What would be the best cleaning agent for a GPU?

I'm wanting to remove a stock fan and clean the GPU, but what would be best?

And what tool should I clean it with?  Don't wanna go using something like wire wool or a steel toothed brush.  Any particular cloth?

since ive always frozen the card before removal of heatsink most of the glue comes off in removal, what doesnt ive always taken off with razor blade, always has come out great for me. the cold makes the glue brittle.

Same process I use. Some will then lap the GPU and new heatsink but I never go to that extreme, just add a better heatsink and fan ;)

When I replaced the heatsinks on my V5 I cleaned the epoxy of with a sharp little knife (stanley-knife, don't know how you call it). Carefully scraping off the remains.

After that I used nailpolish-remover and those little sticks with cotton on each end (quetips?) to remove the rest.

To clean it, I used paint thinner"100% Mineral Spirits" I have used nail polish remover but it seemed to leave a residue.

Cool!  :D

These are usually the best steps to take I guess.

Stanley knife blades are sharp enough to take the finest grain of residue off anything!  This will leave good contact for the next heatsink going on the GPU.

Won't nail polish remover/paint thinner harm the surface of the GPU in any way?

No that's an old trick back in the early Athlon days when we used to connect the 4 L1 bridges to unlock the CPU. You had to have a steady hand along with the auto rear window defroster repair kit.

First time I did it I cut off all but 3 brissels on the brush. 2 shots of rum to steady the hand and start painting.  Took me 3 trys. Each time you mess up you have to clean the CPU off with the paint thinner and start over.

My 750 Duron ran great a 933MHz once unlocked. I could get it to 950 9.5 X 100 but it benchmarked better @ 933MHz by 7 X 133. It used to beat the crap out of my buddy's PIII 800 ;D

Remember back then he paid over 700 USD and my Duron was 125 USD 8)

These solvents will not harm your GPU/CPU.

Indeed, best steps are... ;)

1. Freeze card
2. Remove from freezer and quickly 'pop' off the heatsink (should take most of the glue with it)
3. Scrape excess remaining glue with a stanley knife.
4. Clean with alcohol solution

Nuff said! 8)

Anybody got pictures maybe?

:)

Because I don't want to screw up my cards...

I don't wanna take the markings off of the 3dfx GPU's (the white text).

Won't alcohol/paint thinner/nail polish remover, rub the markings away?

Most of the markings will come off anyhow when you remove the old heatsinks! :(

It's pretty unavoidable that you'll end up with sort of 3/4 of a 3Dfx logo - as some of it WILL be pulled off by the remaining glue on the old heatsink! :(

Forgot to ask one point on this question.

How long does a card get left for in the freezer? ???

What is the minimum time (no less than) and maximum time (no more than) duration in the freezer?

Oh, and would it be best to stick the card in an anti-static bag, and tape it shut?

Oh, and please rate your top 3 alcohol solutions for removing persistent epoxy/residue from the chips.

1. Nail Polish Remover perhaps?
2. Do you prefer white spirits?
3. Or a bottle of Jack Daniels?  ;)

State your top 3.  :)

You still haven't popped that heatsink off. Man that was about 6 mo. ago :-X

I have used both nail polish remover and paint thinner (mineral spirits). I like the paint thinner better because it does not leave a residue. I pick up a quart (.95 liter) at the local hardware store, the brand is "Parks" Parks Corporation, Somerset MA 02726 They have a toll free number but I don't know if it's international 800-225-8543. It is 100% Mineral Spirits.

(Use in a well ventilated area)

Seriously man, just GO for it! ::)

1. Leave in freezer inside a cheap carrier bag (sealed) for about a couple of hours (2-3 hrs minimum) or overnight for best results. ;)

2. Remove, split bag with sharp knife and use a small screwdriver to QUICKLY and CAREFULLY "pop" the heatsink off. :-/

3. Use white spirit or (for better results) Maplin cleaning fluid (white cannister with yellow label) to remove gunk. :D

4. Clean up with a sharp knife or fine grit sandpaper. ;)

END!  :P

I recommend using isopropanol, you can get that cheap in a pharmacy.

wrote on 07.06.05 at 00:46:10:

Seriously man, just GO for it! ::)

http://www.jstorey.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/vaderCarbonChamber.jpg
"The Radeon 9500 PRO must sucessfully be frozen. I do not want to damage the Emperor's prize.
We will test it ... on a Voodoo3" ;D

oh dear the poor little bugga haha, yeah that pic really fit's in janskjaer LOL ;D

Well all of my GPU's are okay, they don't over heat, got a Home Electronics 9000 Airco unit in my room ;)

http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/albums/album93/HE_9000.jpg

Quote:

"The Radeon 9500 PRO must sucessfully be frozen. I do not want to damage the Emperor's prize.   We will test it ... on a Voodoo3"

WAHAHAHAHA! LOL! ROFL! LMAO! ;D ;D ;D

(sorry, cannot type for laughing!) :P

gee talk'n about jokes anyway hehe, the Best work in the would is Fire works, it all goes fully automaticly ;) but hay I like work very much just watching it go by hehe

but yeah the Darth Vader thing  is very cool , poor Voodoo3 btw :-X

i just use compressed air to clean the fan
and the back of the card. pretty decent already and there is no point getting it really clean after all.

hmm that is an idea Edmund, I mostly dismantle my coolers and use window wiper on a paint brush and the I clean every fanblade of my VPU/GPU 3D chip's coolers, I use the brush because, a brush is a gentle item to use on such breakable things.

What do you use to create a fine level layer of epoxy ONTO a chip?

A stanley knife just doesn't get it right every time.

Surprising what a normal ultra-cheap glue spreader can achieve (yes, the ones that come free with epoxy!) ;D

Go 4 it! ;)

Or apply a nice sexy thermal pad on the GPU like I do!

;D

wrote on 20.07.05 at 21:58:16:

Surprising what a normal ultra-cheap glue spreader can achieve (yes, the ones that come free with epoxy!) ;D Go 4 it! ;)

I remember using these things in primary school when I was about 7 or 8.  :)
In fact, you are spot on.  They will do such a superb job!  :)  Nice one Paul!  ;D

well here's my ASUS ATi RadeonX800XT Platinum Edition AGP with 256MB GDDR3 from Hynx @ 1.6ns. yes it's fast, it did max mem OC from 1120Mhz to 1460Mhz ::) with radlinker, don't need newer cooling the copper cooler from ASUS is just fine the way it is really :)

Click Thumbnails to Enlarge!

here's the front of my board:
http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/albums/album92/my_asus_ATi_X800XT_PE.thumb.jpg

here's the back of my board:
http://www.3dfx.ch/gallery/albums/album92/asus_back.thumb.jpg

anyway I usually run it at stcck speeds this card runs everything on the Dual OpteronDP 244 , it's the best VGA I ever have had since the Ti4600.

I keep it clean by dismanteling the cooler and cleaning it with an old paintbrush dipped with Glassex Glass cleaner.
afterthat I pollish it clean with a glasses cloth so it shines again :)

UP:

Will Isopropanol work fine? (@Rolo01)
I tried with some benzine (hum, what's the word in English?) and it works quite bad...