Isopropyl
Isopropyl
I have three application levels: one should not be wiped completely. Add a bit more TIM to guarantee coverage. When it only needs to function with a cheaper paste, that's fine. Two, wipe it to avoid buildup. Suitable for reapplying similar paste or for systems with lower performance. Three, use alcohol for a high-performance cooler on a top-tier CPU with premium TIM, aiming for optimal results.
I just used a kitchen towel. I don't believe a microfiber cloth would be significantly better, plus you have the extra step of cleaning later if you want to reuse it, whereas a kitchen towel is disposable. This is more about mechanical cleaning. If you add water, it might help a bit more but won't remove any oils or other non-water-soluble items in the paste. Isopropyl alcohol does assist more there.
When using 70% iso, remember it contains 30% water which leads to faster evaporation and residue issues—it doesn’t perform well. Pure alcohol is tough to produce and would likely cost more due to extra processing needed to eliminate moisture. Distillation typically achieves around 95% purity, making it suitable for electronics cleaning at 90%+; avoid the 70% option.
I believe affordable spray bottles are generally affordable at around 99.9%, but when considering larger quantities, the cost rises significantly. Alternatively, the prices I see locally for 99.9 might be lower compared to what I observe internationally.
I question the quality of some ads promoting 99% ISO products. How can you verify they actually contain 90%? It costs more to produce because moisture must be removed via a special drying method. Also, letting high-proof alcohol air out dilutes it since alcohol attracts water. This isn’t a major concern here, but it shows how difficult it is to achieve such purity.
It’s a total misconception to believe IPA is essential for removing thermal paste. If the paste is extremely dry and solid—like it has been for decades—a simple paper towel will suffice.
Even then, the ISO won't function properly. I had to use a knife to remove it.