Thermal Paste

[crazysteve240]

Is applying thermal paste 100% necessary?

[MrPants_]

Yes.

[Oshino Shinobu]

If you don't want your CPU to overheat and either die or keep shutting the system off... Yes. 

[Squibbies18]

11 minutes ago, crazysteve240 said:

Is applying thermal paste 100% necessary?

if you use a stock cpu cooler they come with thermal paste pre applied so you don't have to do it yourself, if you do have to apply it yourself then use nail polish remover, ear buds and cotton just in case and the paste spills over the side of the CPU watch some videos on how to get a good spread on the CPU. 

[imPixelTV]

Thermal paste is absolutely necessary. It creates a bond between your CPU's heatspreader and CPU heatsink. If you look closely at your cooler, you should be able to see that the copper/aluminium isn't 100% smooth.

[vorticalbox]

13 minutes ago, Squibbies18 said:

if you use a stock cpu cooler they come with thermal paste pre applied so you don't have to do it yourself, if you do have to apply it yourself then use nail polish remover, ear buds and cotton just in case and the paste spills over the side of the CPU watch some videos on how to get a good spread on the CPU. 

most paste is non-conductive so it "going over" isn't that much of an issue.

[Drake10114]

1 hour ago, Squibbies18 said:

if you use a stock cpu cooler they come with thermal paste pre applied so you don't have to do it yourself, if you do have to apply it yourself then use nail polish remover, ear buds and cotton just in case and the paste spills over the side of the CPU watch some videos on how to get a good spread on the CPU. 

Can't you use 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and Toilet Paper/Cotton swabs to remove it?