High Purity Isopropyl at home? AS5 vs. Ceramique?

[LUCI5R]

Ave,

Well - I did it all wrong!! I upgraded from an E6420 (Dual-Core) to Q9450 (Quad-Core) and used the Dual Core instructions for arctic silver 5. I have to redo it now - I'll need to remove the previous goo and re-spread the thermal compound.

Just a few questions...

1. Is there any home-based product which has the 'high-purity isopropyl' which I can find at anything at home? If not, where do I go to buy it? (I don't want to order online, takes too long!)
2. They said I could use 'Dawn' dishwasher soap to clean off the goo from my CPU - is that OK? Also, I have coffee filters at home, I plan on using those (it said you can in the PDF).
3. Lastly, I have AS5 ... I can get Ceramique for $6 at my local Radio Shack. Is there any reason I should use Ceramique over AS5?

Thanks guys!!

[LivingL@rGe81]

Why do you want to spend cash on stuff you don't need!!!

I have & always will use just toilet paper to clean TIM off stuff & cotton buds! You don't need chemical just a little bit of elbow grease

I use ceramique it general gives you a few degrees better preformance the AS5

[LUCI5R]

Why do you want to spend cash on stuff you don't need!!!

I have & always will use just toilet paper to clean TIM off stuff & cotton buds! You don't need chemical just a little bit of elbow grease

Actually the only think I was planning on buying was a high-purity isopropyl alcohol - which I think is like a dollar or two at the pharmacy.

I have Q-tips, Coffee Filters, Dawn & AS5 at home. I guess I can use Toilet Paper instead of coffee filters. Didn't know I could. Some idiot here 2 years ago told me I could use Nail Polish Remover. The PDF from AS says you can't!

BTW, what is elbow grease?

[LivingL@rGe81]

BTW, what is elbow grease?

It means a bit of effort

Just use toilet paper & just be careful not to smear the TIM where you shouldn't

[LUCI5R]

It means a bit of effort

Oh .. doh!!

Just use toilet paper & just be careful not to smear the TIM where you shouldn't

Will do!

[WoZZeR999]

You have to be careful with toilet paper, it can leave it's fibers in the cpu. You can use some nail polish, it just has to be unscented. Rubbing alcohol can be used, but it would be best to try to find some 99% Isopropyl because it will not leave residue. You can use the coffee filters as long as they are the bleached, lint free ones.

[LUCI5R]

You have to be careful with toilet paper, it can leave it's fibers in the cpu. You can use some nail polish, it just has to be unscented. Rubbing alcohol can be used, but it would be best to try to find some 99% Isopropyl because it will not leave residue. You can use the coffee filters as long as they are the bleached, lint free ones.

I have no clue if my coffee filters are bleached or not - I guess I can check. They have a 91% Isopropyl here at CVS for $1.79 ... should I get that?

[WoZZeR999]

91% would work. I think 85% is the cut off for how low most would go. Some people stick to only 99%, but I think 91% would be fine. Once it's done being cleaned, just let it sit for a few minutes to make sure everything evaporates.

[LUCI5R]

91% would work. I think 85% is the cut off for how low most would go. Some people stick to only 99%, but I think 91% would be fine. Once it's done being cleaned, just let it sit for a few minutes to make sure everything evaporates.

I'll do that! Plus the other reason I want to get Isopropyl rather then using a home-based alternate is, not only is this not going to be the 'last' time I'll be doing this cleaning off TIM and stuff - but also in just about every guide, instructions, forum etcetera - Isopropyl seems to be the top choice. I just never realized it's one of those things in the first aid kits you use to clean bruises. I didn't want to order it online. I just checked CVS has those (@ 91%).

I'm quite positive the coffee filters I have should be the lint free kind.

If I have these two things - I'm assuming I'm not going to need anything else.

[WoZZeR999]

You don't need anything else, but while you are at CVS, you may want to see if they have any microfiber cleaners. They are the kind used for the glasses, that won't cause scratches. You use the coffee filter for the majority of the goop, then do a final wipe with a microfiber cloth.

BTW, while you are there, you should ask the pharm. if they have 99%. There may be some stock behind the counter.

