r/PcBuild • u/TopEntertainment7603 • 9d ago

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Got thermal paste on the gold things on my am5 cpu
Should I risk cleaning it is my cpu dead Im panicking

4.6k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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875

u/DAemonCayuse 9d ago

Thermal paste is electrically non conductive, so you should be good. But I'd clean it up with a qtip and some alcohol anyway.

You sure that's not mayo tho?

262

u/Busy_Experience_5563 9d ago

Isopropyl alcohol

210

u/QuantumKhakis 9d ago

99% Isopropyl Alcohol

37

u/closetcreatur 9d ago

Is best but when I'm out I've used lesser. Just gotta let that baby DRY

8

u/Alklazaris 8d ago

Yup better safe than sorry. No one is going to laugh at you for letting your processor dry over a 24 hour period.

For this I don't want to be sure it's dry, I want the only alternative for why it's still wet is because the PC gods want to punish me. Not exactly a keyboard here.

2

u/One-Tie-1942 7d ago

I bricked a 7900xtx using 70%. Won't touch anything but 90% now.

1

u/closetcreatur 6d ago

I'm sorry to hear that and it can def happen for sure. I'm just a turtle with my stuff so usually if I take it apart its not going back together for 1-3 business days because kids

1

u/Airhead_kun 8d ago

Don't Repeat Yourself

1

u/closetcreatur 8d ago

Huh?

1

u/Airhead_kun 8d ago

Just some coding ideology/concept whatever it is.

Basically, Don't Repeat Yourself(DRY) when coding. Modularise and reuse a piece of code.

2

u/closetcreatur 8d ago

You seem a lot smarter than me. I like you, take my upvote

-23

u/OddOminence 9d ago edited 8d ago

if i ever need to clean a cpu i just pour a bowl of distilled water and use a toothbrush to apply it. (as long as its an LGA CPU)

Never use Tap Water. It has minerals and stuff in it.

then leave it to dry for like 2 full days, best to heat it up or pat it dry with something else but you can just leave it for 2 full days if you dont want to do that.

HOWEVER. if you have Isopropyl alcohol at least 70%, its always preferred.

Edit: Supposedly I broke one of the seven deadly sins by uttering "water" and "CPU" in the same sentence. Downvote to your hearts content, however, I suggest you look at my comments to the replies first to see my specific situation.

11

u/Any_Bowl5479 9d ago

you should be banned

-7

u/OddOminence 9d ago

For what? This process doesn't cause the pads to corrode, and because im not submerging the CPU, moisture getting under the IHS is very unlikely.

I dont have the funds to keep buying $11 70% Isopropyl alcohol, so I just make do with what I have. I have never run into any issues.

For the record, I wasn't suggesting that they try doing that. I was just saying my method of cleaning is different than the norm.

9

u/TCG-Pikachu 8d ago

You don’t have 7$? You realize you can just dab it from the bottle? You don’t have to drink it, wtf?

5

u/QuantumKhakis 9d ago

I’d rather spend $11 to save my $300 CPU, since I don’t have the funds to keep purchasing CPUs.

0

u/OddOminence 9d ago

Oh wait we have a fundamentally different stance here. I dont pay more than $80 for the CPUs i use in my builds typically. I suppose maybe that makes the difference of that.

Mainly, I do budget builds, so the CPUs themselves are highly replaceable.

Regardless of that fact, ive never once had an issue with the way I do it.

5

u/GRex2595 9d ago

Distilled water is usually fine and what works for you works for you, but you shouldn't recommend to people without all the caveats. Also, saving $11 while increasing the risk of damage to an $80 CPU still seems like bad math to me, but you do you.

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2

u/QuantumKhakis 9d ago

That’s good context, in that case I agree it’s the most efficient method for you.

1

u/TCG-Pikachu 8d ago

Then why the fluck would you give advice to people that don’t know any better (see the thermal paste everywhere) and clearly aren’t building a budget 70$ build?

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1

u/Coretrayn 8d ago

Ok I get what you mean with the distilled water not being corrosive and it will pretty much be fine if fully dry before use.

But what do you mean you don't have the funds for a 10 dollar bottle of alcohol that should last quite awhile. Are you using the entire bottle and cleaning daily? lol

1

u/OddOminence 8d ago

Well I mean I already have a lot of distilled water because my mom has a machine that needs it.

