RE-Applying Thermal paste

[Rutvik123]

So I needed to replace my heatsink so I took of the heatsink, cleaned off the thermal paste, applied new one and then put the new heatsink on. After thirty seconds i realized i needed to re-adjust the heatsink, So i took off the heatsink and re-adjusted it without applying new thermal paste. Is that fine?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

As long as you placed it on properly, one edge first and kinda rolling to the other edge so as not to trap air bubbles, you should be fine as the paste should still be pliable.... of course, this assumes that enough paste was still there and you didn't smudge it off in the remove / replace process.

However, the proof is in the pudding.

 

[Rutvik123]

As long as you placed it on properly, one edge first and kinda rolling to the other edge so as not to trap air bubbles, you should be fine as the paste should still be pliable.... of course, this assumes that enough paste was still there and you didn't smudge it off in the remove / replace process.

However, the proof is in the pudding.

I did not smudge the thermal paste, it was only off for about 5 seconds. One more thing. I the heatsink did shake a ton and spread the thermal paste, i should be fine right?

 

[Wolfshadw]

So I needed to replace my heatsink so I took of the heatsink, cleaned off the thermal paste, applied new one and then put the new heatsink on. After thirty seconds i realized i needed to re-adjust the heatsink, So i took off the heatsink and re-adjusted it without applying new thermal paste. Is that fine?

That would be a 100%, "Maybe".

If you want to be sure, remove the heatsink, clean off the thermal paste and reapply new. I do this ANYTIME, I remove the heatsink. I mean, c'mon! I bought a $6 tube of AS5 seven years ago!

-Wolf sends

 

[faalin]

Rule of thumb if you take the heatsink off you need to clean and reapply new paste. There's a lot of if's with the above post, if you roll the heatsink on to not trap air bubbles, if you put enough on the first time to make good contact the second time.

Id chalk it up to a learning experience. Pull it off and see if you applied enough the first time, did you get good spread across the hole cpu. I've been doing this for a while now and I still will do this every once in a while just to make sure im still getting the right amount of thermal paste on.

 

[geofelt]

If your temperatures at idle are 10-15c. over ambient, I would think you are ok to continue.

 

[Rutvik123]

Thank you for the help guys! I did not apply new thermal paste and My temperatures are normal! It was risky but next time ill be sure to follow your tips!

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I did not smudge the thermal paste, it was only off for about 5 seconds. One more thing. I the heatsink did shake a ton and spread the thermal paste, i should be fine right?

As I said, the proof is in the pudding .... I have done it dozens of times without issue. The thing is 90% of initial HS installations do exactly that. If you place it on, them move it on the initial install, then you have essentially done exactly the same thing. All you can do is test it ... if it runs at expected temps, then you're fine.

If you take it off and reseat you run about as much chance of getting better as getting worse ... if ya ever looked at a test site, they will take an average of 5 mounts and tests to come up with a published test result.