-B]

It's not electrically conductive according to it's spec sheet but I still would clean it. Heck, it could even act as an insulator on the pin if there's enough (not good).

Secondly do yourself and your CPU a favor and throw that jank thermal paste out and buy something decent

I mean most pastes perform within a tiny bit of each other. If he's not having issues with it i wouldn't just throw it out, but i wouldn't buy it again either.

 

[bobbybluz]

I'd love to see video of this:

I was placing my cpu onto my fan and got some thermal paste on the cpu pins within the middle

 

[Fangio1951]

I was placing my cpu onto my fan and got some thermal paste on the cpu pins within the middle lol (don’t ask)

This doesn't make any sense.

How could one get paste on the middle cpu pins when it's in the socket ??????????

Not being nasty, just very curious.

 

[biffzinker]

How could one get paste on the middle cpu pins when it's in the socket ??????????

Took it out of the socket or the other option is OP was in the process of building the PC. Why you would stick the CPU on the fan hub is what I’m not understanding.

 

[Mussels]

I've been doing this for decades and still find thermal paste on my fingers, pants, face, and occasionally dog.

Isopropyl alcohol will help clean it off, you dont need every micron gone to get things working normally.

 

[Vya Domus]

Something like this happened to me once, never got it working again. Clean it as best as you can until you can no longer see any residue.

I was placing my cpu onto my fan and got some thermal paste on the cpu pins within the middle lol (don’t ask)

This doesn't make any sense.

How could one get paste on the middle cpu pins when it's in the socket ??????????

Not being nasty, just very curious.

I got some on the side of the socketed CPU then when I pulled it out some paste got on the pins. Not quite the same thing but shit happens.

 

[R-T-B]

Something like this happened to me once, never got it working again.

Something something... LGA socket... *cries*

 

[Assimilator]

If you are doing ANYTHING with thermal paste, ALWAYS have some isopropyl alcohol handy.

Something something... LGA socket... *cries*

Whichever dumbass at Intel convinced them that LGA was a good idea for desktop platforms can get fucked. I hope AMD doesn't make the same mistake with their next socket.

 

[John Naylor]

It's not electrically conductive according to it's spec sheet but I still would clean it. Heck, it could even act as an insulator on the pin if there's enough (not good).

Is it capacitive ? Note the warning for AS5

Not Electrically Conductive: Arctic Silver 5 was formulated to conduct heat, not electricity. (While much safer than electrically conductive silver and copper greases, Arctic Silver 5 should be kept away from electrical traces, pins, and leads. While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive and could potentially cause problems if it bridges two close-proximity electrical paths.)

 

[Andrew LB]

Clean the pins first. Use rubbing alcohol on an old soft toothbrush and LIGHTLY clean it off.

I was placing my cpu onto my fan and got some thermal paste on the cpu pins within the middle lol (don’t ask)

This doesn't make any sense.

How could one get paste on the middle cpu pins when it's in the socket ??????????

Not being nasty, just very curious.

My theory is he put the paste on the cooler, then placed the cooler on the socket without the CPU installed, but then i remembered that the pins are on the actual chip on AMD processors. so now i'm even more confused.

Whichever dumbass at Intel convinced them that LGA was a good idea for desktop platforms can get fucked. I hope AMD doesn't make the same mistake with their next socket.

What is wrong with LGA? You're FAR less likely to screw up pins when they're in the CPU socket which is why Intel switched years ago. I've built dozens of computers and never once touched the CPU socket pins on an Intel board. I recently was going through some old CPU's i had, one of which was an 800mhz AMD Athlon that apparently i didn't have the proper packaging for and protected it as best i could... and the pins were mangled. took an hour to get them all straightened up.

 

[R-T-B]

Is it capacitive ? Note the warning for AS5

Not Electrically Conductive: Arctic Silver 5 was formulated to conduct heat, not electricity. (While much safer than electrically conductive silver and copper greases, Arctic Silver 5 should be kept away from electrical traces, pins, and leads. While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive and could potentially cause problems if it bridges two close-proximity electrical paths.)

Does not say it is. Honestly most don't bother to distinguish because they are pretty much the same issue.

What is wrong with LGA? You're FAR less likely to screw up pins when they're in the CPU socket which is why Intel switched years ago.

Mainly that overdone thermal paste applications can drip, and guess what's beneath the CPU.

Yes, it's an excuse to master thermal paste applying. But that doesn't help noobs or freaks of nature like me. Many sockets die to us every day.

 

[bobbybluz]

I quit using AS5 on my own builds after I discovered Gelid GS Extreme several years ago. I still have most of a large tube of AS5 on hand as well as a large tube of MX-4 that I use on customers air cooled PC's when doing repairs. How many folks have had hardened AS5 glue the heatsink to the CPU in the old AMD socket A and 939 days?

 

[biffzinker]

How many folks have had hardened AS5 glue the heatsink to the CPU in the old AMD socket A and 939 days?

Happened to me once with a Athlon 64, although any paste can create the glued on effect.

 

[Ruru]

Happened to me once with a Athlon 64, although any paste can create the glued on effect.

Exactly, it's not rare even these days that an AMD CPU comes with the heatsink/waterblock if you don't twist it enough before taking the cooling off.

 

[Assimilator]

What is wrong with LGA?

It's incredibly, horribly fragile. Like @R-T-B I am not the most... coordinated of persons - although I have yet to get thermal paste in the socket, I have been known to drop things like screws on motherboards while messing with my build. If the area where I dropped the screw is near the socket, and it's an Intel board, that's an anus-puckering moment; for AMD it's a meh.

Heck, LGA is so fragile that they have to supply that stupid cover with it. Have you ever tried to reinstall one of those hell devices in order to sell the board? It's a nightmare.

I'm sure LGA has advantages, but for me - a clumsy enthusiast - the robustness of PGA is far more important. I miss the old Slot 1/Slot A days...

 

[silkstone]

If all else fails, remove the CMOS battery and place it into a clean empty dishwasher.
Then, importantly, leave it a few days to dry.

 

[Mussels]

If all else fails, remove the CMOS battery and place it into a clean empty dishwasher.
Then, importantly, leave it a few days to dry.

To be clear he means the motherboard in the dishwasher, not the battery.

 

[Chomiq]

Heck, LGA is so fragile that they have to supply that stupid cover with it. Have you ever tried to reinstall one of those hell devices in order to sell the board? It's a nightmare.

Past me: "old board's out, now to place the socket cover. Maybe I should check manual? Nah, what can go wrong"
*proceeds to put the socket cover incorrectly, closes the cpu tray*
RIP b75.

 

[The Foldinator]

I've been doing this for decades and still find thermal paste on my fingers, pants, face, and occasionally dog.

Isopropyl alcohol will help clean it off, you dont need every micron gone to get things working normally.

I am glad to hear ..i sometimes think its hunting me i always try to be as "clean" as possible but i always end up with it somewhere

 

[delshay]

Err I use a ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning. I suggest some of you should thing about getting one. It's awesome at cleaning gold too.

 

[silkstone]

Past me: "old board's out, now to place the socket cover. Maybe I should check manual? Nah, what can go wrong"
*proceeds to put the socket cover incorrectly, closes the cpu tray*
RIP b75.

I always use a bit of paper rather than the socket cover as I can never tell which way they go and I'm scared to death of bending those pins!