Why do people keep using thermal paste like it's caulk?

I just had a guy bring in a laptop where someone used thermal paste to fill the whole gap between the heatsink and the GPU die. It was spilling over the sides onto the board and everything. You only need a pea sized amount, not half a tube. I spent 20 minutes cleaning it up with isopropyl alcohol and a toothpick before I could even start the real repair. Has anyone else seen this kind of mess or is it just me?

3 comments

3 Comments

finleym4318d ago

Did you try using a plastic spudger instead of a toothpick? I found that and some 99% isopropyl made the cleanup way easier without scratching the board.

karen_roberts417d agoMost Upvoted

Go with 99% isopropyl and a soft toothbrush, works great on stubborn residue.

brian32818d ago

Yeah @finleym43 that toothpick idea is asking for trouble, why risk scratching the board?