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    Ethyl Alcohol

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by TherosFear, Sep 24, 2010.

  1. TherosFear

    TherosFear Notebook Consultant

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    Im going to apply new thermal paste (Artic Silver 5) to my M15x, i know that i should remove all the old thermal paste the problem is that i don't have isopropyl alcohol or artic clean, right now i have only ethyl alcohol (the used for wounds).

    It works very well to remove old thermal paste? (and is safe to apply?)
     
    TherosFear, Sep 24, 2010
    #1
  2. Trottel

    Trottel Notebook Virtuoso

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    Ethyl alcohol is most commonly applied to the mouth.

    Why don't you just go to the drug store and pick up a bottle that will last you a lifetime of heatsink cleaning for a couple of bucks? You want a high concentration of alcohol. What does the bottle you have say? I doubt it is any stronger than a strong beverage. Ethanol is a solvent, but I don't know how it compares. It definitely isn't better though.
     
    Trottel, Sep 24, 2010
    #2
  3. kent1146

    kent1146 Notebook Prophet

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    A bottle of 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol costs $1.19 when I bought it. It has lasted me for 3 years so far. Totally worth it.

    Keep the ethyl alcohol for yourself and do shots of it... or for, you know, wounds and stuff.
     
    kent1146, Sep 24, 2010
    #3
  4. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    ethyl alcohol and isopropyl both serve the same purposes, as in they evaporate completely and act as solvents. But one you can drink, and the other is cheaper and poisonous ;) Go get some isopropyl/rubbing alcohol. If you insist on using the ethyl alcohol (ethanol), make sure that it's at least 150 proof or higher. If it's not, it could leave residue.
     
    Pitabred, Sep 24, 2010
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  5. Crimsoned

    Crimsoned Notebook Deity

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    Be sure to utilize isopropyl alcohol. 90% is what I use for electronics. Unlike ethyl (ethenol) Isopropyl will separate when in a mixture (water for example) it also evaporates much easier then ethanol.
    However Isopropyl is 2x as toxic as ethyl and is absolutely NOT fit for humans consumption. I cannot stress this enough. It can and will lead to death.
     
    Crimsoned, Sep 25, 2010
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  6. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    Use highest alcohol content. I found 99.9% isopropyl at my local supermarket. Not hard to find. It's cheap ad works great.
     
    HTWingNut, Sep 25, 2010
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  7. killab33

    killab33 Notebook Enthusiast

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    i'd suggest removing the cpu then doing it. be very careful. one cpu in one hand and the towel in other. turn cpu upside and rub it till its off and put it back in. shouldn't have a problem
     
    killab33, Sep 27, 2010
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  8. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Isopropanol can be be had at any pharmancy (at least in Germany, I have no idea about the UK).
     
    DetlevCM, Sep 28, 2010
    #8