If you’re running the same hardware for a long time, running some maintenance tasks will go a long way in keeping your precious battlestation of a PC in top shape. While you should back up your important files and defragment drives on a monthly basis, tasks like replacing your thermal paste should also be performed every few years to improve the longity of your PC. Over time, the thermal paste between your processor and the heatsink can dry out and lead to high temperatures. Not to mention, overclocking a processor with a dried thermal paste can lead to certain stability issues when you attempt to push its frequencies past their default values.
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Cleaning the thermal paste isn’t just a maintenance task either; whether you’re looking to upgrade to a high-end processor or you wish to switch to a premium CPU cooler, you’ll need to get rid of the thermal paste smeared on the CPU. So, here’s a quick guide on how you can remove the thermal paste from your CPU
What you’ll need to clean thermal paste from your CPU
First, you’ll require a Phillips head screwdriver to unfasten the screws holding the CPU cooler in place. Since you’ll be working with fragile electronic components, I advise getting an anti-static wristband to protect the internals of your system from static discharge.
For the actual cleanup procedure, you’ll need Q-tips, and either isopropyl alcohol wipes or a bottle of isopropyl alcohol along with some highly absorbent paper towels. Ideally, you should use isopropyl alcohol with more than 90% alcohol concentration, though you can use 70% rubbing alcohol as long as you let it dry out properly.
Finally, you should get some high-quality thermal paste if you plan to put your system back together after removing the remains of the old thermal paste.
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Before you begin
Before you start disassembling your PC, you should run some CPU-intensive games or benchmarks to heat up the processor and the thermal paste. Should you attempt to unmount the CPU cooler when the thermal paste is cold, it will act as a glue to bind the processor to the heatsink, and, in the worst-case scenario, you could end up ripping the CPU out of its socket. My preferred method involves running the Intel Burn test for at least fifteen minutes to loosen up the old thermal paste.
Unmounting the CPU cooler
Now that you’ve taken the necessary precautions, you’ll have to unmount the heatsink from the processor.
- Shut down your system, unplug it from the wall outlet, and hold the power button for at least 45 seconds to remove the capcitors of their residual charge.
- Start by removing the side panels of your PC cabinet by unfastening the thumbscrews holding them in place.
- Unplug the wire connecting the cooler to the CPU_Fan/CPU_Pump header on the motherboard.
- Loosen the spring screws of the heatsink in a diagonal pattern using a Phillips screwdriver.
Alternatively, if your heatsink uses retention brackets, you should flip the cam lever up before releasing the retention clips on either side of the heatsink.
- Twist the CPU cooler away from the processor instead of pulling it straight out.
Once you unmount the cooler, you’ll be able to see a layer of thermal paste on the processor and the heatsink.
Cleaning the thermal paste
Once you have the heatsink out of the way, it’s time to clean the thermal paste. Fortunately, this step is extremely simple as all you have to do is apply some isopropyl alcohol to a microfiber cloth/paper towel/coffee filter and use it to wipe off the thermal paste from the CPU and the heatsink. If there’s some thermal paste buildup on the sides of the processor, you can dip a Q-tip in isopropyl alcohol and gently rub it along the edges.
How long has it been since you replaced the thermal paste on your CPU?
With that, you’ve successfully removed the thermal paste from your processor. If you’re planning to continue using your PC afterward, you’ll have to apply a new patch of thermal paste to the processor before mounting your CPU cooler. For expert overclockers who want to get the maximum performance out of their aging system, tearing apart your old GPU and replacing its thermal paste can also help improve stability when you try to push the clock frequencies beyond their default values.
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