Consider your options carefully.
Consider your options carefully.
It seems you're wondering whether the thermal grease left on your Ryzen 9 should be removed before installing it. You might want to wipe it clean with Isopropyl Alcohol if you're concerned about contamination, but it's also fine to leave it on depending on your setup and preferences.
It's okay to tidy it up. Why not just do it? Otherwise, it seems fine to me.
If it's been used before, the issue shouldn't affect performance, and you should avoid harming the CPU. Cleaning thoroughly would be ideal for applying thermal paste. Otherwise, it doesn't add much value.