Thermal Paste Questions

I'm about to replace the thermal paste on my CPU and I just have two questions before I do it.

I'm going to use only coffee filters to rub off the old paste, simply because I don't have rubbing alcohol in the house at the moment and it's harder to find some here where I live. I can't just go to the drug store / pharmacy and buy a bottle.

So, my first question is: If I apply too much force while scrubbing off the old paste on the CPU (while it's in the socket, I don't want to remove it) can I damage the pins underneath it and therefore screw up my system?

2nd question: What can I use to spread the thermal paste, so it covers the entire CPU?

These do not answer my first question.

EDIT: I guess it's not a problem because when you install the heatsink on you apply some force to it that doesn't damage the pins.

BicycleRow said:

These do not answer my first question.

EDIT: I guess it's not a problem because when you install the heatsink on you apply some force to it that doesn't damage the pins.

Use light pressure when cleaning and you should be fine. Apply a small dot of thermal paste. About the size of a grain of cooked rice in the center of the CPU. When you install the heat sink the paste will spread over the CPU.

Yeah, thanks. I'm thinking about using the X method, seems the best to me. Spreads more on the surface.

It should not damage any pins. You should not need that much pressure to clean it off. Like you said, installing the cooler is far more pressure.

I would not cover whole cpu. It will squirt out. You want it thin. Just a little in the middle and let it spread out. Check your temps afterwards and if too high, redo with a tad more paste.

For the Core i7, I suggest drawing a 7 with thermal paste. For the core i5, a 5.