I dropped a small amount of thermal paste onto the cpu socket (lga 1700 if that matters) and I tried to get it out by using a toothbrush and isopropyl alcohol but I can’t seem to get all of it out. The pictures aren’t great but I tried to show it as best I could. Is they any way I can get all of this out? Or will it still work with just a small amount left in? Please help I don’t want to waste $200!
33 Comments
Doesn’t look like there’s enough to cause any issues. As long as the pins make contact it works.
“We are not a community where members feign stupidity when posting and commenting because they find it funny. You can be banned if you conduct yourself like that here.”
So I will reply seriously with as long as it’s not still stuck on any of the pins you should be fine.
You did the right thing with the rubbing alcohol and toothbrush, but maybe let it fully evaporate before you build that PC.
I’ve made this mistake. I didn’t clean the CPU before removing it, and the excess paste dripped over… Like, stretchy cheese on a fresh slice of pizza.
I took a tooth brush that was dipped in 91% isopropyl alcohol, dried that off, and then very, very gently brushed the pasty pins.
spray some 99% isopropyl alcohol then try to use q tip to clean it
Iirc thermal paste is not that conductive, and in your case, i can see barely of it, and i think it wouldn’t cause you a problem.
*liquid metal* on the other hand, i wouldn’t bother to clean it up cuz as soon as the liquid drops on the socke or any part of the mb, there goes your mb.
Check out this [video](https://youtu.be/rmhJLheNmzw?si=cFUSAl1RTSWH0qCW) from JayzTwoCents.
Thermal paste is non conductive and there isn’t enough to cause blockage. Just socket it
Soft toothbrush with IPA?
99% chance you did more harm than good, unless you’re a complete idiot you used non conductive thermal paste and there probably wasn’t even any need to clean it. good luck.
you’ll want 99% medical grade iso, but no less than 95%, you’re going to need to fairly drown the socket in the stuff. the iso will pretty much disintegrate the thermal paste.
use cotton swabs to mop up the resultant mess that WILL leak out from around the retention mechanism thats mounted to the socket, but under no circumstances should you use said swabs IN the socket. you can and likely WILL damage the pins.
Put it in rice.
Kidding of course. Thermal paste is made of the right materials to not cause problems. Just do the best you can to get it clear with alcohol and a soft bursh without bending the pins.
It’s over
Use a spray bottle with 90% isopropyl alcohol. gently rinse it away
Isopropyl alcohol and some canned air.
Let it dry and socket the cpu, you should be fine.
I have personal floss pics that have a very thin tapered plastic tip. The tip is gentle and could be used to remove material.
Work very gentle like an archeologist in the final stages of fossil exposure.
I have seen pin straightening done with a empty click pen using the open metal writing point used to embrace a pin one at a time to adjust them but let’s not even get there.
https://preview.redd.it/56vjgzi7ko5d1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60b58bc292a4e6e48cf674bc6a6dee050e9b8219
Use isopropyl alcohol in the socket pour it little by little then use a tooth brush brush it gently then if the isopropyl alcohol is dry pour it again Little by little until the thermal paste is gone, then wait for the isopropyl alcohol to completely dry then you can try turning it on
Hey here’s a youtube guide cleaning thermal paste, although yours is not nearly as bad.
https://youtu.be/rmhJLheNmzw?si=paxC2sFs_Egp3d9J
Get a small stiff brush, like the kind used for cleaning a shaver.
Normal thermal Paste is non conductive, it will Work just fine
Thermal paste usually isn’t conductive afaik, but to be sure find out how conductive yours is.
Soft toothbrush, 99% rubbing alcohol & lots of patience.
Electric parts cleaner
its fine
You can use [CRC Electronic Cleaner ](https://www.walmart.com/ip/CRC-Electronic-Cleaner-Quick-Dry-for-Sensitive-Electronics-11-oz/16817418) if you need to get it out.
isopropyl alcohol and thermite… i mean… termites… wait… turnpikes? no, that’s not it either… wormed mice? dammit… canned air, that’s what I was looking for, so yeah
isopropyl alcohol and canned air. the alcohol will break down the paste, and the canned air to blow it out.
Hold upside down and squirt it with isopropyl alcohol until it’s clean again lol
A needle and a lot of patience
put the cpu in and forget about it. Its not enough to cause issues.
Run it bud. Won’t hurt a thing
Most likely won’t do anything, but you can use some IPA to clean nonetheless.
Dip a clean fine toothbrush with isopropyl alcohol and scrub it away, you might need to apply some alcohol on the socket. If you’re already scrubbing for a while and it’s still wont come off, blow it off with some canned compressed air.