When is an ideal time to clean CPU?

Hey people!

So I've not cleaned and applied fresh thermal paste on my CPU for over 2 years and I've started to notice my CPU temps increasing more than it used to. The highest temps I'd ever get on full load was about 40-45'C on liquid cooling. Recently I've noticed temps on full load at 50 and 55 with my CPU usually at 35-50 on automatic fan profile. I wouldn't know where to start with cleaning and applying fresh thermal paste on my GPU, however I've done so on my CPU a few times in the past. - The question here is, when is the ideal time to do this?

What are your thoughts?

I wouldn't touch the CPU thermal paste unless absolutely needed. Cleaning out all the "dust bunnies" inside the case, including fans and the CPU cooler fins would be the first thing to do. Only if that doesn't help would I even consider redoing the thermal paste. I build my own desktops and have never had to reapply thermal paste and I've got one that I built back in the early Win 7 days that's still going without any CPU temps problem.

I have a liquid cooler - Corsair Hydro H90. The CPU pump block feels really hot, hotter than it usually should be.

Hi,
I change thermal paste when temps are odd
Use Noctua NT-H1 or thermal grizzly kryonaut which ever is easiest to find.

I wouldn't worry about it, assuming your PC specs are correct, I have a Phenom 1090T on one of my rigs, haven't touched the processor since it was installed back in 2010 other than clearing out the dust every 6 months or so, runs at 55C max under load using air cooling forget what but its a cooler with copper heat pipes and a large fan, I did use Artic Silver when I installed it.
May just be in your case the ambient room temperature is a bit higher than normal?

I was going to say that if the system was running fine and your temps were all normal, not to bother.

If you know what you are doing, there's no harm in cleaning both surfaces and reapplying. Take some good measurements first, then do so after to see if you've made a difference.

The ambient room temp is below 25'C, it's mostly the CPU block and the radiator that heat up and cause my computer to become a 'heater' or 'heater/radiator' and it makes my bedroom then heat up around my computer.

I do have my CPU overclocked from 3.02 to 3.8GHz but the temps are the same as when the CPU was stock clocked anyway so perhaps a couple degrees increment difference. I have no instability what so ever though.

I benchmarked my CPU and GPU with AIDA64 Extreme as well.



My NB temperature is rather concerning if I'm honest.

EDIT: I also don't know if my GPU is underclocked or if it's meant to be at the clocks it is set at.

Graphics Processor Properties
Video Adapter Asus R9280 Series
GPU Code Name Tahiti Pro (PCI Express 3.0 x16 1002 / 679A, Rev 00)
GPU Clock 300 MHz (original: 980 MHz)
Memory Clock 150 MHz (original: 1300 MHz)

Leave the heat sink and thermal paste alone. It sounds to me that you have air flow restrictions, make sure the fans and inlet screens are clean and nothing inside the PC (cooling hoses, wiring harnesses) is restricting airflow.
BTW the CPU block and rad are supposed to feel hot if the're doing there job.