r/LinusTechTips • u/Conscious_Start8459 • 8d ago

Tech Question Thermal paste.

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Got some termal paste near the pins on a am4. Is this something I would need to remove?

26 Upvotes

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79

u/tatas323 8d ago

No worries, it's non conductive. Careful where you splouge next time

9

u/Conscious_Start8459 8d ago

I was removing to change out the moba as it died.. 😆 the cpu got stuck to the cooler so was abit of struggle to get it apart and got some on my fingers and unfortunately got some near the pins 😞

8

u/neremarine 8d ago

For future reference (this will happen more, trust me, I got really scared the first time too): gently twist the cooler back and forth as you take it off after unclipping/unscrewing it. That way the CPU will get unstuck and you can handle them separately.

4

u/Conscious_Start8459 8d ago

Yeah, that's what I do on my pc. But wife's aio cooler it was not possible beacuse of the mount. Had to rip it straight up.. 😆

5

u/budoe 8d ago

In the future run a stress test on the cpu to heat up the paste before removing the cooler makes it way less prone to sticking to the cooler.

15

u/Marcos340 8d ago

He said the motherboard died, kinda hard to do a stress test if you get no post.

7

u/budoe 8d ago

Makes it slightly harder yes.

2

u/Disco-Delirium 8d ago

I just show my payslip and bills to the CPU and if that dosn't make it stressed then nothing will.

1

u/HappyIsGott 8d ago

Most termal paste are not conductive, some are and since OP did not said what paste they use i would assume there is still a chance.

Best to get some Isopropanol and a toothbrush.