Identify the CPU socket type for your motherboard.
Identify the CPU socket type for your motherboard.
I bought the B450 motherboard from the FB marketplace at a great price. I’m familiar with the seller, so I’m curious—should I swap it out or keep it since the thermal paste might still matter?
Most thermal pastes aren't good conductors, so they shouldn't interfere with the CPU. Also, the paste still in the socket holes isn't connecting two pins together; it's not forming a short circuit. If you're worried, use isopropyl alcohol or sanitizing alcohol with a cotton swab. The pins are picked up from all sides inside the socket, and the paste is usually near the top of the holes, so it won't disrupt internal connections.