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thermal paste remover?

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Im right in thinking nail polish is a perfectly good grease remover for CPUs?

I dont think i know anywhere i can get my hands on alcohol or whatever it is you use.

Now nail polish i know that there probly is some in my sister or maws room.

Im not paying for those midget ml bottles of proper thermal paste remover, they cost too much for something i could get for free.

Its a noob question but if im wrong at least you can correct me while im here.
 

Kreij

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No ... Acetone is not anything you want to get anywhere near computer components.
 
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Nail polish remover is acetone, but not a very "clean" source. It's usually loaded with "conditioners" (read: oils) and perfumes that are not going to leave a very clean surface.

You could look for some bargain nail polish or pure acetone from the pharmacy. Otherwise 91% isoproply is the next best (and cheepest) route. From there you move onto Arctic Clean and that spells: M O N E Y.

I use lab-grade acetone on my equipment all the time. Just not around plastics or PCB boards.
 

panchoman

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by far in my opinion the best cleaning solution is high purity isopropyl alochol (90%+ preferred)
**make sure the iso alcohol does not contain anything besides isopronanol(active ingredient) and water (inactive ingredient). use a clean cloth to wipe up the thermal paste and then take a clean q-tip, dip it in the iso alocohol and use the q tip to clean off the rest of the paste on the cpu.. note: remember to remove the bios battery and drain all electricity on the motherboard before getting iso alochol on the motherboard because any sort of electricity will begin electrolysis with the water in the isopropyl alochol, on this matter, when you get say 91% iso alochol, that means it contains 91% isopropanol and only 9% water, this means the solution is more concentrated, so you need less and it takes less time to dry due to lower water quanties, it takes approximetely like 30 seconds=1 minute for a cpu to become completely dry
 
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damn this is what i though you cant just go to the local chemist arond here and buy 91% isoproply pure acetone 90 odd % alcohol

i live in the UK so i need like places that might sell it.
 
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Good stuff, Pancho.

And no "Rubbing" Alcohol. It has oils in it as well.
 

Kreij

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Acetones will break down many types of plastics. Don't use it.

Use a little Vodka if you have that in the house.
 
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While I agree with your point about plastics, he inquired about cleaning thermal paste of the CPU.

BTW, I did quantify my statement with a caution regarding plastics.

...vodka? :wtf:
 
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its okay the cpu wont be in the socket at the time.
yeah use a cotton bud after wiping it, i know what to do just not what solution to use

Vodka seriously?
 
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do not use turpentine do not use nail polish remover or paint stripper do not use washing up liquid

any more i should NOT use?
 

Kreij

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The alcohols in grain alcohol will break down greases and oils similar to the way the IPA will.
As with both, the purer the strain the less residue.

Vodka is relatively pure compared to other liquors.

Plus when you are done you can take a sip of the left overs and it won't kill you.
 

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I'm from the UK and have a big bottle (500ml) of Isopropyl Alcohol which I ordered from a local pharmacy, cost about 4 quid IIRC. No idea what the purity is, there is no mention of water content on the label, but I've used it loads of times with no ill effects. It does a very good job IMO.
 
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Yeah, but most are only 80 proof = only 40% alcohol. That's a LOT of water in the mix. Not sure if it would break down thermal paste any better than rubbing it hard with a cloth.

Then again, it should be relatively easy to get your hands on.
 

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You most likely have things in your home that are nothing more that IPA in some sort of mixture.
For instance, Windex window cleaner is mostly IPA.
It has other things in it that could leave a residue, but would work in a pinch.

Just don't use acetone. A little in the wrong spot and you will have melting plastics.
 
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im sure the other stuff would burn your throat

pouchin is a potato based alcohol and it is EXTREMELY HIGH IN VOLUME, it gets you drunk in 100ml and if you drink to much of it you can get alcohol poisoning

its illegal in the UK lol

sorry back to the topic i might just try and get some isopropyl alochol from somewhere like a chemist
 

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Kreij

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Yeah, but most are only 80 proof = only 40% alcohol. That's a LOT of water in the mix. Not sure if it would break down thermal paste any better than rubbing it hard with a cloth.

Then again, it should be relatively easy to get your hands on.

You must drink cheap Vodka :D

Remember you are not pouring this over your components.
You are dipping a clean cloth in it and carefully wiping off the TIM.
The 40% AC will help to remove the TIM if you have nothing else.

We are not talking optimal condition here people.
 

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Yeah, you'll probably need to order it. I went to a small independant chemist in North Wales. Mind you, I just googled BS 1595 (IPA) and got a hit to an online pharmacy based in the UK, and it said you'd need a prescription for it.....Maybe they've changed the rules, I got mine about 18mths ago
 

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I use ArctiClean. Good stuff, I use it. Actually the last time I used it was 2 days ago when I had to clean my Q6600 and put it in my other motherboard.
 
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yeah i just want to put some paste on my new CPU from dark2099 and i want to remove the paste from my current CPU i might as well test this old AM2 3800+ single core see if it works and sell it on ebay while im at it

obviously this means cleaning the bloody cooler too
 
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Well, if "we" aren't all that concerned why not dip a rag in some petrol! That'll do the trick! Then take a swig and admire your work!:p










p.s. Please, don't do either of the things I suggested above...
 
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i detected a hint of sarcasm

all the help is appreciated anyone who posted so far gets a thanks
 

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I know for a fact that maplin sells IPA in volumes of 500ml and 1000ml. I know of an online store that sells IPA to at a low price, here's a link to it store. IPA will be the best stuff for the job really.
 

panchoman

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its okay if the isopropyl percantage is lower, it just means theres a lower concentration of iso alcohol and a higher percentage of water, usually at your average pharmacy you get 71% and 91% percent, the latter being more expensive, but worth it, basically if you get the 71%, it just means that:

-you'll need more iso alcohol to clean because theres a lower concentration of isopropanol
-drying times will be higher because of the higher water quantities. you can always use a blow dryer to make it dry faster
-other then that, theres no problem, and like i said, most pharmacies will carry 91% iso alochol, if not, you'll find 71% probably.

also, a common mistake is that people wash off the iso alcohol with water, DO NOT do this, isopropyl alcohol will evaporate in a short amount of time and leave your components completely clean, washing with water would just reverse the effects of the alcohol, and leave impurities on the cpu.

also final note:

rubbing alcohol is usually if not always isoproyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol is a more common name of it, just ask the pharmacist for rubbing alcohol (most pharmacies will carry this), and just make sure that theres no scents or oils and that the active ingredient is isopropanol and no other active ingredient is listed, and also water should be the only inactive ingredient.
 
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