Best solvent for removing thermal paste from LGA sockets?

[dicky96]

So I have TUF Z390 mobo with a bit of the grey thermal paste in the LGA 1151 socket right near one edge. probably from when the clamp was fastened down without a CPU fitted, and there was a bit of paste on the clamp.

The motherboard actually works fine (you can see there is no thermal paste on the ends of the pins themselves), but it would be nice to clean it out.

I've done a bit of googling and found suggestions from using this stuff....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arctic-Si...EAAOSwAOBd2~4T

To using Rubbing Alcohol, Isopropyl, and WD40 (followed by Isopropyl)

I guess electrical contact cleaner/switch cleaner would also be a possibility, though I didn't see that suggested anywhere

I'm thinking someone else here already does this - so what do you use to flush the paste out? Also do you remove the metal surround from the LGA socket first to make it easier to get to the pins at the edge?

[ChaosLegionnaire]

Re: Best solvent for removing thermal paste from LGA sockets?

i just use zippo and ronsonol lighter fluid for cleaning up thermal paste. just drip it on some q-tips for cleaning/reaching hard to reach areas. arcticlean and isopropyl alcohol works too.

[dicky96]

Re: Best solvent for removing thermal paste from LGA sockets?

@chaoslegionnaire
Damn don't tell me I have to take up smoking first

[zen]

Re: Best solvent for removing thermal paste from LGA sockets?

Great tip , regards the lighter fluid . Would have never thought of that.

Will test out .

Thanks .

[momaka]

Re: Best solvent for removing thermal paste from LGA sockets?

If there's thermal compound inside the socket between the pins, I carefully try to pick it off with a needle and fine tweezers (don't slip! ) After that, just drip some IPA in there if really needed... but I've only had to do this once or twice. And like in your case, the motherboards were working fine. I just have the OCD to get the TC out of there.

[dicky96]

Re: Best solvent for removing thermal paste from LGA sockets?

Yeah it is between/under the pins on one edge and it is gooey grey stuff. The gold tips of the pins are clean and the motherboard works fine. I did try to drag some of it out with a needle but as it is gooey that just stirs it up a bit and does not seem to help.

[ChaosLegionnaire]

Re: Best solvent for removing thermal paste from LGA sockets?

@chaoslegionnaire
Damn don't tell me I have to take up smoking first

lol! obviously, dont smoke or use the soldering iron when cleaning with zippo and ronsonol! lol! dont want to bbq the board more than it already is! haha! its also good for pouring on and burning away unwanted documents u dont want others or the gov to find! hehehe!

[petehall347]

Re: Best solvent for removing thermal paste from LGA sockets?

blast it with 150 psi air

[sam_sam_sam]

Re: Best solvent for removing thermal paste from LGA sockets?

You can also use a small amount of brake cleaner work very well
one note spray it into a paper towel first then clean your heat sink ( this work best )

I personally have done this many times in the past with out no issues doing it
Just make sure that you do not have any plastic parts near the brake cleaner because a lot of plastic do not like brake cleaner the plastic becomes cloudy looking ( sometimes if you spray the brake cleaner into a paper towel first you can get way with using it on plastic parts but not always )

I have also used rubbing alcohol for this purpose really do not like doing this unless I do not have brake cleaner

I find that you use more rubbing alcohol than you would use brake cleaner is why prefer to use the brake cleaner