Youve spilled thermal paste on the motherboard PCB, and now you dont know what to do, right?
Its not as bad as you might think.
However, it’s crucial that you go through some steps to fix it.
So, what to do if thermal paste gets on the motherboard PCB?
Keep reading the post to know in detail.
Can Thermal Paste Damage The Motherboard?
Before I answer that, you gotta have a clear idea about thermal paste.
But thats not the case.
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There are microgrooves or pockets on the flat surfaces, which our naked eyes cannot see.
Thermal paste is a heat-conducting paste that sits in between your processor and heatsink plate.
It ensures the maximum transfer of heat from the processor to the heatsink/CPU cooler.
Now back to the question.
Most thermal pastes are non-conductive, so they dont conduct electricity.
Therefore it wont damage your motherboard.
However, some thermal pastes do conduct electricity.
You should thoroughly remove these pastes, especially if the paste is over the circuit.
In both cases, you should remove the thermal paste.
The detailed process is mentioned below.
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Will Thermal Paste Ruin A CPU?
As long as the thermal paste remains on the heat spreader, theres nothing to worry about.
But if it gets beside or underneath the CPU, you should remove the paste.
Hence your PC might not boot or cause issues.
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Therefore its best to remove the thermal paste, and its not very hard to do so.
You just need to have some patience while doing it.
What Happens If Thermal Paste Gets On CPU Pins?
In most cases, your PC will not boot.
Even if it does turn on, it will start to cause issues.
So you should probably remove the paste from the pins correctly.
But CPU pins are very easy to bend.
Also, its tough for most people to fix bent CPU pins.
Hence you oughta be very careful to handle the issue.
It requires some basic materials and a little bit of patience.
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Youll need some q-tip or paper towel or cotton swab as a cleaning tool.
Sit with your motherboard in a proper antistatic place to work with.
Wipe off the thermal paste slowly.
Take your time, and dont rush.
Try removing as much as you’re able to.
Assemble everything and start using your PC.
If thermal paste touches the motherboard PCB with circuits, you should use isopropyl alcohol for best results.
you should probably get 70% isopropyl alcohol as the cleaning agent.
Youd also want some q-tip or paper towel or cotton swab as a cleaning tool.
What happens if you dont have thermal paste?
Thermal paste creates a seamless connection between the heat spreader and the CPU cooler plate.
As such, your CPU will show higher temperatures.
Under stress, it might overheat and turn itself off.
So ensure to have enough thermal paste to ensure proper cooling of the CPU.
That said, you shouldnt put a lot of thermal paste on the CPU.
A little dab of thermal paste is enough to ensure maximum efficiency in heat transfer.
And you dont want that.
FAQ
Question:Can thermal paste short circuit?
Answer:If the paste is conductive, it will short circuit.
Most thermal pastes are not conductive, though.
But even then, it might cause connection hindrance or other issues.
Question:Is thermal paste really necessary?
Answer:Thermal paste is necessary to conduct heat between the CPU heat spreader and CPU cooler plate.
Without thermal paste, the CPU will overheat quickly and will turn itself off.
Question:How do you know if thermal paste is working?
If theres something wrong with the thermal paste, your CPU will overheat and turn itself off.
Question:Does thermal paste work immediately?
Some thermal pastes can take a couple of weeks to deliver maximum efficiency.
You just need to ensure you remove the paste entirely from over the circuits.
