I used more thermal paste than intended on a new CPU, and some squeezed out when I mounted the cooler. Idle temperatures look okay, but I haven't tested it under load yet. Should I clean it off and reapply, or leave it alone?
Too much thermal paste squeezed out. Should I redo it?
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If it's ordinary non-conductive paste and the cooler is mounted properly, a little squeeze-out is mostly a mess, not a reason to take everything apart. Check temperatures under load too, since idle temps alone don't tell you much about cooling performance.
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I'd clean up the excess for peace of mind, but I wouldn't automatically remove the cooler just because a bit came out. You can gently wipe accessible paste from the edges without disturbing the mount. The main downside of leaving ordinary paste there is that it'll be messier to deal with later.
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Paste is there to fill tiny imperfections between the CPU and cooler, not to form a thick cushion. You don't need a huge amount, but using too little can leave poor coverage. If you do remove the cooler, clean both contact surfaces and apply fresh paste before mounting it again.
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wobble.with.purpose:
Check the paste manufacturer's specifications if you aren't sure whether it's electrically conductive. Liquid metal is a different situation and needs much more care around exposed components.