cpu cooler and weird dust

[hxc87x]

i replaced my stock cooler that came with my comp yesterday and saw some weird dust type of stuff on my cpu where the cooler was sitting
was a pretty fine powder...
would this be that thermal paste stuff that just dried up or what?
and how can i clean it off without damaging my cpu?

also, how effective is thermal paste?

 

[Gunny]

I use alcohol swipes to clean old thermal paste off. Good thermal paste is a must it basically acts as a heat transfer medium between the cpu and heatsink. Without it cpu's normally go pop. Some oke mentioned once that copper grease works well too. I have yet to try it.

 

[howardb]

It was probably the thermal tape/paste that came with the stock heatsink. It tends to solidify after a while and can eventually breakdown to dust. If it is stuck fast on the CPU chip (the metal part), the use some rubbing alcohol to carefully remove - I usually use an old soft plastic ruler to get the majotiy off - VERY CAREFULLY - then use the alcohol to remove any residue.

You will need a good thermal paste to refit the cooler - some already come with tape attached to the heatsink, and other do not - don't try and re-attach without any thermal paste or tape 'cos you'll fry your CPU eventually.

I use Arctic Silver - I've had a tube for the last couple of years and replaced several stock coolers with plenty to spare - use any thermal paste sparingly though - but don't skimp too much.

 

[Sapphiron]

Its the dried thermal paste.

you can clean it off with some toilet paper. Just don't bend any pins if there are any.

You need to reapply some thermal paste (buy some) and apply it in a even film. DO NOT MOUNT THE CPU DRY. THERMAL PASTE IS VERY EFFECTIVE.