CPU Fan Question

[Lonster]

Okay I am building my first computer and my cpu fan has a black greasy sticker on the bottom. Is this a thermal pad?
It is an Intel fan made for a P4.
You can see it here - <A HREF="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=TC1-1026" target="_new">http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=TC1-1026</A>

 

[smitbret]

Yep. Usually there's a piece of plastic that needs to be peeled off first, though. Make sure you do that.
-Brett

 

[addiarmadar]

Yes to keep you from crushing the cpu core too

 

[soulprovider]

Sounds like a pad but they're only really good for one application. If you remove the heatsink again you'd be advised to clear the pad off and use some thermal compound.

<b>Vorsprung durch Dontwerk</b>.....<i>as they say at VIA</i>

 

[Lonster]

If I scratched the grease off in small area of the pad does it need replacing or will it still work fine?

 

[smitbret]

Yeah, you'll probably want to scrape it all off now, clean the heatsink and start over with a fresh layer of thermal paste, preferably some Arctic Silver. On the flip side, it'll run if you don't start over; The thermal pad may melt to fill in the bare spot, but to be safe, you really should start over or else you're at risk for high temps and instablilty.
-Brett

 

[Lonster]

Thanks for the help, I don't want to see my money go down the drain.