Removing Thermal Compound???

[Nascarfan_40]

I'm getting ready to change heatsinks. Had a stock AMD heatsink on my Barton 2500. When I pulled it off I noticed that the thermal pad had transfered to the CPU core and a little off the core on the side of it. What kind of cleaner do I use to get this off the CPU so I can use AC-5.

[SnomanJack]

WD-40, Goo Be Gone, brake cleaner. What you want is a cleaner that leaves no residue behind. It must not be petroleum-based otherwise a thin film of "oil" will stay and your thermal grease will not adhere properly or allow a proper heat transfer from the CPU to the HSF.

[mobo57]

denatured alcohol and a cotton swab is all you need and is recommended by the manufacturers.

[Nascarfan_40]

Thanks for the help. Brake cleaner worked great. I put the thinest layer of AC-5 I could and still could see the core under it so I'm assuming I put enough. Again Thanks for the input