I just got myself a HK 3.0 ( did not lap it). Now this is what it looks like with TIM on it:
http://www.plaatjesupload.nl/bekijk/...646074-750.jpg
Pressure is max, according to the info in booklet it's around 250N
From the looks of it the TIM does make very good contact in the middle but not around the edges.
Do I need to lap the IHS of my Q9650? my hunch says yes. I get the feeling the TIM has to be much more equal distributed over the CPU block for optimal contact and performance