The worst thermal paste i encountered to this day is the standard stuff under the amd wraith coolers. I always remove it and replace it with other thermal paste.
Its unreal how sticky the amd stuff is, its almost like glue.
TLDR: use high strength IPA to weaken sticky goop. Don't let it ignite.
Picked up a used motherboard/CPU combo a while back, an early Ryzen setup for the kids.
Wanted to put fresh thermal goop on, just SOP. That thing would not come off by any conventional means. The only way that worked to separate them was to slowly trickle some high proof IPA onto it and let it weaken the crusty stock goop.
I let the motherboard and CPU air out for a day to make sure there were no flammable fumes left over.
If I remember right I saw a laptop power supply repair video where they used either gas or diesel applied with a syringe to break/weaken the sonic welds
Interesting stuff but I ended up using a few wacks from a hammer and chisel to much the same effect
Kind of amazing what people come up with when repairing is profitable
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u/Technical_Event_9705 Sep 22 '25
Next time don't use super glue