Indeed, TIM is a poor heat conductor compared to metals. If surfaces were ideally polished, TIM would be absolutely not necessary. We’ve done this and saw signi

Indeed, TIM is a poor heat conductor compared to metals. If surfaces were ideally polished, TIM would be absolutely not necessary. We’ve done this and saw significant improvement in thermals. Next best thing is liquid metals that have an order of magnitude higher thermal conductivity than anything like arctic silver. Big problem though: they are also electrically conductive so if a drop gets under CPU pins that’s the end of it. Without going these exocitic routes, the goal of using TIM is to fill up gaps (due to surfaces not being ideal) to replace no thermal conductivity in those places with some thermal conductivity. What you do not want to do, however, is put TIM where there was already good metal-on-metal contact. That’s why too much TIM is definitely bad.