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I plan to remove thermal paste from my CPU and GPU on my Acer Nitro 5 AN5155-53.

I'm going to use paper towels to wipe off the thermal paste, and then dip cotton swabs in 99% isopropyl alcohol to finish the job on the CPU & GPU as well as the leftover paste on the heatsink.

If I ever noticed there was too much thermal paste and it was spreading onto the PCB or outer edge of the CPU, will that cause any damage to the CPU/GPU or PCB?

Is there any chance of the alcohol damaging either one as well? Do laptop GPU or CPU have IHS?

Here's what it looks like on a video: Heatsink

I'm also curious what this person means by not putting alcohol on a "raw" CPU, does this not apply for a laptop? How do I clean my computer using isopropyl alcohol?

"It can be used freely on the motherboard, fan and thermal paste, but not on the raw CPU, RAM, add-on cards, CMOS battery and of course disks."

ShangWang
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1 Answers1

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I plan to remove thermal paste from my CPU and GPU on my Acer Nitro 5 AN5155-53.

(1) I'm going to use paper towels to wipe off the thermal paste, and then dip cotton swabs in 99% isopropyl alcohol to finish the job on the CPU & GPU as well as the leftover paste on the heatsink.

(2) If I ever noticed there was too much thermal paste and it was spreading onto the PCB or outer edge of the CPU, will that cause any damage to the CPU/GPU or PCB?

(3) Is there any chance of the alcohol damaging either one as well? Do laptop GPU or CPU have IHS?

(1) I suggest using a soft cotton cloth. Paper towels are harsh and I do not use paper towels for this. I always use soft cloth. You can pick up a box of cotton rags in Home Depot. I use the best ones in the box for this.

Also cotton swabs can leave lint, and I use cotton swabs only sparingly (spots I cannot get to with a cloth). Again use a soft cotton cloth dipped in alcohol to clean the surfaces.

Cloth and Isopropyl Alcohol work best; swabs only where necessary.

Excess thermal paste (there did not appear to be much) will not damage the surrounding area. Still, do not use excess when reapplying the thermal compound. Make sure there was not a large amount spreading. If so, clean the PCB carefully with soft cloth and Isopropyl Alcohol.

(3) Alcohol on a cotton cloth used to carefully clean parts will not damage the CPU or GPU or the board. Make sure alcohol is not flowing onto things but contained to the cloth and there will not be any damage from it.

I have used alcohol to clean circuit boards in my basement shop.

Rule of thumb: Look, check 3 times. Clean once. This has saved me many difficulties.