MP 1,1-5,1 Brown residue on 4,1 dual CPU tray

[macsforme]

Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?




At first I thought it was some components on the board that had failed and were leaking fluid, but looking a second time, it looks more like the residue came from the thermal pads (or the adhesive on them) on the heat sinks. At least the machine is still working fine. Unfortunately a dual CPU tray seems to cost about as much as an entire system.

Any ideas for cleaning? I thought maybe alcohol and an anti-ESD brush, but some of those components on the board look awfully delicate...

 

[tsialex]

Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?

View attachment 850152
View attachment 850153

At first I thought it was some components on the board that had failed and were leaking fluid, but looking a second time, it looks more like the residue came from the thermal pads (or the adhesive on them) on the heat sinks. At least the machine is still working fine. Unfortunately a dual CPU tray seems to cost about as much as an entire system.

Any ideas for cleaning? I thought maybe alcohol and an anti-ESD brush, but some of those components on the board look awfully delicate...

It's oily decay from the thermal pads, happen with all Mac Pros. Seems brown because dust accumulates over the oil.

You can remove most of it with IPA and a brush, just go slowly and take your time, don't rush.

 

[macsforme]

It's oily decay from the thermal pads, happen with all Mac Pros. Seems brown because dust accumulates over the oil.

You can remove most of it with IPA and a brush, just go slowly and take your time, don't rush.

Great, thanks! Can I just use something like a toothbrush, or do I need to need something designed not to generate ESD?

 

[tsialex]

Great, thanks! Can I just use something like a toothbrush, or do I need to need something designed not to generate ESD?

Tricky question. If you are in a place, like me now, that humidity is around 20%, don't use a common toothbrush or you will generate a lot of ESD and probably zap your tray. If you are in a place that has high humidity and you ground yourself, you can probably go with a common toothbrush and lots of IPA.

 

[Macschrauber]

You can ground the toothbrush, and the board plus yourself with a esd wrist strap. Plug it to a known grounded Power Outlet. There are esd brushes on the market also.

 

[AidenShaw]

lots of IPA

Which India Pale Ale do you recommend?