Re-use thermal pad on same CPU?

[Gouv]

I bought a retail P4 with the thermal pad, used it for about 3 weeks, then removed the CPU and the heatsink for about 2 weeks and put them back in the box.

Pad is still mostly black (like new). Small sections that aren't black are silver (black part is burned onto the CPU). I guess I could just line the thing back up the way I had it on and flip the switch to see if temps were like before...(I was getting good temps out of it too).

Now I'm putting the system back together and am wondering if I can just re-use the pad with the same CPU?

 

[Lizardman]

You can probably reuse it but I wouldnt. Buy some atric silver paste.

 

[MrThompson]

Thermal pads are a one time installation product. You should remove the old pad and either apply a new one or use a quality thermal grease.

 

[Asrial]

I agree. Don't re-use it.

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: Asrial
I agree. Don't re-use it.

Ditto; not worth the chance.

 

[heartsurgeon]

the thermal pad has some sort of wax matrix that supports the heat transfer agent. the heat of the cpu melts the wax and the thermal material gets deployed
single use only..
get some artiic silver 3 - hot deals has it listed somewhere for $6 shipped - prettty decent deal.
you'll get many applications of thermal paste out of a single small tube of acs3 - enough for a lifetime probably.

 

[randomboy]

Originally posted by: heartsurgeon
the thermal pad has some sort of wax matrix that supports the heat transfer agent. the heat of the cpu melts the wax and the thermal material gets deployed
single use only..
get some artiic silver 3 - hot deals has it listed somewhere for $6 shipped - prettty decent deal.
you'll get many applications of thermal paste out of a single small tube of acs3 - enough for a lifetime probably.

4.99 + free 1st class shipping via USPS @ www.svcompucycle.com Just got mine in the mail yesterday.

Jeff