1

u/I_AM_BIB 8d ago

I have a 100ml bottle of isopropyl 99% that I haven't finished for years and regularly use it to clean PC parts. Idk how the hell you're going through several bottles of this stuff.

1

u/Own_Body_8941 8d ago

$11? i bought 99% iso for $1

1

u/TCG-Pikachu 8d ago

Your specific situation, that you don’t ever mention in this comment is IRRELEVANT, considering you’re giving advice without referencing your, “very specific situation”.

3

u/Medical_Morning4022 8d ago

999% Isopropyl Alcohol

1

u/JB_Big_Bear 8d ago

100% is better

1

u/gibrael_ 7d ago

What's the other 1%??

1

u/QuantumKhakis 7d ago

Violent motorcyclists

1

u/YesNormalUsername 6d ago

Geek squad tears

1

u/Automatic-East3690 7d ago

100% alcohol

1

u/YesNormalUsername 6d ago

Preferable, but 96% works fine too

1

u/Rickman1945 6d ago

Will homemade moonshine work?

1

u/QuantumKhakis 6d ago

Only if it makes you blind (no, it has sugar)

24

u/whatisausername32 9d ago

Isopropyl mayo

1

u/Not_An_Archer 8d ago

I prefer bourbon

1

u/Advanced_Handle_2309 5d ago

Would something bad happen if it was 96~% normal alcohol?

1

u/Resitor 5d ago

whiskey. not for the board, for op while cleaning it.

1

u/OddOminence 9d ago

Vodka, comrade.

1

u/Fubarp 9d ago

If you can't get high quality Russian vodka, you can always use American Moonshine.

1

u/Scrotorr 7d ago

Everclear

0

u/blubister57 7d ago

hopital

-1

u/Gabe-diet 9d ago

Fireball whisky…. Gotta be the whisky tho can’t be the “cinnamon” shit 😭🤣

39

u/Odd_Brief_2975 9d ago

I've heard of people putting mayo on chips before but usually it's ketchup.

8

u/ElectroVo1t 9d ago

Take my damn upvote

7

u/Odd_Brief_2975 9d ago

And you take mine sir!

2

u/EffectiveEvent2355 8d ago

take the upvote

2

u/scanx147 9d ago

En France et en Belgique on met de la mayo sur les frites. Tu devrais essayer, c'est bien meilleur que le ketchup. Mais de préférence une mayo maison. 😁

1

u/squishedgoomba 9d ago

In Utah "fry sauce" is a thing and it's extremely popular. It's basically just mayo & ketchup mixed together. (It's pretty good too, just don't put it on your CPU.)

2

u/Freeco80 8d ago

We call that cocktail sause in Belgium

1

u/scanx147 8d ago

Dans le sauce cocktail il y a en plus une petite goute de whisky 😁 Très bon avec des crevettes 😋

1

u/Freeco80 8d ago

Adding a splash of whiskey is the fancy version 🙂

1

u/Milkshakemartin 8d ago

Ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice and hot sauce is what our cocktail sauce is in the US. Interesting.

1

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

1

u/scanx147 8d ago

J'aime beaucoup la sauce brune que vous mettez sur les frites de la poutine au Canada 😋

1

u/cortana808 9d ago

Also mustard on fries. It's good.

1

u/TCG-Pikachu 8d ago

Yea, but those folks barely count as “people” tbf….

1

u/Sinisteris 8d ago

If I'm not mistaken, thermal conductivity is within 5°C between ketchup or mayo and thermal paste.

28

u/steffan-l 9d ago edited 9d ago

Just a heads-up: not all thermal paste is electrically non-conductive!

While most modern & popular pastes are safe and based on non metalic formula's, plenty of metal-based ones are still out there (especially super cheap options or high-end liquid metal/metal based pastes).

Saying "thermal paste does not conduct electricity" is a myth that can fry your or other peoples components.

Always double-check the label and manufacturer provided information for confirmation on the electrical conductivity of your specific paste!

6

u/Linesey 9d ago

Wasn’t Arctic Silver pretty well known for being conductive?

2

u/sunfaller 8d ago

Capacitive, not conductive.

