CPU : Thermal compound

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Hi everyone,
I’ve just finished doing a practice exam. I’m a little confused with one particular question. The question was how often should you reapply thermal compound to the CPU?
Personally I don’t think it is necessary to reapply thermal compound. I think once is enough. What do you guys think?

 

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I've not done the A+ so couldn't tell you what Comptia's answer is but personally i would just reapply if changing cpu and/or heatsink, cpu temps have risen or if needed over time. I have had the same tube of arctic silver for years

 

Regardless what CompTIA expects you should clean and reapply compound every time you taking heat sink off CPU. I do not remember very well but that's good practice and CompTIA also suggest doing it therefore I would follow these step.

 

Every time you move or take of the cpu cooler.

But thermal compound can degrade but this can take a number of years.

 

i think comptia's answer is anytime you take the heatsink off the CPU. only thing i can find in my book. doesnt exactly say how often though.

 

As mentioned above, every time you remove the heatsink for whatever reason or if the temperature rises.

 

or possibly one of the options might be when the paste changes colors. Unusual color of paste is sign of overheating. doubt that they will throw that on there but its another option that i found in this book. this book seems kind of vague lol