This is in the ballpark of the maximum thermal paste to apply on a CPU. You want a rice grain or pea size blob. Any one or tech company that suggests you can apply substantially more or lather lines across its whole surface is wrong. Doing so risks spillage beyond the coverage area of the heatsink which is furthermore wasteful. Applicators are also not necessary, but don't discard them. The heatsink, once installed, will flatten and spread the paste by itself.