Lap-top video card thermal pads

I would like to reduce the heat from my nvidia 560 lap-top video card. I noticed that there are thermal pads on the heat sinks on the video card. If I remove the thermal pads and apply artic silver to just the heat sinks will my video card run cooler or do I need to have the thermal pads on there also ? The reason I ask is if I remove the pads then screw down the plate that goes on top of the video card will there be a "gap" there because I removed the thermal pads ?

 

Yes.
The thermal pads are there to fit the gap between the HS and gpu components. Without them even if you use the paste it will not be enough to fill the gap.
Also never use the paste on other components, instead use a good quality pads if you want to get a better dissipation.
Pads comes with various thickness. You need to measure the ones you have and then order a fresh new sheet of the same height.
As for the quality I advice Phobya and Prolimatech, both really good.
But if your card gets too hot in first place, the problem here is not the pad.
Check if your heatsink is clean from dust, check the fan also.
Then get a good quality compound like ICD or Mx-4 and repaste the gpu, first thing.
Then see if you really need to change the pads, most of the times you don't need to.
As for the application, put a small blob on the gpu core center, size should be 5mm x 5mm, then apply the HS and screw it back. The pressure should spread the paste enough.