[LUCI5R]

You don't need anything else, but while you are at CVS, you may want to see if they have any microfiber cleaners. They are the kind used for the glasses, that won't cause scratches. You use the coffee filter for the majority of the goop, then do a final wipe with a microfiber cloth.

BTW, while you are there, you should ask the pharm. if they have 99%. There may be some stock behind the counter.

You know, you're right - I'll ask them if they have 99%. If not, I'll just get the 91%.

I'm 100% sure I have microfiber cleaner at home. I had one that I got in a kit to clean CD-ROM Surface - and another that my wife got with her PDA Cellphone to clean its' screen - and I'm confident it's the same thing that you use for cleaning glasses.

[Nate P.]

You can also use 100% acetone (nail polish remover).

[LUCI5R]

You can also use 100% acetone (nail polish remover).

There was a lot of discussion on the nail polish remover - believe it or not - although a lot of people still use it and I had been as well for my previous builds. I guess it had something to do with the 'fragrance' and 'other' chemicals used. I personally am not so knowledgeable to know the difference - I know in the latest 'AS5 Installation on 45nm Quad Core' pdf released by Arctic Silver, they have specifically mentioned "not" using nail polish remover. I guess I'm just sticking to the books this time.

Went to CVS and bought 91% isopropyl alcohol 16 oz. bottle for $1.99 ... they didn't have 99%, and I'm sure this will be fine.

[Eldonko]

Cleans quite well.

[Nate P.]

There was a lot of discussion on the nail polish remover - believe it or not - although a lot of people still use it and I had been as well for my previous builds. I guess it had something to do with the 'fragrance' and 'other' chemicals used. I personally am not so knowledgeable to know the difference - I know in the latest 'AS5 Installation on 45nm Quad Core' pdf released by Arctic Silver, they have specifically mentioned "not" using nail polish remover. I guess I'm just sticking to the books this time.

Went to CVS and bought 91% isopropyl alcohol 16 oz. bottle for $1.99 ... they didn't have 99%, and I'm sure this will be fine.

Ah, I see... it's the only thing that seems to be able to remove the ICD7 I use though, so I use it.

[LUCI5R]

Cleans quite well.

[WoZZeR999]

As long as there are no fragrances or other added chemicals, it will work. I use Goof Off (irc), not Goo Gone. It's not the orangey one, The primary ingredients of Goof Off are xylene, and 2-ethanol. I use some 99% Isopropyl (Microcenter has it) to make sure everything after using Goof-off.

[LUCI5R]

As long as there are no fragrances or other added chemicals, it will work. I use Goof Off (irc), not Goo Gone. It's not the orangey one, The primary ingredients of Goof Off are xylene, and 2-ethanol. I use some 99% Isopropyl (Microcenter has it) to make sure everything after using Goof-off.

Yeah, they had this thing (Goof Off) also all over the PDF as one of the things recommended to use.

[gurusan]

i use 91% isopropyl alcohol. Almost 2 years now and I've still got a little over 1/2 the bottle left. I change heatsinks and hardware all the time as well.

[YukonTrooper]

Go to your local drug store to pick up isopropyl.

[LUCI5R]

i use 91% isopropyl alcohol. Almost 2 years now and I've still got a little over 1/2 the bottle left. I change heatsinks and hardware all the time as well.

Awesome! That's the one I got.

[ExodusC]

Huh... I've been using 70% I think...

Does it even really matter that much?

[YukonTrooper]

Huh... I've been using 70% I think...

Does it even really matter that much?

The purer the alcohol the less residue left behind. You can get 99% grade isopropyl/isopropynol at many major drug stores, at least here in Canada you can.

[LUCI5R]

The purer the alcohol the less residue left behind. You can get 99% grade isopropyl/isopropynol at many major drug stores, at least here in Canada you can.

True. Like someone else stated above - I think the norm is at least above 80%. Again, I personally do not know the difference, but going by what is usually used .. most actually do use 99%.

They didn't have 99% at my local CVS so I just got 91%.

[Adam217]

Cotton gun cleaning patches work great, hold/absorb a lot more liquid than coffee filters and won't leave anything behind.