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If I remove the heatsink from my processor temporarily, then later put it back without changing the heatsink or CPU, do I need to reapply thermal paste?
Zero
Posted 2009-12-17T22:37:23.270
Reputation: 397
Can I remove and put back the heatsink of my processor without reapplying thermal paste
Answers
18
The thermal paste is there to provide good heat conductivity between the CPU and the heatsink. If you separate the two, it is best for you to reapply some thermal paste (VERY thin layer) in order to maintain good thermal contact between the two.
I usually prefer to clean both the heat sink and the CPU with a q-tip and some alcohol before reapplying thermal paste... and I have never experienced any problems doing so but I can't really recommend doing so in case either your heat sink or CPU does not like alcohol :)
Shoeless
Posted 2009-12-17T22:37:23.270
Reputation: 1 172
15
Can you? Yes
Should you? Probably not. Do you really want to risk it? A tube of thermal paste costs 15$ at a computer repair shop and is good for several applications.
menns
Posted 2009-12-17T22:37:23.270
Reputation: 518
7Agreed. (I couldn't type in my answer fast enough. :) I've had excellent luck with the Arctic Silver products. They make a cleaning kit called "Arcti-Clean" that includes a solvent to remove the old paste. Paper coffee filters work great for cleaning off the old paste without leaving any lint behind. – Tim Lara – 2009-12-17T22:52:44.160
Nice one on the coffee filters Tim, I gotta try that... might just have to dismantle a PC to give it a shot ;) – Shoeless – 2009-12-17T22:54:49.507
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I basically fried my CPU back in Dec 08 and needed to buy a new one due to the fact that, I didn't replace the thermal compound. It was something that I greatly regret and whenever someone now says, "no thermal compound is needed", I would laugh at them and their fried CPU if they actually did replace the heat sink without the thermal compound. It just isn't worth taking the risk! I did and where did it get me?
+1, since you are the only one who provided actual data showing that reapplication is wise. – unforgettableidSupportsMonica – 2013-11-22T03:34:52.800
1Dear all: how could the user's CPU have been destroyed? And why might his/her PC not have shut off automatically before the destruction took place? – unforgettableidSupportsMonica – 2013-11-22T03:35:42.860
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I just did it. Cleaned my PC removed the heatsink to clean the fan and didn't replace the thermal paste -(which looked like it will need to be replace soon enough)- and my computer is not giving me any troubles yet, so Yes you can do it. It is just not recommended you do so.
Mine worked too, with a little bit of thermal throttling – Suici Doga – 2016-03-14T14:35:46.630
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Yes you need thermal paste. and alchool is safe for CPU And Heatsink But you dont really need to clean it.
Darok
Posted 2009-12-17T22:37:23.270
Reputation: 49
-1. Your reference (now viewable at http://web.archive.org/web/www.associatedcontent.com/article/630559/using_rubbing_alcohol_to_clean_home.html?cat=7) supports your assertion that alcohol is safe for CPUs and heat sinks. But your dubious claim that you don't need to clean off the old thermal paste is still completely unsupported.
– unforgettableidSupportsMonica – 2013-11-22T03:27:16.757Can you give a reference supporting that? – marcusw – 2009-12-18T01:47:07.513
yes here it is http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/630559/using_rubbing_alcohol_to_clean_home.html?cat=7
– Darok – 2010-01-03T23:20:30.600
4Hmmm. A drunk computer doesn't sound good. Then again, that's what might happen if you don't attach the heat sink correctly; I've had some funny problems with my overheating computer. – Daniel H – 2009-12-18T01:37:51.367
3@Daniel I hope you're being sarcastic...pretty sure Shoeless meant to say rubbing alcohol, not drinking alcohol. – Adam Ryan – 2009-12-19T22:26:21.090