Thermal paste

sargan

sargan

sargan

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Joined
16 Feb 2019
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135
Just on start of new build …
Watched a ‘Build your own PC’

Advice is connect up all components and check all powers up before assembly in the case.
Fine and valid advice.
The videos show applying Thermal paste, and fitting AIOC pump head … fine.
However when I dismantle this, do I need to clean off Thermal paste, and re-do.
Or just add a bit more fresh paste on top of what is there, or just re-use it as is and not add anymore or any new
 
I've never seen anything definitive saying to clean everything when re-fitting but I personally always clean everything and re-apply the paste. The only time I would re-use the thermal paste (as in not apply any additional) would be if I'm quickly testing something or know the system will be taken apart again in the near future.

When you remove the heatsink / AIO cold plate from the processor, it tends to goop up in the area of last contact, as it's dragged up, so I can't imagine the coverage would be perfectly even, if that cold plate is put back down again as-is. Although the heat / physical contact will certainly negate the worst of that.
 
Thekwango said:
Nah, just build it in the case. Take your time and you’ll be reet. I’ve only ever rebuilt a system outside the case to trouble shoot it.
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Generally I would agree but as someone who recently did a build in a case with a NH-D15 and 3070, where I had to release the PCIe latch with a 30cm ruler (the only thing that would fit :D ) for troubleshooting, it does depend on what you're working with.
 
Previously I built in the case .. just watched 2 videos on 'build your pc' and both were advising build it outside of the case, it seemed logical ..... maybe I won't bother.
 
sargan said:
both were advising build it outside of the case
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I used to always build a system out of a case first, then at least you know 100% that the parts you are putting into a case work, this really narrows down any problems you might get later, since you know that the parts work
hwait, have you already built out of the case to test the parts then? if so, did you realise that it was to check the parts?
 
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I've never built outside the case.

I think the only real risk is the standoffs in the case can cause a short if in the wrong place.... but you are going to have that issue when you install the board anyway.
Triple check the standoffs and all should be fine.

The advice was pre AIO so once fitted, the CPU cooler could stay attached. Some actually needed to be attached pre motherboard install due to the fitting kits.

Most PC builds are just slotting in a few components. If you want to be conservative then build in the case but connect the minimum and then add parts, headers, cables.
No reason you can't fire up in the case with just 1 stick of RAM and PSU and nothing else assuming you have a modern CPU with iGPU. Then you can add the other parts in stages or all at once.
 
decto said:
C builds are just slotting in a few components. If you want to be conservative then build in the case but connect the minimum and then add parts, headers, cables.
No reason you can't fire up in the case with just 1 stick of RAM and PSU and nothing else assuming you have a modern CPU with iGPU.
Click to expand...
it's much less hassle to just test the parts outside of the case first
 
The videos advise build up first to check out components, and if need be to make fault finding easier.
I have only built 3 pc's and they were built in the case.
 
most of my builds have been under water, so i tend to reuse the paste just for testing, and repaste when it's ready to be set up.

All of mine had been built outside the case first.. as it can be a complete faff if something does not work, and i would need to bleed the loop/dismantle to do some troubleshooting.. but then again i have a stack of quick disconnects which i use for this purpose, before going hard line.

In terms of troubleshooting.. you only really need to do a quick 5-10min test. If you boot up the system and it posts, then that is good enough to turn off and do it properly
 
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