Thermal compound or more thermal compound that is the question

This question has probably been answered a thousand times before

I have just bought a new processor and CPU cooler , the cooler already had thermal compoun applied that melts to it once you turn it on my question is

I have bought some arctic silver should I
1 remove the factory applied thermal compund and just have arctic silver?
2. Add additional thermal compund keeping the existing factory applied on the cooler and adding more
3 don't bother with the arctic ice just go with factory applied stuff on it's own

p.s chip is intel quad core with intel supplied cooler I am not bothered by overclocking

Help is appriciated

Pigmond
:stupid:

3 don't bother with the arctic ice just go with factory applied stuff on it's own

3, no point in using the artic silver if your not overclocking, the 1-4 degrees difference is hardly worth it.

If you've already mounted it, just leave it, the zinc based does what it's meant to do. Sure others are better, but if you're not bothered about temps then just leave it.

If you're not overclocking then temperatures won't really get that high and therefore, as others have said, stick with the stock thermal compound.

fyi #2 is epic fail !

yeah, the key thing is a thin layer to provide a heat conductive "bridge" between the cpu and the cooler - fills in the tiny bumps and imperfections in the surfaces - too much and you defeat the point

Also depends on the cooler, some of the aftermarket coolers come with very good thermal paste pre-applied.

Especially the Arctic Cooling ones - most come applied with MX-2 which is one of the best.

X2 on #2 being a bad idea. If you already have good compound use it, otherwise save your money.