Hello Everyone,

I'll describe everything that has happened:

I received my P4 Prescott 3.06 GHz HT processor from Newegg and attempted to install it onto my motherboard. I only found I was an idiot, and bought a 800 MHz FSB processor for a motherboard that only accepts 533 MHz. Anyhoo, I installed the processor with Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Paste (and I applied too much) and after BIOS yelled at me for the incompatability - I removed the processor... well... during removal thermal paste got on the 478 socket AND on 5 of the pins on the bottom of the processor.

So, as a result, I busted out some rubbing alcohol and a fresh toothbrush and had at it. I attempted to install my old P4 back into the motherboard and I do not get any BIOS errors when I boot up, however, my video does not output AND my CD Rom drives keep revving up and down.. with no picture.

So, since I could not fix it, I went online and ordered a new MOBO that will support my 800MHz FSB and HT - my question is this, should I send the processor back for a replacement or was it sufficient enough for me to toothbrush off the thermal paste from the five pins on the bottom of the processor? I do not want to stick this new processor in a brand new motherboard only to find rubbing alcohol cannot adequately remove the Arctic Silver 5 Compount from it's pins.

Please let me know! Thanks!

Doesn't look like it was Artic Silver's fault.
Go get a can of electronic cleaner, something like below link - safe for all plastics. Remove the motherboard and really wash out the CPU socket and all around and under it if you can. After it has dried, re-install and try it.
Rubbing alcohol can contain 10% to 30% water.

http://www.crcindustries.com/ei/con...

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http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm

"Not Electrically Conductive:
Arctic Silver 5 was formulated to conduct heat, not electricity.
(While much safer than electrically conductive silver and copper greases, Arctic Silver 5 should be kept away from electrical traces, pins, and leads. While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive and could potentially cause problems if it bridges two close-proximity electrical paths.)"

TMP-Man

Asus P5P800-SE PAT
P4 506 @ 4009Mhz 1.3625v
Thermaltake CLP0024 w/ 1700RPM 92MM + AS5
2GB OCZ 2-3-2-5 DDR400
120GB/300GB 7200RPM HD
Leadtek 7600 AGP 590/1600 VF700 ALCU AS5

rubbing alcohol can be found at 97% and it will remove artic silver. you probably bent your pins. your 3.06 processor is a 533 bus you can run it 800 bus it will oc the processor. you may need to adjust to voltage up to 1.45v. good luck!

TMP-Man,

That's very interesting. That really stinks regarding the alcohol content of the rubbing alcohol I used. That probably is what caused the damage isn't it? *sigh* I don't suppose there is any way to fix such an issue.

As for cleaning solution, I have something called Electro-wash which was offered to me by the electronics department in our shop:

http://www.rsonline.dk/cgi-bin/bv/r...

Will this be sufficient? Or should I use something different. They use it to clean all sorts of circuit boards and such.

Last question, if I happened to short out my processor. Then it shouldn't harm the new MOBO if I put it in there right? I will just get a processor error and I will know for sure.

DragonSprayer,

I looked at my pins, they all appear very straight, if I had bent them, would it be obvious?

Zenith,

Sorry, the above message regarding the cleaner was meant for you, not for TMP-man. :)

The Arctic Silver instructions are very detailed....

"If you are working with an Intel P4 CPU single core with heatspreader the amount of Arctic Silver 5 needed would be equivalent to about one (1) uncooked short-grain of white rice."

How much did you use???

You just need a thind layer, wipe off any excess.

"well... during removal thermal paste got on the 478 socket AND on 5 of the pins on the bottom of the processor.

So, as a result, I busted out some rubbing alcohol and a fresh toothbrush and had at it. I attempted to install my old P4 back into the motherboard"

Sounds like it was the rubbing alchohol that you put into the 478 socket that caused the problems.

http://www.gvtcomputers.com

What most likely caused the damage, if any would be this: "While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive and could potentially cause problems if it bridges two close-proximity electrical paths".

Seems there is a very fine line between "electrically conductive" and "capacitive".

Can't say much about Electro-wash, the site you linked to is in German, sorry.

If it says it is used for circuit boards and is safe on plastics, and leaves no residue, then ok.

There may be some Artic Silver still sitting around, in, the CPU socket somewhere or like I said, underneath.

Worth a shot before buying another board.

If this is same stuff, then looks good:
http://www.crazypc.com/products/934...

Should be in spray can with nozzle extension so it can really spray stuff good.

Hope it was totally unplugged when you cleaned it the 1st time.

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Well this has been a learning experience for me. I foolishly put WAAAYYY too much AC5 (about a marble size gob;-0 on and have been debating cleaning it off. Not going to do it now. The temps fine as it is, I can just see me busting a few pins or something silly like that. Thanks for the posting.

I would remove the excess, ASAP