Question regarding re-applying thermal paste on new PC build

Pure Michigan · Dec 23, 2014

I recently got my pc parts put together. I had to take the stock heat sink fan on and off a couple times. I got an intel CPU and the stock heat sink came with thermal paste on it. My question is, will this be OK to just re-click the stock fan down and re-use moving forward?

Or do I need to wipe off the paste currently on the fan/CPU with something like Isoprpyl Aclohol and apply a new application for the fan/CPU? Thanks and let me know!

RaDiKaL_ · Dec 23, 2014

You could give it a try directly, if temps seem higher than expected then take it off, clean with isopropyl alcohol (80%+ purity) and then apply new thermal paste.

Pure Michigan · Dec 23, 2014

and the way to test the temps would be through the BIOS correct? What would be considered higher than expected temps? Thank you!

RaDiKaL_ · Dec 23, 2014

Better look at temps while inside Windows, the power saving features don't come into play while in BIOS so temps will always be higher in BIOS.

Monitor them with HWMonitor Pro or AIDA64 or Core Temp, with a stock heatsink/fan you should be around high 20's-mid 30ºC while at idle, during load (after 30 min of gaming or any intensive CPU task like rendering) you shouldn't exceed 66ºC (maybe up to 70ºC if ambient temperature is high).

pecul1ar · Dec 23, 2014

Before wiping the old stuff out, sometimes I turn on the system quick enough to preheat the cpu. This softens the paste and wiping if off becomes easier.

Uncle Tom's did an article about paste application a while back.. lemme see..
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermal-paste-heat-sink-heat-spreader,3600.html

Pure Michigan · Dec 25, 2014

Hey Radikal, it appears to be around the high 20s during idle and will be giving it a look after the PC has been on running games for a bit. Thanks!

Pure Michigan · Dec 25, 2014

hey radikal, core temp shows the four different core temps and all four were hovering around 30 at idle, and after a couple hours of gameplay they around around the high 30s, low 40s. Does this all sound good for now? any reason to remove the stock fan and re-apply thermal past at this point? If I ever do remove the cpu stock fan, do I need to unscrew the whole motherboard as well or will the motherboard standoffs provide adequate stability for removing and then re-clicking it back in? Thanks!

RaDiKaL_ · Dec 27, 2014

low 40ºCs during load is really nice so it seems you don't need to replace that thermal paste at all.

The standoffs provide enough stability to remove the heatsink when the times come for it.

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Question regarding re-applying thermal paste on new PC build

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