Thermal pad inside T61p question

Hi,
Yesterday I finally managed to upgrade my T61p CPU with T9300. I was prepared with some Arctic Cooling MX-3 paste and basically followed Hearst555 "Thermal Guide" but was surprised to find out the chipset was using thermal pad instead grease. Since I wasn't prepared for this I took out the pad and put some paste on the chipset but when assembling the fan I noticed some kind of small distance or gap between the chip and copper plate.
I tightened up the screws and I thing the gap was gone but I am still uncertain did I do the right thing replacing the pad with paste. TPFC is showing some good 42-43C CPU degrees while idling but....
So, what do you do with the thermal pad when reapplying the thermal paste, please?
Thank you!

 

Natev,

Congratulatulations on using the Artic!

My understanding is that you are to use the thinnest coat of grease possible so it shouldn't preclude the pad.

Renee

 

While searching ebay for pads I came upon and bought these copper shims:
5pcs HP F500 F700 TX1000 TX2000 Copper Pad Shim - eBay (item 180552724553 end time Nov-23-10 08:22:38 PST)

I think they with some MX-3 will successfully replace the original pad - am I correct?
Just hope the chipset will survive until the copper arrive.

 

Any other opinions, please? Do you change the thermal pad with new/better or leave it as it is?
Is a copper shim w/ paste a good substitute?
Thanks!

 

If you can't find a replacement, check out the old one and see if it's reusable. Don't forget you can at call Lenovo field service.

Renee