Hard thermal paste

[SgtMoth]

I've just taken my 6990 apart to clean and the thermal paste is hard as a rock.  Does anyone know what to use to loosen the paste up?

[Revalin]

Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) should take it right off.

[SgtMoth]

i tried that on the heatsink, it wont loosen it. it wont even flake off without leaving scratches.

[SaintDevil]

Try using a credit card first to scrape it off, because it's flexible it won't leave scratches. Alcohol removes it slowly layer by layer, so it would take a long time to do it on the hardened block.

[SgtMoth]

thanks, i used a brand new card, wasnt easy but it came off.  the spot i used the alcohol on was the hardest to get off.

[kjj]

If isopropanol won't do it, you can try acetone or lacquer thinner (generally mineral spirits).

P.S.  Wrong board, this should probably be in Mining Hardware.