What do I need to make this clean

[rtwjunkie]

wait wait that the grey is thermal paste? its like you put too much paste there

On those type of bases I always fill the cracks in with paste prior to applying any to the CPU, otherwise you'll have huge air pockets there.

 

[brandonwh64]

I know this sounds stupid but ketchup and a tooth brush. Put some ketchup on the cooler and spread around with the tooth brush then let it set for about 5 minutes then scrub with the toothbrush/ rinse. The acid in the ketchup cleans up copper

 

[SnakeDoctor]

The old fashion Piece of Toilet Paper ...

Tp or a Rag , can use some methylated spirits or cleaning Alcohol
Don't add so much thermal paste as before its everywhere , apply the thermal paste to the cpu not the heatsink

 

[sneekypeet]

I would be cautious with using harsh cleaners on an HDT type of cooler. There is TIM between the heat pipes and the aluminum base plate that is needed to be there. It is possible that with stronger cleaners you could remove it, and it is impossible to replace it there. I would just clean the base as mentioned with alcohol or products designed for it specifically. Also you will never see the extra TIM when the cooler is installed, so no real reason to worry about it being there.

 

[psyko12]

wait wait that the grey is thermal paste? its like you put too much paste there
detergent with warm water could clean it up

Just the right amount to fill in the gaps. But When I 1st time I cleaned it the thermal paste got messy due to alcohol and toilet paper..

On those type of bases I always fill the cracks in with paste prior to applying any to the CPU, otherwise you'll have huge air pockets there.

Yup that's what I did.

Seems to me alcohol higher % is the way to go.. I can only find 70% in our local grocery and medical supplies store. So I'll just go with that and the ketchup method, I'm going to see how it works over the weekend

Well thank you all for the replies! Been long time since I saw you guys! Happy 2016!!

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Messy job the first time , paste all over the pipes/mount block seem like a fan been blowing it all over the place

Brake cleaner as some suggested will clean it like a whistle , Quite a harsh cleaner tho
Could use to also clean water damage electronic (cell Phones ,Works similar to electron cleaning drys very quick but probably not the best for electronics but should be fine for a heatsink

Better just a rag tho with some alcohol or meths , never needed any thing more even rock hard Thermal paste

 

[Bill_Bright]

Toothbrush. Really. Just not yours.

That would be my suggestion too. And yes, as long as you remove the fan, you can dunk the heat sink in a sink of hot water.

I personally would not use ketchup because of the sugars and staining power of tomatoes. But the idea behind it is sound. ketchup is acidic and that can help break down the old TIM (thermal interface material) for easier removal. I recommend 91-93% isopropyl alcohol, acetone or electrical contact cleaner. If using any of these with a brush, protect your eyes and note that fumes (especially from the acetone and, though less hazardous, the contact cleaner) are hazardous too.

I would not let brake cleaner get anywhere near my electronics! Brake cleaner is extremely caustic - designed to break down really nasty grease and grime as found in automotive repair shops - conditions never found in electronics. While brake cleaner will not harm the metal of the heatsink, it most likely will mar the anodized finish that is there to not only improve overall cooling effect of the heatsink, but also to protect the heatsink from corrosion.

Brake cleaner will certainly damage plastics and printed circuit boards, not to mention kitchen counters and dining room tables.

 

[psyko12]

Messy job the first time , paste all over the pipes/mount block seem like a fan been blowing it all over the place

Brake cleaner as some suggested will clean it like a whistle , Quite a harsh cleaner tho
Could use to also clean water damage electronic (cell Phones ,Works similar to electron cleaning drys very quick but probably not the best for electronics but should be fine for a heatsink

Better just a rag tho with some alcohol or meths , never needed any thing more even rock hard Thermal paste

We all had to start somewhere and the fan was not spreading it. IT WAS DUE TO CLEANING IT the 1st time. Alcohol and the toilet paper/rag I used spread it allover, tooth brushing it made it more messier. DO consider the fact that this heatsink if you guys look at it's info, has POROUS texture due to it's matte coating (stealth technology whatever Xigmatek coated it with) LOL so yeah that's why it's tough to clean... IF it was just a regular shiny chromed heatsink, I would've just cleaned it up real good.

This one, harder than other heatsinks due to the coating...

 

[peche]

use this Stuffs, trust me its the cats ass when cleaning.

those last forever.... i have a pair arround somewhere in my home... purchased in 2009...

he drank it once as part of his initial review. I'm not much for the taste myself.

one smells like heaven ,.... the other one gets me high ....

 

[Liquid Cool]

That looks like a job for a little rubbing alcohol and a soft bristled tooth brush.

I saw Goo Gone mentioned in this thread...it's the best product I've ever used. Especially for hard to get off sticker residue. Eats through it in seconds flat. The only thing I don't like about GG is that it evaporates too quick for my taste. Although, it's definitely my go to stuff when everything else fails.

oops! is another one worthy of consideration..... Love that too!

Best,

Liquid Cool

 

[Bill_Bright]

I do NOT recommend Goo Gone or any such products like oops! or Sticky out - except maybe (but I doubt it) as a last resort. Note the labels. They contain petroleum distillates. That means they WILL leave an oily residue that may, unless you thoroughly clean it with isopropyl alcohol, acetone, or electrical contact cleaner, react (badly!!!) with the new application of TIM. So I would avoid the use of those products too and stick with a toothbrush, elbow grease, and preferably electrical contact cleaner.

 

[peche]

opropyl alcohol i the best option ... price / quantity ...
also contact cleaner is pretty easy to apply, easy to get, easy to store....
coffee filters are the best for cleaning computer hardware, pretty strong, wont tear so easy and also are lint free... pretty cheap by the way ...


Regards,

 

[Bill_Bright]

Coffee filters work but personally, I just use paper towels. I don't worry about lint because I always give my heatsinks and CPU dies a blast of compressed air just before mounting the heatsink anyway.

 

[stinger608]

Alcohol and a Q-Tip

And keep in mind that @Norton doesn't mean beer...............Bhahahaha

 

[Norton]

Lots of good options being discussed. However, the OP's issue is on cleaning the TIM from the heatsink coating:

DO consider the fact that this heatsink if you guys look at it's info, has POROUS texture due to it's matte coating (stealth technology whatever Xigmatek coated it with)

It's a Xigmatek Dark Knight Night Hawk Edition...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

It's covered with a special ceramic coating. Closest analog to this for cleaning purposes is unglazed tile.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Bake it for a while to dry the paste then brush or airblast it off.

 

[xvi]

I use a toothpick to pick out the larger chunks of caked on paste just so it looks nice. As long as the base is clean, it shouldn't affect performance.

 

[peche]

Bake it for a while to dry the paste then brush or airblast it off.

this may requiere sir @Toothless approval ...

 

[psyko12]

And keep in mind that @Norton doesn't mean beer...............Bhahahaha

Was considering BEER as well , hahahaha

Lots of good options being discussed. However, the OP's issue is on cleaning the TIM from the heatsink coating:

It's a Xigmatek Dark Knight Night Hawk Edition...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

It's covered with a special ceramic coating. Closest analog to this for cleaning purposes is unglazed tile.

Yup and without damaging that coating as well