When you remove a cpu heatsink, do you always have to put thermal paste on the processor?

Question

My heatsink has dust under it and I wanted to clean it but I'm not sure if I have to use new thermal paste in order to have everything back to normal. Or can I just clean and hook back up without adding new paste?

Answer 1

Absolutely. The thermal paste provides proper heat transfer from the processor to the heat sink. Make sure you clean the top of the processor off the best you can and the bottom of the heat sink before applying more thermal paste. It is a good idea to change the paste every so often anyways to keep CPU temps down.

I hope this helps Good luck

Answer 2

Hello

Well thermal paste is usually placed at the first installation of the heatsink. It's used to make the best thermal transfer between the processor and the radiator.

As a best practice, I recommand to add new thermal paste if you did maintanance on the processor's heatsink. Don't put to much, apply only a very thin layer of thermal paste. Also try to wipe out the old one.

Answer 3

That paste plays an important role in the efficient transfer of heat from processor case (or heatspreader) to the heatsink. But you only need a very small amount, just a film on the surface actually. So be sure to have some ready before you dismantle the heatsink.

Answer 4

Whenever you remove the heat sync it is important to ensure that you have adequate paste on the processor. Do not over do it, a dab the size of a grain of rice is plenty. Keep it positioned off center of the processor AWAY for the little hole on top.

Answer 5

You're better off just removing the fan off the heat sink and using a vacuum to clean out the fins. If you remove it, then you will need to clean off the old paste and apply all new paste and clean of the bottom of the heat sink thoroughly with alcohol. Just my suggestion.

Answer 6

yes off course

u always need to paste it there

i dont know how to do