quick processor change over question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Matt
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Matt

I'm about to move a processor from one motherboard to another for the first
time and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks for removing
the heatsink/fan, cleaning off the old thermal paste and then applying new
paste? I know that I need a thin even coat of paste on the processor, but I
was just mainly wondering if anyone had any tricks or tips that makes it
easier?
 
| I'm about to move a processor from one motherboard to another for the first
| time and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks for removing
| the heatsink/fan, cleaning off the old thermal paste and then applying new
| paste? I know that I need a thin even coat of paste on the processor, but I
| was just mainly wondering if anyone had any tricks or tips that makes it
| easier?

I usually use a paper towel to remove thermal paste from the heatsink and then
clean it with something like 91% isopropyl (not rubbing) alcohol. After
cleaning, I use something like a plastic baggie over my finger to rub thermal
paste over the flat surface of the heatsink. Then I wipe it off with a paper
towel (lint free). I also clean the surface of the CPU with isopropyl alcohol
and am careful not to touch the surface after cleaning. Use a good thermal
paste such as Arctic Silver 5. Apply a blob about the size of an uncooked grain
of rice to the center of the surface of the CPU. Don't spread it, but allow the
contact between the CPU surface and the heatsink to do the spreading for you.

Don't overdo the thermal paste. Using too much can cause problems.

Larc



§§§ - Change planet to earth to reply by email - §§§
 
Matt said:
I'm about to move a processor from one motherboard to another for the
first time and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks
for removing the heatsink/fan, cleaning off the old thermal paste and
then applying new paste? I know that I need a thin even coat of
paste on the processor, but I was just mainly wondering if anyone had
any tricks or tips that makes it easier?
Click to expand...

just ****in do it. you will know right away if you screwed up.

everclear is a nice cleaner and a high performance drink additive, so use it
on the crap that remains on the cpu. then let it dry out, put some as5 on
in a thin layer (a razor blade will work if you don't believe in following
the directions on their site) install the 'sink and turn the bitch on.

if you let the smoke out, your ****ed

hth, hand, and gfia
 
Matt said:
I'm about to move a processor from one motherboard to another for the
first time and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks for
removing the heatsink/fan, cleaning off the old thermal paste and then
applying new
paste? I know that I need a thin even coat of paste on the processor, but
I was just mainly wondering if anyone had any tricks or tips that makes it
easier?
Click to expand...

Whatever you do, don't use a hammer.
 
"Matt" said:
I'm about to move a processor from one motherboard to another for the first
time and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks for removing
the heatsink/fan, cleaning off the old thermal paste and then applying new
paste? I know that I need a thin even coat of paste on the processor, but I
was just mainly wondering if anyone had any tricks or tips that makes it
easier?
Click to expand...

Some people recommend running the computer first, with something
like Prime95 or another application that runs at 100% CPU
load. Then shut down, unplug, and remove the heatsink. The
idea is, heating the thermal interface material up a bit,
may make it easier to separate.

Paul
 
Paul said:
Some people recommend running the computer first, with something
like Prime95 or another application that runs at 100% CPU
load. Then shut down, unplug, and remove the heatsink. The
idea is, heating the thermal interface material up a bit,
may make it easier to separate.

Paul
Click to expand...

this seems eminently sensible but is it true ?
 
If you are talking about AMD, I had so much trouble getting the heat sink on
that I would not relish the thought of having to remove it. The thermal
paste would not be the problem, unlatching the fan would be.

-g
 
Matt wrote:

" ...just mainly wondering if anyone had any tricks or tips that makes
it easier? "


Firstly, before you change these CPUs around, make sure that the current
motherboard BIOS versions support the CPUs that you are installing into
them. You can find CPU support lists and new BIOS versions on each
motherboard manufacturer's website.

I use SpeedFan on all my PCs, and I'm forever advising friends to
install it. You might like to set it up before you switch CPUs to
constantly tell you the CPU/case temps in the system tray. That way,
when you are running the PC after you've re-installed the heatsink,
you'll know whether you've made good enough job with the contact.
http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

Like others have said, running stress tests to warm up the CPU
beforehand can make it easier to remove the heatsink. You just have to
be well prepared to shut down the system and get in there before it's
cooled down too much again.

Prime95 http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm
SuperPI http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=36

After releasing the clips I tend to gently turn/twist the heatsink
first, but obviously within the limitations of any retention brackets
for differing sockets. This tends to loosen any vacuum seal which the
thermal paste may have created. If you pull it straight out you might
run a greater risk of pulling the CPU out with it. If the CPU does come
off still stuck to the heatsink, the chances that you'll bend pins are
somewhat higher.

As for cleaning thermal paste, many people do use isopropyl alcohol If
you don't like the fumes then it can be a lot easier to use a specially
formulated citrus-based cleaner like the following:

Akasa TIM-Clean AK-TC
http://www.akasa.co.uk/akasa_english/spec_page/thermal/spec_ak_tc.htm
ArctiClean http://www.arcticsilver.com/arcticlean.htm

You barely need a tea-spoon of either of these to clean the worst from
half-a-dozen CPUs and heatsinks. Kitchen towel always works well for
me. However, if you are cleaning CPUs with an exposed core, you'll need
to make double sure you use lint-free material.

As for the actual act of removing thermal paste from the CPU and
heatsink, I can literally spend minutes rubbing what might appear to
some to be a perfectly clean and shiny heatsink. You have to understand
that, no matter how good the cuts are on the heatsink and CPU
heat-spreader, there are still hundreds/thousands of microscopic grooves
to muck out. It might sound a bit anal, but a minute or two of rubbing
can bring down the CPU temperature by a degree or two.

Also, and quite importantly, take the "downtime" to clean any dust from
the inside of the heatsink fins and the fan.

Lastly, in applying the thermal paste, the thinnest visible layer is all
that you need. I keep an old library card in my PC toolkit just for
this purpose.
 
Larc said:
I usually use a paper towel to remove thermal paste from the heatsink and
then
clean it with something like 91% isopropyl (not rubbing) alcohol. After
cleaning, I use something like a plastic baggie over my finger to rub
thermal
paste over the flat surface of the heatsink. Then I wipe it off with a
paper
towel (lint free). I also clean the surface of the CPU with isopropyl
alcohol
and am careful not to touch the surface after cleaning. Use a good
thermal
paste such as Arctic Silver 5. Apply a blob about the size of an uncooked
grain
of rice to the center of the surface of the CPU. Don't spread it, but
allow the
contact between the CPU surface and the heatsink to do the spreading for
you.

Don't overdo the thermal paste. Using too much can cause problems.
Click to expand...
Thanks for all the advice!
 
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