Does TIM still work okay when it's hard?

[TemjinGold]

I just grabbed a UD3P to replace my crappy DS3L. When I went to reapply TIM to my cpu, I noticed that my tube o' TIM is a bit... hard? Probably because it's been lying around in my closet for months. Machine seems to be running fine so far but I'm afraid to try to OC it. Will I be okay if the TIM seems a bit hard or should I buy some new AS5 or something and reapply? TIM is the tube I got with my Noctua, which reviews have said is at least on par with AS5.

 

[SHAQ]

If your temps are good the TIM is good.

 

[zagood]

Isn't Noctua paste supposed to be more fluid? If it's hard, I wouldn't use it.

 

[JFAMD]

I have a tube of arctic silver that has probably been open at least 20 times because I change processors constantly. Never had a problem even though it is far less fluid than the first time I opened it.

Like they said above, if your temps are ok, it should be fine.