2 thermal pad questions

[Topochicho]

First: I picked up a MSIpro2a athlon taisol combo (very happy... so far) from Monarch computers. I pulled the heatsink off to make sure there was some kind of paste or other transfer compound. On the Taisol, there was a square patch of what looked like the original pink Bubbleyum bubble gum. I want to be sure this actually a thermal pad and not something else. Anyone know for sure?

Second: Is the thermal pad reusable, in other words, I just put the heatsink back on the cpu? There isn't any funky one time use properties to this thing? I know its not likely, but you never know what people will do to save a buck.

 

[DaddyG]

The bubble gum pad (Phase Change Thermal Compound) will go through a 'change' when it reaches about 59c. The change will expell air and fill micro-gaps. They do a pretty decent job. Unfortunately, its pretty much a one time use. When you remove the hsf after the change, its kinda like getting bubble gum off your shoe. The stuff sticks to everything, its impossible to get a flat surface so you're left with two options. Replace the pad with a new one, or apply some other thermal compound (Arctic Silver highly recommended).

 

[Cosmic_Horror]

wd-40 is great at removing the thermal compound once it has become sticky.
personally i prefer heat sink coumpound anyway