I just got 100-BP-3973-B9 for my 970 SSC (3795), and noticed there are few rubber things which touches the PCB at various location. I just wanted to ask if these are thermal pads and if yes than do they have any protective film which needs to be removed before installation. There was a film for the plate itself which I removed; I am asking about the film on rubber thing.
 
Thanks

bcavnaugh
"protective film which needs to be removed before installation"  Yes

Thanks for responding; so these ARE thermal pads with protective film. Just want to clear we are not talking about the protective film at the outer side of backplate.

ManBearPig
I got the other backplates for the older 970s and they only had the one film on the outer side of the backplate, nothing on the thermal pads.  But I can't say if they changed anything, but doubt it, since my FTW+s came with the new backplates already installed.

Which is exactly what looks like the case for me; thermal pads have that shine which makes me confuse that they have some protective covering but I could not really find anything to remove.

bcavnaugh

adi_vastava

bcavnaugh
"protective film which needs to be removed before installation"  Yes

Thanks for responding; so these ARE thermal pads with protective film. Just want to clear we are not talking about the protective film at the outer side of backplate.

Yes, I believe Jays2Cents Has a Video about it. 

ohk alright, I thought you owned it. I checked few videos on youtube and none of them seems to show that thermal pads have covering on them. Thanks for the hint though.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_YUkdglft4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROf6h-KoGPk