CPU heatsink has paste on it already, arctic silver?

[AgentUnknown]

I bought some artic silver for my cpu. The cpu heatsink appears to have a paste already applied. Should I wipe it away and apply the arctic silver? How much arctic silver do I use?

 

[potato28]

About the size of a pea, and use rubbing alcohol to clean up the included paste.

 

[MustISO]

Is it the stock HSF or aftermarket? Chances are you'll only see 1 - 3° difference. Not worth the trouble if there's already some on there.

 

[AgentUnknown]

I am using artic alumina. Is that the correct one for a stock fan? E2140.

 

[0roo0roo]

honestly it doesn't matter unless you are doing some extreme overclocking.
new intel chips don't put out much heat these days.
fancy paste was more important during the p4 days when you could fry eggs on your hs.