Remove CPU and Processor fan

[Chuckster]

I am looking at removing the CPU and the processor fan from one identical machine to another.

Would I need to use thermal paste on the CPU considering there's already a lot of it on it but dry?

If I do need to use thermal paste on the CPU, how do you go about scraping the old paste off it - credit card jobbie?

[SYNACK]

Yes new paste and clean the old stuff off unless you want hotspots and instability.

Edit:
I use this stuff which is legendary at cleaning CPUs:
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arcticlean.htm

[imiddleton25]

if it thick and dry i use a razor blade then useBuy Akasa TIM Cleaner and Thermal PasteAK-MX004 from CCL - Online Retailer of the Year 2008, 2007 & 2006 for laptops, desktops and computer hardware

[Chuckster]

Nice one guys. I don't suppose I could get these from PC world? I know, I know, it's a terrible thing to say but PC World is literally on my way home from work.

EDIT: Just one other thing. I take it you guys clean the paste off both the CPU and processor? What about when you come to applying new paste.. do you stick on the CPU, Processor or bit on both?

Sticking on the CPU makes sense, right? :\

[AyatollahPies]

Google be thy Friend!

Thermal Paste and How To Use It

Applying Thermal Paste

How-To: Properly Apply Thermal Paste and Install a CPU | Maximum PC

I probably wouldn't bother with sanding the surfaces. I have done before, and it might have made a 0.0001 % temperature difference, but it's not worth the risk of sanding the surface of the processor.

[Butuz]

Whatever you do don't use anything sharp to clean it off as even microscopic scratches will hurt the heat transfer performance.

just use the removal and thermal paste products linked to above and you'll be fine!

Butuz

[timzim]

I take it you guys clean the paste off both the CPU and processor? What about when you come to applying new paste.. do you stick on the CPU, Processor or bit on both?

Erm, forgive my intrusion but aren't the CPU and the processor the same thing??? Are you maybe talking about the heatsink?

[Chuckster]

Whoops. I did mean the heatsink. I forget the terminologies so I end up calling them whatever makes sense to me, lol.