Quick Newbie question about Thermal Paste

[RadicalRevolution]

Please bear with me with this newbie question.

I just bought an AMD Phenom II CPU, tried installing the first time with the stock HSF. Few seconds later, I found that the cooler was not perfectly aligned and I pull the HSF out. CPU and heatsink was not turned on.

Now, the problem is that some of the pre-installed thermal paste on the heatsink transferred onto the CPU.

Question is if I should clean the thermal paste on the cpu & heatsink and install a new fresh thermal paste.

Will I be fine installing the HSF back?

I want to finish the build today rather than ordering a new thermal paste from newegg and waiting for it to arrive.

Thanks guys!!

 

[RadicalRevolution]

anyone?

 

[bigpimpatl]

the stock stuff is crap anyway, just clean it and reapply some new paste. I clean with 93% isopropyl alcohol.

Go to your nearest mom and pop electronics store, i'm sure they can give you some.

 

[Dark Shroud]

The paste is supposed to be between the CPU & heat sink. If it's only on the top of the CPU where the cooler goes just properly mount the cooler and you should be fine.

If you don't need to get more paste why bother wasting the time & money.

 

[gs274]

Yep, just reseat the HS.

 

[ghost6303]

Question is if I should clean the thermal paste on the cpu & heatsink and install a new fresh thermal paste.

most likely the answer to this is yes...

but it could depend on what heatsink and what CPU you are talking about.
if it is a brand new $1000 i7 extreme- absoloutely clean it and reapply, no need to risk it

if its a $40, 6 year old chip, then i would say screw it. what will probably happen is you can get small pockets of air under the contact area and your temps will go up because of it. that is the theory behind putting a small dab in the center (or some people do a line) and letting the heatsink itself spread the paste out.