Reseating the processor

I suspect that you are probably OK without having to reapply a new thermal pad or paste as the pressure holding the heatsink against the processor is fairly significant. In practice I always put a tiny dab of 'arctic silver' just to guarantee that there is a 'as near perfect' as possible thermal connection.

Most modern motherboards now have a 'thermal cutout' which protects the CPU from frying, so you aren't really risking anything by not doing it, other than the time to disassemble and faultfing. If there are 'spurious restarts', and I know that the processor has been reseated, then this is an area that I may be tempted to look.

HTH:)

Thanks, I just clean the heatsink it off with water on and a paper towel, what if i little got in the processors?

When cleaning or applying, be careful to not get any on the pins (or for AMDs, on the "bridges").  Arctic silver is the good stuff, and while they say it does not conduct electricty, it has capacitance, so use it sparingly.

Well, just seems like I typed too slowly (anwsers was blank when I read it...)

Please, don't use water...better to use cleaning alcohol (if the paste solves in alc) Also, I use a little heat myself...letting the computer run for a while, wait till it cools just above room temp and the stuff will come right off. Since this is not an option in your case; consider using a hairdryer (very shortly, as you don't want the proc to overheat...).

B_R

Water is generally a bad way to clean heatsinks....especially if you plan to put it back on right after you clean it.  You definitely want to make sure it is DRY.  any tiny bit of moisture can be bad for your CPU, Motherboard or computer.  I would suggest at minimum Rubbing alcohol, or at best using Contact Cleaner.  They both will evaporate quickly, but will allow you to clean off the heatsink properly.  The contact cleaner is non conductive so that stuff works really well.

I agree with wakeup VERY BAD idea water use denatured alcohol. ALSO A/S or artic Silver 5 is not reccomended for XEONS. Thing is when those heatinks rip off they will pull the CPU along with it with A/S 5, possibly pulling the CPU pins with it. It is very thick I would go with A/S 3 much thinner and there is no warning on there site about using it with Xeons.

Actually they do say it is ok for socket Xeons now but still if the Heatsinks are coming off with A/S they will rip the CPU with them even on p4s they sometimes rip out of socket even when being carefull taking off.

I'm not talking about a gallon of water and running the CPU under water.

Let me clarify: wetting the corner of a paper towel with water (ring it out some) and then adding a teeny drop of dishwashing detergent to the paper towel (rub it with your fingers to create a little suds) and then applying that gently to the top of the CPU is fine.

Then get a new paper towel, again wet the corner, ring it out, and wipe the top clean. Also fine.

Follow that up with isopropyl alcohol, let it dry, and now you're ready for new thermal material.

Good luck.

Garbs

Personal computers, I have not reapplied Thermal Paste.
Other peoples CPU's I have always replaced the Thermal Paste.

I mean, if it is someone else's you do not want to be resposible to the "What If's"
If it's yours, you do it again, the right way, lol. Hasn't happened yet, but who knows. I am always upgrading. And with a new Processor, I always replace the thermal paste!

Why dont you tell your supplier to take the cpu out as there is always the danger on cpu damage and then you can install it when you get the server. Thats what all the suppliers of heavy heatsinks such zalman flower cooler say that this step should be taken when you move a pc with a heavy heatsink as its far too heavy for the socket in transit

There the generic heatsinks that come with the motherboard.  I doubt I can get them to change but its worth a shot thank you all!