How to Clean Thermal Paste Off CPU

If you already have a working machine that needs thermal paste to be reapplied, you’ll first need to clean off the old thermal paste. Here's a simple guide on how to do that.

What you will need:

• Paper/Kitchen towels
• Cotton swabs
• Rubbing alcohol (90% or higher)
• CPU thermal paste

Before you start:

• Shut down the computer.
• Unplug all of the cables from the back of the computer.
• Take proper electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions.

1 - Turn the push pins counterclockwise 90 degrees to release
them.

2 - Pull up the push pins.

3 - Remove the fan connector from the fan header.

4 - Remove the fan.

1 - Push the lever down to unclip it and lift it

2 - Lift the CPU carefully.

1 - Dip a paper towel into the isopropyl alcohol (90% or 90%+).

2 - Carefully remove the old paste.

3 - wipe the processor’s edges, with cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol, to remove remaining old paste.

4 - Remove the paste on the load plate as well.

Repeat it to the underside of the cooler.

Apply thermal paste onto the center of the CPU

1 - Lower the processor straight down,

2 - making sure that it is seated correctly in the socket.

3 - Press down on the load plate,

4 - close, and engage the socket lever.

1 - Turn the push pins clockwise 90 degrees to reset them.

2 - Reinsert the fan and find the push pins

3 - Press the push pins in the order shown to secure them.

4 - Plug the fan connector from the fan header.

5 - Plug its power connector back into the computer, and you’re good to go.