Clean Heatsink Thermal Paste

However if you use a spudger to scrape the old paste away only use a plastic one to reduce the chance of scratching or otherwise damaging parts.

Clean heatsink thermal paste. Thermal paste or some oily thermal interface material is necessary because it fills in the microscopic imperfections that otherwise trap air particles between the cpu and the heatsink preventing the cpu from properly cooling heat radiates outward from the cpu to the heatsink before eventually making its way to a fan where it disperses. Note that if you remove your cpu cooler for any reason you should always apply new thermal paste. Chances are if you ve noticed an increase in temperature over the years it s due to the paste drying out. I usually keep the heatsink as level as possible when i put it back on and tighten the screws little by little in a star pattern like lugnuts on a car.

I like to use kimwipes as they leave very little lint. Looks like you have no ventilation. Carbon based high performance heatsink paste thermal compound cpu for all coolers 4 grams limited time offer ends 09 25. If it isn t clean it reapply thermal paste and make sure it is now connected much more stable to the cpu.

6 5w m k thermal paste cpu paste heatsink past thermal compound. Replace the heatsink careful to put it straight down on the cpu. Wipe away most of the thermal paste that you can and then use 99 pure ipa to clean away any residue. Thermal paste can get mighty hard depending on how long it has been applied for.

But since air is a notoriously poor conductor of heat. Thermal paste can sometimes harden which greatly reduces its effectiveness. Use a coffee filter or a lint free cloth and a little isopropyl alcohol a k a. If this is the case you will need to remove the old thermal paste clean the surfaces and then re apply new thermal paste.

Clean out the heatsink and cpu then apply a very thin even coat of thermal paste on the cpu. Remove the heatsink depending on what kind of heatsink you have flip the latch or release the retention clips that keep the heatsink attached to the cpu. Inspect it for any thermal paste where it came into contact with the heatsink. Avoid using rubbing alcohol which is just 70 ipa.

If you find any use the same steps to clean the surface.