Brand new cpu and cooler, to clean or not to clean?

[Arksun]

Of course when replacing just one or the other, you'd expect to clean off the old thermal paste before applying new one.

But what about when you've just bought a brand new cpu and cooler.
Do you still clean their surfaces first? Or trust that they cleaned them at the factory and just go apply the thermal paste straight on?

I'd imaging the Intel chip in particular is made in a strict dust free environment, so would have thought thats the cleanest the surface is ever going to get.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

The surfaces don't need to be cleaned when new.

They are ready to apply.

 

[danny2000]

The Intel heatsink and cooler come with thermal paste pad already on the bottom of the heatsink so you should not remove that in anyway, unless feel the need to use a different thermal paste.

 

[Arksun]

Sorry I should have added I meant new CPU with third party cooler, not the one it comes with

 

[danny2000]

As mentioned above, if both parts are brand new, then you don't need to clean either.
However, if the new heatsink does not have a thermal paste pad applied already, then you need to apply the thermal paste.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

If both are new no need to clean just apply the thermal then install.