I saw a video at AMD that said Thermal pads were for production
environments and thermal grease was for test sites.
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_869_4348^6678,00.html
Thank you for information.
They are concerned about the variability of the application
of greases. Their included thermal pad is a constant that
is harder to "mess up". On the other hand it's a one-shot
deal, you can't remove a 'sink and then remount with the
original TIM, so grease is then called for.
Anyone who's regularly dealt with CPUs knows a good/thin
grease will result in slightly lower temps. It's MUCH
easier to get a 'sink off later if the CPU has a
heat-spreader. Otherwise for stock use where one doesn't
remove the heatsink, it doesn't matter as much as which
heatsink is chosen... personally I avoid AMD retail 'sinks,
their performance is merely adequate and they're much louder
than some alternatives.
