The Glade 4.0

Ok I have never had to do this before so I have a question. Since my MB fried itself, I took out the CPU. Once I get a new MB I need to put the CPU on the new board. I have only ever put in a new CPU never reused the old one before.

My question is the thermal paste on the CPU, do I need to clean it off and if so what is the best way to do it? Or can I just leave what is on there already, since I will most likely get a new board in a day or so. I can clean off the bottom of the heat sink but I am always a bit leery of handling the CPU more than necessary.

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I met this six-year-old child, with this blank, pale, emotionless face and, the blackest eyes... the devil's eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil

Clean off the old thermal paste on the CPU and the heatsink. Use acetone to do it. Easiest way to get some is to look for acetone nail polish remover without additives.

If you've still got the little dummy block the CPU comes in, I'd stick it back in there while handling it and storing it. Otherwise, just put the (dirty) CPU in an anti-static bag and set it where nothing will bump it, squash it, etc. until the new motherboard arrives. Install the CPU in the new motherboard, and clean it in place in the new socket.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Rubbing alcohol works if you don't have nail polish remover.

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Dammit, Vlad, if I knew you were going to pop into this thread, I would have recommended the blue bios chisel to chip the old thermal paste off, and let you handle the serious advice.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Well I cleaned off the heat sink, was pretty easy. I just built the system 2 days ago so the paste was still pretty liquid and just wiped off. I like the idea of cleaning the cpu after it is in its new home so I think I will do that. Since the paste is still fresh I should be able to just get most of it off and add some new and spread it out. It may be different if it had been on there for a year or something.

I picked up a new MB this afternoon so tomorrow I will hook it up and do a test boot and then put it in the case if all goers well.

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I met this six-year-old child, with this blank, pale, emotionless face and, the blackest eyes... the devil's eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil

Ha!

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