Should I reapply thermal paste if I moved the pump and smeared the thermal paste.

dagobert

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Aug 31, 2010
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So I was putting the corsair H75 and in the instructional manual it made it look like you put the back plate first, then the pump on the cpu and then screw it in which should have been back plate first, screws and then the pump. Anyways whether the instructional manual was shit (I saw the manual for the h110 or whatever and the instructions are more clear so I'm guessing it's the manual) or it was my fault that's not the point. The problem is when I place the pump it moved around, and then I lifted it and placed it back, so it moved around a bit and the thermal paste seems to have smeared over the cpu a bit before it was actually secured on top of it.

Should I re-apply thermal paste or am I fine? I haven't turned on this new build of mine.

 
You should have a thin layer of the thermal paste over the entire surface of the CPU. It sounds like you may have put too much on. If there is any doubt in your mind take it off and reapply the thermal paste correctly. Better safe then sorry and you won't have that doubt in the back of your mind eating at you. Since you've partially installed it already you know what to expect.
 

dagobert

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Aug 31, 2010
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K, yeah I did lift it so I guess I'm gonna have to do it. Btw this is my second build, first time I used the stock cooler so it had the thermal paste, this is going to be my first time actually cleaning it off and reapplying it. Pretty much use isopropyl alcohol to clean it off from the cpu and heatsink, and then put a very small amount like a grain on the cpu right? Any recommendations on Thermal compound? Since I'm trying to do it today, Amazon has some with same day shipping and I see the Arctic Silver 5 is available for same day shipping, is that good enough?