Can you mix thermal CPU paste?

[helpimcrap]

Hi all, putting stock Intel cooler onto I5-2500K and it has some 10yr old thermal paste on it.
Can I add some Arctic Silver 5 to it or do I need to clean it off and start again?
What paste would you recommend?

 

[tamzzy]

clean off and start again
if you have the AS5, just use it
if you need to buy new paste then the arctic MX4 is the best value paste
if you want something higher-end but still good value then get the arctic MX6

 

[Space Monkey]

Yeah clean it off and start fresh, 10yr old paste is way too old

 

[TrojanWhore]

Yep, at that age it's probably dry as hell. You should be able to clean it up with just kitchen roll and more or less any solvent (isopropyl alcohol would be great if you have some).

If you need to buy new paste, I bought 20g of mx4 for around £8 recently (which will last me until desktop PCs have died a death).... if using 10 year old AS5 then it may have separated, so I'd give it a bit of a mix when applying (and be careful to keep it out of stuff, as it's conductive)

 

[goldy6660]

For the price and age, just start again

 

[Scooby-DoobyDoo]

I would buy some isopropyl alcohol for about £6.99 and use fresh. I have always used MX4 with a spreader.

 

[freddie64]

I'd be tempted to get a better cooler than using the stock Intel one, was it not loud as hell?

 

[pastymuncher]

I agree, the stock Intel cooler from back then was abysmal. No need to spend a fortune, one of the £15-20 Thermalright coolers wwill be enough.

 

[helpimcrap]

I just want to get it up and running and get it sold.

It has 8gb g skill DDR3 ram, SSD drives, and is a pretty decent spec PC TBH. But I just don't have the space or the use anymore.

I could repair the base of the Arctic Freezer Pro that was on it and fit but TBH I just want it gone lol.

Got 4g MX 4 and 2 wipes for £6 arriving.