Z100-0dB: opening case and reusability/replacebility thermalpad

[abfl]

I have a Z100-0dB and want to upgrade the ram and the ssd. I found the pictures below of the inside and saw that the ground plate can be removed. Fixed to that plate is a block of aluminum (probably) and there is a thermal pad that makes the contact between the block and the motherboard.

On one picture the pad is whole, but with small holes from the components of the motherboard. On the other there is a piece missing.

Do I have to replace the thermal pad after after opening the case? Or only when it loses pieces?

What are the specifications for replacement thermal pads? Are they generally available?

(I couldn't find something in the forums, and I couldn't find a manual on the minix website.)

Thanks in advance!

Edited:
For completeness: I found another photo, now with the thermal padd still on the motherboard:

 

[MINIX - DR.Dang]

Thanks for contacting us. The spec of thermal pad is marked in picture below. If the heat conduction block is partially missing or incomplete, it will negatively impact heat transfer. In such cases, we recommend replacing it.

Key features:
1. material: thermal Silicone, Thermal Conductivity: ≥5 W/m·K
2.Shore 00＜30°
3.Size 40X22X2.5mmT

Hope above information can help you find a replacement.

 

[abfl]

Thanks for your response!

To minimize the chance of disturbing the existing thermal pad, does it matter whether one opens the case while hot or cold?

From your response I understand that as long as the thermalpad is still in one piece I can reuse it and just close the case again?

Before I open the case I will try to find a source of usable thermal pads, a first look suggests that the softness requirement is not easily met.
I found:
- https://www.arctic.de/us/TP-3/ACTPD00056A: Shore 00 is at 55, and thermal conductivity isn't given on purpose (because values given elsewhere not reliable they say), they suggest it is better than some claiming 12 W/mK. The material is soft enough to stack several laters, that would make the 2.5 mm thinkness possible (1.0 mm + 1.5 mm).
- https://www.highflow.nl/watercoolin...gelid-solutions-gp-extreme-120x120x1.5mm.html
this has shore 00 at 35 but Gelid itself says shore 00 at 65 (https://gelidsolutions.com/product/...RIq54NWTovqZRBnRHsPUNvejLJe9D3ZQ-7G-Pb-37_z); I assume it could be stacked, 1.0 mm + 1.5 mm; again there is a indirect claim of better than 5 W/mK
- I also found this from Tennmax, either GP8000 of GP7000 would do at Ubersoft softness, but not yet found a consumer product with it...

For now I guess I would have to settle for TP-3 from arctic using 1.0 mm and 1.5 mm on top of each other (Arctic claims that is feasible) and hope that the softness is sufficient...
Edited:
Extra option: Aairhut: https://www.amazon.nl/-/en/Aairhut-...on-Conductive-Particularly/dp/B09T9S761G?th=1
It says Shore 00 of 30-55 (quite a large margin). And it is available in 2.5 mm. This will be my go-to product if the original pad gets damaged.
Here somebody is testing it compared to TP-3 and TP-2 (EOL):

ARCTIC TP-3 vs. Arctic TP-2 (APT2560) in test - When it has to be a thermal pad today | Page 3 | igor´sLAB

Today is the requested follow-up test with the ARCTC TP-3, after I had already tested the predecessor model TP-2 against an Amazon product last week. The ARCTIC TP-3 and the APT2560 (better known as…

www.igorslab.de

and

Cheap shot? AAirhut thermal 1 mm pad tested against the blue Arctic APT2560 and a really positive surprise | igor´sLAB

Thermal pads on Amazon, like the AAirhut tested today, are always a gamble, usually with an unfortunate outcome. You click through offers that shine with full-bodied promises, only to end up with a…

www.igorslab.de

He says similar to TP-3, but even softer.
This will be my go-to product if the original pad gets damaged.