How to remove and apply thermal paste to a CPU

How to remove and apply thermal paste to a CPU

Level:  Intermediate

Time Taken:  10-30 minutes

What you will need:

Thermal Paste

Cotton Buds/Q-Tips > lint free cloth

Isopropyl alcohol 90+% /acetone> water

If your computer or laptop is running just a tad bit too hot for your liking, chances are, removal of old thermal paste and the application of new paste can reduce the temperature of your CPU/GPU and fix any problems (computer randomly shuts down, poor performance, noisy fans) you may be experiencing.

Choosing the right Thermal Paste

If you have never worked on a computer before, then I suggest you follow the steps carefully and if you are not confident in your ability, consider getting a professional or someone who knows what they are doing to help you.  The CPU is a sensitive component and can be easily damaged if the proper precautions are not taken.

Open you computer case, taking all health and safety precautions, remove the heat sink/fan that sits on top of your CPU.  There are different kinds of heat sinks/fans, many of which are a pain to remove; you may have to consult your manufactures guide on how to remove yours.  Once removed, take your CPU from its holding, carefully lifting it as to not touch the pins or circuitry.

To begin removing the thermal paste, dip a Q-tip into the rubbing alcohol (or whatever item you are using to clean with) gently rub back and forth across the CPU, as the alcohol sets in, the paste will begin to dissolve and the compound should come off with relative ease.  Repeat this process until all of the thermal paste has been removed.  The same action should be performed on the bottom of the heat sink.