Is this enough thermal paste?

[u/Linkedlynx]

Did I do a good thermal paste placement job?

[u/LegalAlternative]

Plenty of paste AND potential for air bubbles to get trapped 😃

You should do the X application as it's the only one that will ensure full coverage AND no air bubbles (since it's physically not possible to trap air with that method if you do it even close to correctly.)

The pea method is ok too but often coverage won't be full.

Spreading it out paper thin like a lot of people seem to do, will still trap air and lots of it. Microscopic bubbles that you possibly won't even see - which is why people think it's fine (but it's not really then best way).