I recently built a PC with my girlfriend and had trouble getting the CPU air cooler properly aligned. We had to remove the cooler a few times, and I'm wondering if it's a bad idea to put it back on without changing the thermal paste. The next day I'm anxious about whether this might affect the thermal paste distribution or introduce air bubbles. The CPU seems to idle around 38°C, which feels a bit off, but under load it's mostly fine. I'm looking for some rational thoughts on this. Thanks!
3 Answers
Generally, if you've removed the CPU cooler, it's best practice to reapply thermal paste as a precaution. Unless you notice temperature spikes, you're probably fine. But for peace of mind, repasting would ensure optimal cooling.
I'd be more concerned if your load temperatures were high. It's good to run a stress test like Cinebench to check for hot spots. If everything stays cool under load, then you might be in the clear!
It's not ideal to reuse thermal paste if you've removed the cooler, as this could lead to air bubbles forming or dust getting in the paste. But since your idle temp is only 38°C and you're not seeing thermal throttling under load, everything seems okay for now.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely keep that in mind for the future.