Urgent - Thermal Pad (Question)

[RandysWay]

I'm confused. I bought a P4 3.0C processor along with Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound. They say to remove the stock thermal pad. On the top of the heatsink there is a 3/4in x 3/4in silver thin rubbery pad. Is this the thermal pad? Do I remove this before I put on the Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound?

If so, how do I remove it?

Thanks in advance,
Randy

 

[jaffy]

Yep, you need to remove that pad for good thermal conductivity. Remove it by gently scraping it off with a razor blade, and then use some alcohol to remove the excess. Be sure to remove all of it. Then apply the AS very thinly with a razor blade or credit card edge.

 

[BillLeeLee]

Yes, you clean off the thermal pad and clean off the heatsink first before applying AS5.

However, applying arctic silver 5 is best done another way.

http://arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm

Arctic silver only recommends applying it on the CPU and letting the heatsink distribute the paste itself.