CPUS and thermal paste

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waikariboy

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#259724 17-Oct-2019 12:52

Got me some second hand xeon cpus for my homelab machine. They came with some thermal paste residue on the bottom (socket side) of them. When i question this, was told to no bother about cleaning it and they would be fine, but if i wanted to clean them use some isopropyl. Im leaning towards cleaning them, but just wanted to know would it be fine to not worry about cleaning them.

Balm its gone!

Brunzy

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#2339737 17-Oct-2019 12:55

I personally would clean it off and apply some new paste.
It wont make as good a bond with residue on it.

dfnt

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#2339739 17-Oct-2019 12:58

Definitely clean the old residue off

hsvhel

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#2339743 17-Oct-2019 13:13

If you have some iso handy, clean them

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#2339747 17-Oct-2019 13:21

Scrape the worst of it off with a thin piece of card or plastic and then wipe the remainder with iso and a lint free cloth, then use some Arctic Silver 5 or equivalent

shanes

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#2339760 17-Oct-2019 13:40

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Scrape the worst of it off with a thin piece of card or plastic and then wipe the remainder with iso and a lint free cloth, then use some Arctic Silver 5 or equivalent

I agree with all the comments, IF the residue is on the heat sink mating surface, you should clean it off.

But I think that you are meaning there is some reside on the pins/contact side? in that case as long as it is not electrically conductive paste and not too much it is probably ok to leave it.

Any cleaning of the connector surface will need to be done with Static precautions and mindful of physical damage...

waikariboy

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#2339765 17-Oct-2019 13:53

shanes:

Item:

Scrape the worst of it off with a thin piece of card or plastic and then wipe the remainder with iso and a lint free cloth, then use some Arctic Silver 5 or equivalent

I agree with all the comments, IF the residue is on the heat sink mating surface, you should clean it off.

But I think that you are meaning there is some reside on the pins/contact side? in that case as long as it is not electrically conductive paste and not too much it is probably ok to leave it.

Any cleaning of the connector surface will need to be done with Static precautions and mindful of physical damage...

yes its on the pins/contact side. going to use some Isopropanol Cleaning Fluid.

Balm its gone!