[FACE]

The trick in both Lga and PGA sockets is to make the cpu area air tight. I do not put grease in or around the socket. Sealing the area around the cpu with eraser works fine by itself. you can insulate up the side of the socket and cpu to the very top edge of teh ihs and not interfere with the cooler (wb/ evap/pot) at all.

so I would try the eraser method until you get the dragon skin method perfected. Make it thin on the mobo, and gradually mound it up around teh socket until you have it up level with the cpu. Make sure it is pressed tight to the sides of the socket and cpu and your worries are over.