GPU Fan

I had to take the fan off of a geforcefx 5200 video card. there was thermal compound between the chip and the fan. is it ok if i just put the fan back on the chip or do i need to clean it and re-apply some thermal compound?

Thanks

I always clean and reapply new. Seen that old stuff as stiff as brick mortar.

Once the bond is broken, it's broken for good. You'll have to clean it and apply some more.

Thanks guys. I ended up just wiping off the thermal pad (I think) compound and adding some artic silver to it. I did not have the goo gone or whatever articsilver.com said to completely remove it before I added the new compound. I seems to be ok but I have not installed windows yet just going off of the temperature readings in bios (though there is no gpu temp reading). I will probably format and install software on it tomorrow and then I will see if I have any problems.

Is there anything else I should be looking at?

anyways thanks

It will probably be OK, but if you start noticing video problems I would remove it, clean and reapply the compound as directed and recommended.