do i need to reapply thermal compound

[specialk]

This is the epitome of stupidity but i thought id share the pain anyway. Updating my new pc, new mb, E6750 dual core etc etc. Plugged it all in(or so I thought) and all the fans come on but no booting action. LED's indicate that the CPU has been badly installed or its buggered.

So I take it all apart again and box up the CPU ready to RMA. Then reading the manual again(this time taking notice) I realise I didnt plug the CPU connector into the mb(the connector on the mb is an 8pin and my psu Antec tp-ii 480w only had a 4 pin). So I want to plug it all back in again, there is thermal compound on the HSF and on the CPU but its not melted(or whatever it does) because no power when through the CPU.

Finally getting round to my question. Do i need to scrape this stuff of and reapply fresh. Little hesitant as I have never done it before.

[mrt9888]

Just try it and monitor the temperature, it wont spoil the cpu if it has the setting in the bios which will turn the pc off if it overheats so it should be fine since the compound has not broken in, if you are going to overclock you want to get a different heatsink any way.

[speardane]

the safe option would be to clean off (with alcohol / IPA) and reapply.
If you're using an AMD - which has less thermal protection - this would be a really good idea...

[specialk]

Against my better judgement I just stuck it all together as is. Fortunately it all worked first time. Monitored over the weekend and it never went above 40 degrees.