What can I use to wipe off the old thermal paste?

I have been using a dust cloth but I have been using a clean one to clean mine off. The reason I ask is because right now, my CPU has temperature problems and it idles at about 50-60C and it's not right. I have good case cooling, a Zalman 9700 cooler on my Q6600. I use the ArctiClean 1 and 2 small bottles to remove the old paste then apply new paste. Am I doing it correctly when I put a small line of AS5 going across horizontally (gold triangle bottom left?) I am thinking of re-doing my CPU cooler by taking it off, cleaning it then applying new paste by using the AS5 method.

 

Personally I just use toilet paper to clean off my cpu's. A little pressure with about 3 layers of it does good for me. I also put a little more AS5 on than you, I do an x from corner to corner. Then I spread it around the cpu to make sure everything is covered, use something like a sandwich bag. Not spreading it may be your problem.

BTW wrong forum.

 

I followed the AS5 website.

 

I have been using Electrical Cleaner available at your local Radio Shack. Stuff works great at removing a good majority of the thermal compounds out there including the AS5. It also removes oxidation build up from aluminum and copper thus making a nice clean surface for applying AS5 to. Another fact is it does not leave any residue behind

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?parentPage=search&summary=summary&cp=&productId=2102649&accessories=accessories&kw=cleaner&techSpecs=techSpecs&currentTab=summary&custRatings=custRatings&sr=1&features=features&origkw=cleaner&support=support&tab=techSpecs
...and a soft cloth

 

I use a tissue. honestly, i dont think it matters, as long as it all comes off.

 

inside out sock or terri cloth for me.

 

rubbing alcohol. gets very clean very easily

 

2nd, rubbing alcohol is cheap, effective and easy to find

 

A cheap and easy alternative is dish soap and Q-tips, has always worked for me.

 

+1

I do the exact same.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100010

I use this at work, works wonderfully

 

That's what I use.

 

That's what I use also.

AND I use unbleached coffee filters to wipe the stuff off. Works VERY well.

 

92% rubbing alcohol. Works fine for me.

 

I use acetone, does the job rather well with some bog paper

Acetone (also known as propanone, dimethyl ketone, 2-propanone, propan-2-one and β-ketopropane) is a colorless, mobile, flammable liquid. It is the simplest example of the ketones. Acetone is miscible with water, ethanol, ether, etc., and itself serves as an important solvent. The most familiar household use of acetone is as the active ingredient in nail polish remover and paint thinner. Acetone is also used to make plastic, fibers, drugs, and other chemicals. In addition to being manufactured as a chemical, acetone is also found naturally in the environment, including in small amounts in the human body.

 

I used to love to "accidently" drop a disposable pen into acetone in chemistry lab in high school years ago. (We used acetone back then to make sure the glassware was dry. Not sure if they still do that.)

GLOP. GLOP. GLOP. "What pen?".

(BTW: If you use it to clean your CPU... just don't drop any onto your motherboard's plastic parts. That could be a "bad thing".)