Is it safe to use previously applied thermal compound?

[IAmAndre]

Hi,

I'm having issues with my motherboard and I want to make some tests with another one. Do I have to remove all the thermal compound every time?

Thanks

[seabass9990]

yea its safe as long there is a adequate amount on it

[theKumba]

Remove the old one and appy new one, at least if you want to use your CPU for more than 20 seconds.

[JefferyD90]

It is recommended you do.  But I don't always.  The key thing is DONT reuse it if it is thin, crusty, watery, or anything un-normal.

 

You can get a cleaning kit and compound on Amazon for like $8.

[Mojo-Jojo]

If it's still pasty, and hasn't gone solid/dry/crusty, you could. It's not the best, but OK. Just make sure you don't get air bubbles.

[bmanzzs]

As stated above, to be safe you are supposed to reapply the compound every single time you reseat a heatsink.

 

However, if you just applied fresh paste a few hours/days ago or whatever and want to test motherboards, it shouldn't cause any issues if you choose not to reapply. The paste will still be smooth. also make sure to apply a fresh batch if you know you will not be removing the heatsink again.

[acidprototype]

Nope, always remove the old paste with isopropyl alcohol and a micro fibre cloth. 


 

[RevoltTrain]

Always replace it to be safe. You don't want your nice parts to die right?

[seiny]

No you don't have to remove it every time when doing the kind of testing you're doing, but when everything's final then just do a fresh application because that's gonna stay for the next year or so

[Peter Vaughan Truslow]

short term testing, no it won't kill your CPU but it will be hotter. if you are testing overclocking capability you should reapply, and for long term use you absolutely should.

[IAmAndre]

Wow guys thank y'all for your replies !

[LarryChen16384]

I used to recycle thermal paste by scraping it off of whatever electronic thing I found... It worked fine.