However the fuck You want as long as it’s between either the die and the HSF or the IHS and the HSF, don’t put too much or too little, if temps are shitty try again
it depends on the paste. some pastes are very thick and need to be worked in to spread properly. they usually come with a spreader which is obviously used to apply it. in all other cases it seems a dot/rice method is the best.
To my experience, an "X" without going over 3/4 in any direction was always best... been about 7 or 8 years since I built a system... but never failed me before, shold be still valid now lol