removing goo from heatsink/cpu

[Nocturnal]

how do i do this? ive read that you should dawn soap, but i tried, and it doesnt budge the pink gummy goo from moving. what is the best thing to remove this? i just picked up a asus nforce board, and i need to remove all that gunk so i can apply some asii. thanks guys (from the future)

 

[crabmeat]

Use nail paint remover or zippo fuel or kerosine

 

[Metalloid]

Just normal rubbing alcohol works perfect for me.

 

[gdawson6]

I had thick orange crap on my geforce 2, and had to use a razor blade very carefully to scrape it off the GPU and Heatsink.

 

[Wind]

Scrap the goo at the bottom of the HSF w/ a razor. Remove the remaining residue w/ alcohol.

Clean the core w/ alcohol as well.

 

[mattgyver]

I used automotive brake cleaner when nothing else would work on some particularly stubborn goo--worked like a charm
Was the only thing that worked on the well-baked-on stuff.

 

[ST4RCUTTER]

Whatever solvent you use to dissolve the phase change thermal compound, take care to keep it away from the foam pads on the packaging. It will dissolve the glue that holds them on. You can always glue them back, but it's one more headache to worry about. Isopropyl alcohol is one of the better cleaning agents for electronics. It might not be robust enough for the spent TIM though.