QUOTE(Norbs @ Mar 10 2006, 01:56 PM)

That foil is part of the thermal pad, i come across them all the time in the computer field. Mainly under GPU coolers.
Definately have to agree with you and the couple of other guys that bought it up..
I've seen similar to this, as well as a rubber-based one that can be removed/added/fold/roll without any damage to it (was used one a real low power CPU), very cool stuff.
The TIM (thermal interface material, Intel's words, not mine) on P4's looks very much the same, foil on both sides. Lets you remove the heatsink without to much damage to the thermal compound. You can also remove the TIM entirely, but it's not likely to stick back on very well.
Besides, it looks a lot like aluminum, conducts heat pretty well.. Wouldn't cause to many probs and I'd suggest it's designed this way.
Also, I don't get this sentence from the article;
"... a plastic protective foil on top of the thermal compound."
Plastic foil? Cool.
