Question Do i need new thermal pads?

[whoopdeedoo]

Took apart my gtx 970 g1 gaming. Ive got it clean and i have new thermal paste ready to apply but i didnt buy pads and these are tore up.

Do i have to replace them?

If so ill have to leave the gpu apart and wont have a pc for a while.

They are still soft any chance they'll just mush back together if i reassemble the card?
Pics

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

Yes you definitely need those pads.

 

[whoopdeedoo]

Yes you definitely need those pads.

Meaning I need to replace them? I know that they are needed in general just hoping the ones on the card now will suffice until I can get some new pads in.

 

[Fix_that_Glitch]

If they are compromised, and you say they are torn up, they will not function as intended. I would measure them and replace them, cheap enough.

 

[whoopdeedoo]

If they are compromised, and you say they are torn up, they will not function as intended. I would measure them and replace them, cheap enough.

Does thickness matter very much or just the length and width? Considering the condition of them getting a thickness measurement might be a challenge