Reparating after a temperature shift
Reparating after a temperature shift
Hello, your new AIO is fine as long as you haven’t used any other paste before. Since your thermal performance stayed below 60°C, reusing the existing paste should be safe. No need to buy new paste unless you want extra peace of mind.
You can place the new AIO onto the existing paste. Since the factory paste is already applied, you can simply apply the new paste over it and let it settle. It’s normal to worry about quality, but mixing it should work fine. Just be sure to clean the area first for best results.
The AIO should include some paste for you to apply. If you used too much during the first paste job, there may not be enough left on your CPU for a new cooler. You might be able to remount without swapping, but switching to a fresh cooler is probably best.
That should work well, just make sure to clean the previous paste away before applying.
Isopropyl alcohol is useful for general cleaning tasks, including removing thermal paste. It’s usually available at most grocery stores. A 70% concentration works well for most purposes, though 90% can be risky for sensitive areas. My basic first-aid kit currently includes duct tape, paper towels, and IPA. I added it mainly for electronics, not just for thermal paste, but avoid using it on a folded phone’s plastic screen.