Help! Thermal Interface Material problem

[theattrox]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103533

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor - Retail

As I was inserting the heatsink, my friend had handed it to me the wrong way and my finger wiped off a bit of the Thermal Interface Material that was already on. It looks like theres 2 finger nail marks on it, is this still safe to use or should I re-apply Thermal interface material? Can I spread whats already on there? and what kind of thermal interface material should I buy? (Do they sell it at frys or is it special order only?) Thanks!

 

[MustISO]

The retail HSF have that thick paste. You can just press it to even it out/fill in the parts you scraped off.

 

[theattrox]

what should I use to press it?

 

[theattrox]

Anyone know?

 

[Zepper]

Generally the pressure of mounting will spread the paste out some and fill gaps. With heat spreader type CPUs it's not too critical.

.bh.

 

[theattrox]

I spread it with a butter knife and it looks like I filled in the gaps, am I good to go?

 

[lenjack]

You're good. Go. Don't sweat it.