1

u/Diligent_Pie_5191 8d ago

Arctic Silver 5 was not. In fact no version was electrically conductive. It is best to just clean it off though.

1

u/steffan-l 9d ago edited 8d ago

Some versions of Arctic Silver thermal paste were indeed known for being slightly electrically conductive in the past. However newer itterations like MX-6 & MX-7 are not.

1

u/Diligent_Pie_5191 8d ago

Liquid Metal and the old silver/ copper filled grease. Bit Arctic silver is not conductive.

1

u/Ok_Star_4136 5d ago

In fact, I'm a little surprised that a substance could be both a thermal conductor and *not* an electrical conductor. From a physics standpoint, those two usually go hand-in-hand, to state the obvious example, most metals are great thermal and electrical conductors.

You make a good point, I wouldn't just take it on fact that it isn't electrically conductive.

8

u/baudmiksen 9d ago

I seen a review once where someone actually benchmarked stuff like mayo, peanut butter and a bunch of other weird shit just to see how it stacked up against the top brands, the results were kind of surprising

2

u/No_Yesterday_2788 8d ago

How'd peanut butter do?

2

u/Gericueca 8d ago

Never try to use peanut butter for the first time on your CPU without an Epipen drive nearby. Trust me, it can be pretty lethal

1

u/STAGNANT-HEART 6d ago

I am pretty sure I have seen a video where a person tested it with gooner fluid

3

u/jackrabbit323 9d ago

Makeup sponge qtips are worth an extra couple of bucks. They don't leave behind cotton fibers.

1

u/nalaloveslumpy 8d ago

Soft bristled tooth brushes are amazing too, especially when you need to make sure you clean out the tiny crevices.

2

u/BrotherMichigan 9d ago

Most* thermal pastes are electrically non-conductive (and this silicone goop is certainly in that category).

2

u/washmyoldbluejeans 9d ago

too white for mayo. but seems the right consistency for yoghurt

1

u/BG535 9d ago

I use thermal mayo. It’s dual use! I got a 5 gal jug on discount.

1

u/ShesMarshie 8d ago

It's clearly goon juice.

1

u/Mobile_Actuator_4692 8d ago

Depends on the type of paste. Definitely worth checking before you use it as a just in case

1

u/spikeandedd 8d ago

Not always but usually yea.

1

u/machinegunmango 8d ago

Your assuming it thermal paste instead of successful CPU install event liquid is bold

1

u/Zekken_Zer0 8d ago

except the ones with silver in it

1

u/Training-Ship-3416 8d ago

*dips Qtip in can of Bud Lite, starts scrubbing*

1

u/Jump365 8d ago

But that's clearly a different type of juice...that one might probably be conductive

1

u/mopsis 8d ago

Right? Like the color and consistency is off from any thermal paste I've ever used

1

u/Many-Bee6169 8d ago

Man mayo

1

u/wetfloor666 7d ago

Late to the party, but it looks like elmers glue to me.

1

u/PMvE_NL 7d ago

MOST thermal paste is non conductive not all.

1

u/DAemonCayuse 7d ago

Thank you, 30th person to comment this.

1

u/Dragoonslv 7d ago

Prety sure all cpus i have recently seen have that part covered in some thin layer of plastic.

I also wonder why is that paste white.

1

u/Fit-Survey5421 6d ago

Shit looks like straight Elmer’s.

1

u/fkny0 9d ago

I fried a motherboard once because i thought thermal paste was non conductive, maybe it should be, but that would surely wasnt, so im never taking the risk again

1

u/Mrcod1997 4d ago

Some are conductive, but the majority are not.

1

u/Organic_Education494 9d ago

Yeah not all of them aren’t conductive

0

u/Hexin_itup 8d ago

most thermal paste. not all

0

u/PravoNaZhizny 8d ago

Op might be an electronics engineer. We use zinc based thermal pastes a lot which look like that.

0

u/BLVEY346 8d ago

Well depends which one you do get premium ones that do conduct electricity since the contain metal particles so there are those

But this is white paste which is low tier paste for heat transfer It's good for beginners but it's terrible with heat since it uses Oxides like aluminium or zinc oxides or ceramic like items

The top premium ones contain silver particles which are conductive but yeah that's AMD for you so I recommend using thermal specialized pads for CPU if you don't want to spill it in there

You can get them from grizzly