I have a new PC case and motherboard coming in today, but my CPU and fan won't arrive for another week. Since I don't have enough space on my current motherboard for my WiFi adapter and Ethernet isn't an option, I was thinking about temporarily moving the CPU and fan to the new motherboard. However, I'm not sure if I should reapply thermal paste or if it would be okay to use the old paste just for a week. I know I have a tube that comes with the new fan, but I'd like to avoid buying one if possible. Is it risky to not reapply thermal paste under these circumstances? Could it damage the components or cause a fire hazard? If it's just a small risk, I might go ahead and make the switch since I would rebuild everything when I get the new CPU.
4 Answers
If your cooler has been installed for a while, it might not stick well to the new surface anymore. If it's fresh, you might be okay temporarily, but don’t risk it. There's always the chance of overheating or performance issues. Why not just wait until your new components arrive?
I recommend just waiting for everything to arrive. It's really not worth the risk of damaging your CPU or having it overheat. Plus, if the thermal paste is old, it won’t perform well. Better to be patient and avoid complications later on.
Honestly, why not just buy a tube of thermal paste if you really need to set it up now? You might think it’s a simple switch, but skipping that step could lead to problems like crashes or throttling. Just a little precaution goes a long way.
It's not a huge fire hazard, but you're definitely playing with fire if you don't reapply thermal paste. It's only a small amount of money for peace of mind, especially considering how expensive CPUs can get. Just grab some paste if you want to be safe.
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