That's what I thought... but this time I went on newegg and looked up arctic silver and got more than a page of hits, so I felt a bit overwhelmed

Not sure but I think the warranty that comes with most CPUs is dependent on using the stock pad if you buy a retail package.

One more question-

The combo with this motherboard, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131622, includes DDR2 800 memory.  The motherboard says DDR3 in the specs- but I'm assuming it will take DDR2 800 memory?

UPDATE: Nevermind... I see now. 

Yeah, but I've had a bad experience with stock fans/pads... so I'm waffling on which to use.

I think what I usually use is Ceramique. It's got none of the electrically conducive properties that AS has that f0dder described & yet it does have superior cooling properties. My friend was amazed when I took some over for his last computer build. He looked at me like I had two heads when I explained the instructions specifically stated that after applying the compound to wipe it off with a paper towel. (Yeah, that's right...there's only supposed to be enough of this stuff applied to fill the pits & grooves on the top of the processor). He was amazed when the PC was powered up & it stayed just as cool or cooler than anything else he had used.

Yeah...you can use the stock stuff & it's good enough for regular use, but if you are going to overclock I say spending the $5-9 on a tube of premium compound is cheap insurance to protect a $200+ CPU.

If you want a quiet system, without fans, you can go crazy and get water cooling or something. But I think another thread in discussion here might have just the ticket, which is lower power systems that don't even need active cooling: http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=22270.0 The fit-PC2 should be particularly interesting.

- Oshyan

In other news, my odyssey of discovery is coming to an end. Finally all the components I have meticulously researched have arrived & I will be building my new system today.

Have fun!  I already built my daughter's (I don't know what I was thinking when I bought that pink case for her... they mounted the DVD vertically which has caused all sorts of problems), and will be upgrading mine and building my wife's tomorrow or saturday...