silly question i think and im pretty sure i know the answer, do you still need to use a thermal compound on the cpu when using a water cooler? my friend has an alienware pc with watercooling (not the new type) and there is no compound on the cpu? temps are rather high as well at around 51- 53 idle.

Yes, you definately need thermal compound between the water block and CPU.

Any pictures?

no if i remember i`ll take a few when i put some on for him, just ordered some artic silver so hopefully that should help cools things down a bit

Yea it's no different from using an air cooler - the way the heat is removed is different but you still need the paste to make the contact between the processor and the block.

The Arctic Silver should do the job nicely.

It's worth mentioning that some CPU coolers are not fitted with thermal paste or pads at all, instead a peice of foil is used between the CPU and heatsink - I have only seen this in practice with low power CPUs without an IHS (the metal plate above most modern CPUs) such as PIII CPUs.

just a quick update.. i put the arctic silver on and the temps are much better, max ive seen so far is 54c which is only a 2c or so higher than it was when it was sitting idle.
cant beleave it had none on it to start with

it was probably a mistake by alienware rather than intentional