Thermal Paste Already Applied?

[Luke]

^ a lapped cpu that is clean, could potentially drop temps by 10c, if the lap was done well.

 

[veedubfreak]

5-10C is A LOT. Thats the difference between 3.6ghz and 4ghz. Before i lapped my cpu, i had a variance of close to 14C between cores. Now all 4 stay within 2-3C of each other. TIM only fills tiny tiny gaps, not huge gaping holes from unflat heatspreaders and heatsink bases.

 

[Method]

how much does it actually help? i'm sure it can't be more than 5-10C

Every little helps though, I mean surely giving it a good wipe which takes no time and no effort at all is worth shaving off the extra degrees C.