[SOLVED] Do I need to reapply thermal paste to a CPU I removed yesterday??

[massgdaboss]

Building a pc which didn't post, so I removed the cpu and straightened the pins. It's now been a day since I separated the cpu and cooler, do I still need to clean them and reapply thermal paste or will the current coating work?? Same cooler and cpu just to clarify

 

[Gam3r01]

I would recommend replacing the paste.
If you just want to check functionality it should be okay for right now, if you dont have extra paste on hand.

The issue isnt so much the paste drying out or anything, but rather trapping air when the paste remakes contact.

 

[drea.drechsler]

If you've got the paste it's kind of a no-brainer: just do it.

If you don't have the paste, then reassembling should be considered temporary until you get some.