R9 290X EK LC with Thermal Paste on Pads?

[Juris]

Just picked up a used 290x with an EK waterblock. Its working fine but I removed the block to apply some Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut to the core before adding it to the loop permanently and discovered the previous owner had put thermal paste on top of all of the the thermal pads and several of the other components not normally covered by pads. So the paste is in direct contact with the EK waterblock. Never seen this done before.

Is this ok to do or should I get rid of the paste from the pads and if so will iso alcohol be ok to use to get rid of it. Cheers.

 

[CountMike]

One or the other, not both. Even they are both heat conductive it's still a small heat barrier, less is better.