Hi!

I’m in the process of building my PC and am connecting a water cooling system to the CPU. I applied the thermal paste to the CPU, however soon after realized that I needed to purchase a different set of brackets to install the CPU cooler block itself (it apparently doesn’t come with socket 775 ATX stock).

My question is: will the thermal paste be okay if I leave it exposed inside the PC, or do I have to remove the paste somehow? I have the case closed up and covered to prevent particles from getting on it, but not if the paste it intrinsically sensitive to oxidation or whatnot.

Thanks!
Gary K.

It is best to clean it with at least 70% Alcohol and a soft cloth as you cannot keep small dust particles out.

Then reapply. If you need more, get some Artic Silver 5. Its great and helps the cooling.

jimmysmithy is correct.

Yes, remove it. I Removed the CPU (be very careful about this) and used this ...
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arcticlean.htm
Worked really well. Also worked really well removing the paste, pads and adhesive on my 8800gt when I changed the heatsink.

The paste is not really sensitive to oxidation. Hower it is subject to hardening, as well as the dust issue. Just get a tube of Arctic Silver 5, or my favorite Arctic Silver Ceramique (will not harden as quickly)

on the Egg:

AS5: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100007
($6 + S&H)
Cera: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100009
($5 + S&H)

P.S. any builder needs to have extra Thermal paste (can never have enough)

After market TIM is a waste of money...looks great on a chart is about all,and with a chart you can make it "look" however you want. A .01C drop can be made to look like a large gain in a chart and -all- the after market companies use this ploy.
Use whatever TIM that came with your HS or if you need to buy some just use the 99 cent pack of silicone grease.
If you correctly clean the HS and CPU first a 99 cent pack of silicone TIM is enough for as many as eight installs. Must people use far to much TIM no matter which type/make/brand.

Use some high quality Acetone or Alcohol (atleast 80%) to clean out the paste

I use both but have 100% Tech Grade alcohol.
I use Acetone first to remove -everything- followed by the Alcohol to remove any Acetone residue (using Q-tips) and just befor the TIM wipe them with a coffee filter (never cloth/TP or paper towel).
In fact I even do this with all new out-of-box CPU/HS installs not just remounts.

Next I use about 1/4 the size of a grain of dry rice on the HS and with my finger covered with plastic food wrap work it in over the whole thing...this is just to fill micro pits...repeat for the CPU and then leave the rest of the 3/4 rice grain bit in the center of the CPU.
This seems to give the lowest temps no matter what HS or TIM you use...and the cheap stuff works the exact same in real life as the $7-12 stuff.

^ Agreed on method.

33-Way TIM Comparison