Clean thermal paste from touch contact points on the underside of the CPU

I bought an used CPU (Intel "Core 2" E4700) on eBay and it came with the underside dirty with something that seems it´s thermal paste.

Before I send it back, I wonder if it could it still work without cleaning this dirt because the seller supposedly "tested" it to be fully working.

Final, is there a way to clean this dirt without damaging the CPU? Or, is it too risky (or too much work) to do so?

This is the CPU:

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4 Answers

Cleaning is definitely possible, I would take strict anti static procedures to ensure not damaging the CPU however. A clean soft sponge and a tiny bit of alcohol should be all you need, don't scrub hard or you could damage the sensitive contacts. I would contact the seller before performing this to see if they will replace it first or if they will replace if it doesn't work after cleaning.

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Nice picture, it does look like thermal paste slopped all over in places where it would effect the connections, and mess-up the sockets own tiny little connection points if applied without cleaning.

I would not blame you if you did send it back, but so far I do not see anything that I have not done myself :-) From being sloppy and getting fingers all over it. It can be easily cleaned up. tech spray, 91-99% isoprople alcohol , and sometimes a clean brush can help to wisk that stuff away.

What's the proper way to remove thermal paste from a CPU?

I have even run one of these under the sink with dawn (dishwashing liquid original only) and water :-) Then followed up with a proper alcohol flush and complete drying.

Sure it isn't good at all, to have been sent to you like this, but cleaning it is easy, and if it works , that is what counts.

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I ran into this some problem and made a YouTube video on how to clean the contacts of a CPU. I recently bought two Xeon CPUs off of eBay and the thermal paste got onto contact pads. In the video I used 91% isopropyl alcohol and cotton swaps to clean both the underside and top side. At the end I show as a proof of concept that the CPUs still work.

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For contact cleaning use a matchstick (the non functioning end) dipped in Isopropyl alcohol or methylated spirit. Cloths, sponges and brushes risk leaving debris, a matchstick gives good scrubbing capability for stubbon elements without much risk of leaving debris.