Noob Thermal Paste Question

you have to buy it separately if you buy a after market cooler it probably come with one but you should better buy one better like the arthic silver 5 or the XIGMATEK PTI-G3606 is cheaper and has good reviews

the retail box Intel processor comes with thermal paste pre applied, so no real need to use after market paste. Do your self a favor and install the fan out of the case, so to make sure the push pins are completely and securely fastened to the motherboard.

You'll get some with the CPU, there are better products, Artic Silver being one of the better ones available. You'll want to apply the THINNEST amount to the CPU, all you're trying to do is fill the micro-defects between the CPU and the cooler. A simple applicator is an eight inch zip tie... Wipe off the flat tip end and use it to "ice" the CPU, don't worry about perfection, just make it THIN!

^+1.... Good Advice Above

Here are two useful threads for a newer builder:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/274745-31-step-step-g...

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-read-postin...

And another - http://www.arcticsilver.com/intel_application_method.ht...

According to Arctic Silver you don't spread it out, just a vertical line.

Unless you are talking about Tinting the heatsink and metal cap.

And one more question. Does any of this advice change for an American (I accidentally posted in the wrong forum)?  

Yeah you must apply the paste standing on your head...very important..  

Nope... It is done the same across the world  

We as American's prefer to bomb the cpu first

I was thinking about taking out a mortgage on the CPU that I couldn't possibly afford, and then using a home equity loan to purchase the most expensive paste I could find.