Best Thermal paste

kracker · 2013-08-11, 01:59

Yeah, just curious. I've heard AS5 a lot, just wondering what you guys think, I'm thinking of replacing a few of my cpu's TIM which I have put cheap $3 stuff on...

TheMawn · 2013-08-11, 02:04

It doesn't make that much of a difference. I heard some good things about this stuff.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16835426020

[EDIT: re-reading this post (after posting, of course

) I noticed it wasn't clear that I actually HAVE a tube of this stuff and have been using it for my thermal grease ~~fetishes~~ needs.]

Ehh.... marginally better than AS5? AS5 is fine. Your application of the paste is going to matter a lot more than the paste itself.

sdbardwick · 2013-08-11, 02:15

AS5 and AS Ceramique along with Antec Formula 5 are in my bag right now.
Apparently mustard and mayo work pretty decently...according to HardwareSecrets

Karl M Johnson · 2013-08-11, 04:41

Coollaboratory Liquid Pro is a high performance one, but it's kinda dangerous.
Call me old fashioned, but I prefer the good old KPT-8.

TheMawn · 2013-08-11, 05:18

Anything water based will work great. I've seen some tests like the one in the link where they tested stuff like toothpaste and even pure water.

Pure water actually worked the best but evaporated before long. That's the problem you'll get with mayo and mustard. AS5 doesn't go rancid either.

NBtarheel_33 · 2013-08-11, 07:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMawn

Anything water based will work great. I've seen some tests like the one in the link where they tested stuff like toothpaste and even pure water.

I've also seen someone test toothpaste; it works reasonably well because the abrasive grit (which would normally be intended for tooth cleaning, of course) actually fills in any microscopic imperfections in the chip surface, believe it or not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMawn

Pure water actually worked the best but evaporated before long.

Yeah, and it's kind of hell to get it to sit still on the chip surface. And we all know what happens when it runs over the edge of the chip and onto the motherboard...

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMawn

That's the problem you'll get with mayo and mustard. AS5 doesn't go rancid either.

Yeah, mayo at 60°C is probably somewhat pungent.

In any event, I've personally had good results with AS5. And it's true that the most important part is properly applying the stuff. You might also want to get some ArctiClean to dissolve any old thermal paste on your CPU or heatsink, before applying the new paste.

kladner · 2013-08-11, 10:10

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/96...tl=g8c127s1707

There's another comparison chart on this page which is by a true fanatic. If I remember his technique correctly, he did multiple applications, discarded the worst result, and took an average of the rest. I don't think he allowed for the really long curing period for Arctic Silver 5.

I would certainly agree and emphasize that a good application of whatever you choose is a major factor in results.

This stuff is scary good, especially with its application requirements. These would be easier to meet with Intel chips than with AMD.
short video, non-explicit
long, explicit video 32 min.

lavalamp · 2013-08-11, 10:29

I used to use Arctic Silver 5, but then moved on to Arctic Cooling MX-2, but now I use MX-4.

In reality there's very very little difference in it, and mostly it comes down to how it's applied. An ever so slightly thicker layer will not perform as well as an ever so slightly thinner layer.

The trick is getting as thin a layer as possible that still fills in all the gaps.

LaurV · 2013-08-11, 13:58

Well, technically the diamond would be the best: you buy a big diamond and take a hammer and make fine powder from that bloody diamond, then press it between the cpu and the cooler...

If this solution is not available, they you may try PGS. This really works, and it is better than any paste, additionally, it is dry (no liquid involved). But it is not cheap.

lavalamp · 2013-08-11, 14:46

No, for best thermal conductivity, what you need is liquid Helium cooled to 1.8 K or lower.

kladner · 2013-08-11, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by lavalamp

[SNIP]
The trick is getting as thin a layer as possible that still fills in all the gaps.

Exactly!

2013-08-11, 01:59	#1
kracker "Mr. Meeseeks" Jan 2012 California, USA 880₁₆ Posts	Best Thermal paste Yeah, just curious. I've heard AS5 a lot, just wondering what you guys think, I'm thinking of replacing a few of my cpu's TIM which I have put cheap $3 stuff on...

2013-08-11, 02:04	#2
TheMawn May 2013 East. Always East. 1727₁₀ Posts	It doesn't make that much of a difference. I heard some good things about this stuff. http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16835426020 [EDIT: re-reading this post (after posting, of course ) I noticed it wasn't clear that I actually HAVE a tube of this stuff and have been using it for my thermal grease ~~fetishes~~ needs.] Ehh.... marginally better than AS5? AS5 is fine. Your application of the paste is going to matter a lot more than the paste itself. Last fiddled with by TheMawn on 2013-08-11 at 02:06

2013-08-11, 13:58	#9
LaurV Romulan Interpreter "name field" Jun 2011 Thailand 10279₁₀ Posts	Well, technically the diamond would be the best: you buy a big diamond and take a hammer and make fine powder from that bloody diamond, then press it between the cpu and the cooler... If this solution is not available, they you may try PGS. This really works, and it is better than any paste, additionally, it is dry (no liquid involved). But it is not cheap. Last fiddled with by LaurV on 2013-08-11 at 13:59

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2013-08-11, 02:15	#3
sdbardwick Aug 2002 North San Diego County 2²·3·67 Posts	AS5 and AS Ceramique along with Antec Formula 5 are in my bag right now. Apparently mustard and mayo work pretty decently...according to HardwareSecrets

2013-08-11, 04:41	#4
Karl M Johnson Mar 2010 19B₁₆ Posts	Coollaboratory Liquid Pro is a high performance one, but it's kinda dangerous. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer the good old KPT-8.

2013-08-11, 05:18	#5
TheMawn May 2013 East. Always East. 6BF₁₆ Posts	Anything water based will work great. I've seen some tests like the one in the link where they tested stuff like toothpaste and even pure water. Pure water actually worked the best but evaporated before long. That's the problem you'll get with mayo and mustard. AS5 doesn't go rancid either.

2013-08-11, 10:10	#7
kladner "Kieren" Jul 2011 In My Own Galaxy! 10158₁₀ Posts	http://www.frozencpu.com/products/96...tl=g8c127s1707 There's another comparison chart on this page which is by a true fanatic. If I remember his technique correctly, he did multiple applications, discarded the worst result, and took an average of the rest. I don't think he allowed for the really long curing period for Arctic Silver 5. I would certainly agree and emphasize that a good application of whatever you choose is a major factor in results. This stuff is scary good, especially with its application requirements. These would be easier to meet with Intel chips than with AMD. short video, non-explicit long, explicit video 32 min.

2013-08-11, 10:29	#8
lavalamp Oct 2007 Manchester, UK 2535₈ Posts	I used to use Arctic Silver 5, but then moved on to Arctic Cooling MX-2, but now I use MX-4. In reality there's very very little difference in it, and mostly it comes down to how it's applied. An ever so slightly thicker layer will not perform as well as an ever so slightly thinner layer. The trick is getting as thin a layer as possible that still fills in all the gaps.

2013-08-11, 14:46	#10
lavalamp Oct 2007 Manchester, UK 1,373 Posts	No, for best thermal conductivity, what you need is liquid Helium cooled to 1.8 K or lower.