ArctiClean Thermal Material remover + Surface purifier

[dood]

Let me start out by saying that I do NOT work for Arctic Silver.

The other day, I decided to give ArctiClean a shot. It's a product from Arctic Silver for cleaning and purifying heatsink and processor mating surfaces, which comes in two bottles. I was switching my CPU over to Arctic Silver 5 thermal goo, so I figured I should clean up the surfaces as well.

Lemme tell ya... this stuff works GREAT. Only on the worst burnt-in AthlonXP thermal pad have I had to apply it more than once.

On my P4 heatsink, I applied two drops of the Thermal Material remover to both the heatsink base and the processor heat spreader. Took a paper towel to each of them and the thermal paste was GONE. In one swipe.... I'd have been there for 10 minutes with alcohol trying to get it clean, and even then, there'd still be residue. By the time I got done applying the purifier, both the heatsink and the processor appeared to be brand new.

I'll be keeping this stuff on hand from now on, along with a big syringe of Arctic Silver 5, for all those PCs I work on where I have to remove the CPU heatsink. They'll be getting this treatment

[Wizard]

Re: ArctiClean Thermal Material remover + Surface purifier

I like the AS5 but downside is grey stuff get everywhere and hard to clean up, and slightly conductive.

Now I use white stuff made by arctic called ceramique. Great stuff.

Cheers, Wizard

[acstech]

Re: ArctiClean Thermal Material remover + Surface purifier

I use this stuff:

http://www.farmandfleet.com/catalog/...10&h=080304009

I swear, this stuff will degrease the Exxon Valdez. For $2.79, I get enough to clean exactly 10 wazillion heatsinks and CPU's. Works great. The heatsink paste (I use AS5) melts away and is gone in one pass. I spray it on a paper towel and wipe off the paste. Leaves no residue either!

[Krankshaft]

Re: ArctiClean Thermal Material remover + Surface purifier

I just use rubbing alcohol works for me everytime and costs a buck at the local drug store. It evaporates rapidly too so no need to wipe off.

The thermal pads just need a bit more rubbing but they come off no problem.

I am strictly AS5 too. I just removed old thermal compound and applied it to my new 3850 video card today.

[dood]

Re: ArctiClean Thermal Material remover + Surface purifier

I would never use BraKleen on computer components. That stuff is way too caustic for my tastes. It'll take the paint off metal, so I can't see it being good for silicon.

Like I said... rubbing alcohol never does the trick for me. After it dries off, I always find that there's plenty of residue left over afterward. This stuff leaves both surfaces like they were brand new.

[acstech]

Re: ArctiClean Thermal Material remover + Surface purifier

I have sprayed down motherboards with it. Did no damage. In fact, I used it to clean up the TP35D2-A7 board that's now in my test computer. It was pretty nasty after being used with the Vapochill.

[momaka]

Re: ArctiClean Thermal Material remover + Surface purifier

Acetone also works fine. I've used it on a few older Radeon cards. It takes off the yellow gunky stuff that ATI uses pretty easily.