Question Re-apply thermal paste after reseating heatsink even if no thermal issues?

[notsopcspecialist123]

Hi I recently installed a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO Black RGB edition.

First I cleaned off the previous old thermal paste with 99% IPA.

I applied the thermal paste properly, and then reseated the heatsink a few times (3 or 4). once during installation and a fe times 2-3 hours later (this was when I encountered some boot issues and asked this forum, will include the link).

I recently found out, people usually re-apply everytime they remove heatsink. But I removed it more than 1 time and did not re-apply.

I currently have no thermal issues with this, under heavy load the max it gets to is ~66C, and 30C while browsing like right now.

Is it ok that I haven't reapplied the paste or will my PC be affected negatively in any way ?

I would like very much to avoid re applying at all costs if I can as I am worried I might damage my CPU or Motherboard due to the previous boot issue I mentioned: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/is-my-motherboard-and-cpu-ok.3680249/

The booting issue has been resolved a long time back.
TLDR on previous issue; PC turned on for few seconds and then off after tightening cooler and re-adjusting RAM although it isn't clear which of the 2 caused the issue.

(Lenovo Prebuilt) System: i7 - 10700, RTX 2070 Super, FSP 80+ Gold PSU, 2x 8GB Legion Ram, Lenovo Stock Motherboard

 

[ex_bubblehead]

You ALWAYS reapply the thermal compound when removing/reinstalling the heatsink. To do otherwise will introduce air bubbles between the two surfaces which acts as an insulator and can severely restrict cooling.

 

[notsopcspecialist123]

You ALWAYS reapply the thermal compound when removing/reinstalling the heatsink. To do otherwise will introduce air bubbles between the two surfaces which acts as an insulator and can severely restrict cooling.

I understand, but will I have to do it to avoid damage now, because there have been no thermal issues for the past week of intensive gaming.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

You can always do as you wish. However, you've been warned.

 

[notsopcspecialist123]

You can always do as you wish. However, you've been warned.

Well that's the thing, I don't know if there will be any issues in the future as there hasn't been any so far.

 

[Corwin65]

There will ALWAYS be issues in the future. Your choice of not reapplying, even after being told that it's the best practice, only adds more to the factors that create issues.

 

[notsopcspecialist123]

There will ALWAYS be issues in the future. Your choice of not reapplying, even after being told that it's the best practice, only adds more to the factors that create issues.

Could you give me some examples of issues? I need to understand if it's worth the risk of remounting the cooler due to the boot issue I mentioned.

 

[Corwin65]

You are increasing the chance of it not cooling properly. That alone should be enough.

 

[MafiaHabit]

I'm getting 80 degrees on boot, Because I didn't reapply thermal paste after disassembling my pc. So I highly recommend you reapply thermal paste everytime you remove your cpu cooler.

 

[Ds_Tech]

Mostly If

Hi I recently installed a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO Black RGB edition.

First I cleaned off the previous old thermal paste with 99% IPA.

I applied the thermal paste properly, and then reseated the heatsink a few times (3 or 4). once during installation and a fe times 2-3 hours later (this was when I encountered some boot issues and asked this forum, will include the link).

I recently found out, people usually re-apply everytime they remove heatsink. But I removed it more than 1 time and did not re-apply.

I currently have no thermal issues with this, under heavy load the max it gets to is ~66C, and 30C while browsing like right now.

Is it ok that I haven't reapplied the paste or will my PC be affected negatively in any way ?

I would like very much to avoid re applying at all costs if I can as I am worried I might damage my CPU or Motherboard due to the previous boot issue I mentioned: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/is-my-motherboard-and-cpu-ok.3680249/

The booting issue has been resolved a long time back.
TLDR on previous issue; PC turned on for few seconds and then off after tightening cooler and re-adjusting RAM although it isn't clear which of the 2 caused the issue.

(Lenovo Prebuilt) System: i7 - 10700, RTX 2070 Super, FSP 80+ Gold PSU, 2x 8GB Legion Ram, Lenovo Stock Motherboard

Mostly thermal requires min. 6 months or more .
if just applied thermal recently and removed heat sink and put it in clean place and there is no dust on cpu either then its ok.

 

[USAFRet]

Mostly thermal requires min. 6 months or more .
if just applied thermal recently and removed heat sink and put it in clean place and there is no dust on cpu either then its ok.

6 months?

That is a dangerous recommendation.
More like - 6 hours.

 

[Ds_Tech]

6 months?

That is a dangerous recommendation.
More like - 6 hours.

its thermal paste oily not toothpaste which get hard on heat in some times.
If you earlier applied good thermal paste and there is no dust in both cpu and cooler surface then its ok.
air bubbles will only occur if heatsink not fixed on cpu correctly.

 

[USAFRet]

its thermal paste oily not toothpaste which get hard on heat in some times.
If you earlier applied good thermal paste and there is no dust in both cpu and cooler surface then its ok.
air bubbles will only occur if heatsink not fixed on cpu correctly.

Sorry, can't agree with your "6 months".
And I doubt you'll find anyone who does.

Anyone with a clue, anyway.

 

[Ds_Tech]

Sorry, can't agree with your "6 months".
And I doubt you'll find anyone who does.

Anyone with a clue, anyway.

Check You tube ask other tech experts.
We both are correct in our own ways.

 

[USAFRet]

Check You tube ask other tech experts.
We both are correct in our own ways.

No, that's not the way this works.
I'm not going to stroll through endless crappy videos on utube, looking for someone that supports your position.

 

[xravenxdota]

I will give you and example why to reapply thermal past.A friend of mine brought me his pc as it restarted random in windows.Removed heatsink and could see he never changed Thermal paste in 2-3 years.Even after applying thermal paste would still restart and overheat.It's nothing we done just negligence on his part.The cpu are damage and there's nothing we can do about it.He ended up to upgrade to a new ryzen.It's not a big lose.It was a phenom 2.But always reapply thermal paste.I do new thermal paste once a year.