Should I reapply thermal paste?

[Rude_Drum]

Okay so I was building a new pc (first-timer) and I installed the cooler before putting the motherboard inside the case, except that when I tried to put the motherboard in later I found out that it literally could not fit. I had to remove the cooler, screw in the motherboard, and then install the cooler once the motherboard was secured. Everything fits now, but I was wondering if at this point I should wipe the cpu and cooler clean and reapply the thermal paste? Like is it it a bad thing that the thermal paste was exposed to the air for a few minutes (as in, the time it took me to screw in the motherboard)? 

[axido]

it's good, as long as you got no junk in it

[Unimportant]

Typically one should re-apply fresh paste each time the cooler was removed.

However, why not simply check your temps (using a stress test). If you're happy with them then you're fine. If you find them too high, you can try re-applying fresh paste.

[Bananasplit_00]

id reapply but you dont HAVE too, you should but its not like its going to explode or overheat because you didnt

[dgsddfgdfhgs]

for new coolers, paste is often spread evenly on contacts, after installed and removed freshly, if the paste is consider soft and clean, just try move past to center and should be good, it may also be fine if you do nothing, no harm testing

[Labeled]

so technically it could be fine, however remounting it could thin it out too much in spots. If your thermals are fine you probably don't need to worry about it.

 

Air exposure isn't going to harm most TIMs, if it does, you probably shouldn't be using it anyway.

[manikyath]

a 'second mount' isnt as good as a fresh layer of paste, but i've done worse than reusing paste once.. and its honestly fine.

[Rude_Drum]

Ok, thank you. How do I know if the temps are fine? What's the "acceptable" range?