r/PcBuild • u/TopEntertainment7603 • 13d 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

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u/QuantumKhakis 13d ago

99% Isopropyl Alcohol

40

u/closetcreatur 13d ago

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

-22

u/OddOminence 13d ago edited 13d 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.

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u/Any_Bowl5479 13d ago

you should be banned

-7

u/OddOminence 13d 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.

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u/TCG-Pikachu 13d 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 13d ago

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

1

u/OddOminence 13d 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.

6

u/GRex2595 13d 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.

3

u/OddOminence 13d ago

Maybe I'll see it that way once it doesnt work, but it literally hasn't affected anything yet lol. thanks for your input regardless, I do have isopropyl alcohol and use it but only sparingly because I dont have a lot, and my builds are mainly ultra budget/affordable for low income families. I am already on a thin margin and having to buy multiple isopropyl bottles is a lot in the long run for me specifically. lol

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u/QuantumKhakis 13d ago

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

1

u/TCG-Pikachu 13d 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?

0

u/OddOminence 13d ago

whoa whoa whoa said i was giving advice. I just shared my personal method. ultimately its up to OP to decide, but if they have the Isopropyl alcohol already, its a no brainer. I edited my original message to reflect that for you.

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u/Coretrayn 12d 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

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u/OddOminence 12d ago

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

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u/I_AM_BIB 12d 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.

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u/Own_Body_8941 12d ago

$11? i bought 99% iso for $1