Hi all
I have a new CPU to fit and want some tips.
1. old CPU/sink has pads are these likely to be stuck fast?
No. You can easily scrape the pad chunkies off using a stiff plastic
card (eg. credit card, bank card, student ID, driver's license, gun
license, you get the idea). The remaining residue can be wiped off
with a towel dampened with 99% isopropyl alcohol. There are specialty
solvents available at computer shops for this, but 99% isopropyl
alcohol is cheaper. More care should be taken with the CPU,
depending on the model, some of the older AMD CPUs had exposed cores.
2. how do you clean old CPU and heat sink without damage
See above for removing the old heatsink compound or pad. The
compound, you can get off using just a towel and the alcohol. Even
dried, it's pretty easy to get off.
For dust in the fan and heat sink:
i. Separate heatsink from CPU.
ii. remove the heatsink compound/paste from the heatsink
iii. Use a philips (star) head screwdriver of appropriate size to
remove the fan from the heatsink.
iv. Use an artist's paintbursh (about 1-2 cm bristle cross section) to
clean out the thick stuff from the fan and the heatsink. You may use
compressed air to follow up.
v. This part's optional. It can work just fine with a little bit of
dust still on it, it just doesn't look as nice. I typically wash the
heatsink (NOT THE FAN) in soapy warm water. The fan can't tolerate
that, so if I really want to clean up the fan (the blades can cowl
only) I give it a going over with q-tips and a cloth moistened with
alcohol or water.
vi. reassemble heatsink-fan. Done.
3. what is but thermal paste or compound to use
??? Guessing you meant "best." It's not really worth your time to
worry about what's best. The high performance silver or copper
compounds from companies like OCZ or arctic silver will certainly cost
you more, but don't usually get you more than one or two degrees
celcius cooler over the generic white zinc stuff from an electronics
hobby shop. Perhaps as much as 4 or 5 degrees under ideal conditions.
It's not a big enough difference for me to spend the extra money. I
guess it's possible there might be a bigger difference when water
cooling, but not with air cooling.
4. how is it best to apply to get full coverage without over doing it
Traditionally, one pea sized bead of heat sink compound right in the
middle of the CPU. If you want, you can spread it a bit to even it
out using the card from step 1. It's better if you do that, but if
you don't want to bother with that, just pressing the CPU and heatsink
together during installation will spread it out. Wipe off any excess
that might ooze out.
If you don't want to worry about all that, heat sink pads are
available from some computer shops on wax paper strips of 3 or 4. You
have to be really careful about placing them on the heatsink though.
They have to be centered, and while there doesn't seem to be any glue,
they're self adhesive, and next to impossible to remove intact once
they're on. Compound is messier, but a LOT easier to work with.
