What's a good TIM?

Azn Tr14dZ · Mar 19, 2006, 05:22 AM

Is there any good TIM you guys would recommend out there or should I just get whatever the store sells?

Also, If I plan on getting a Metal-Based TIM and I accidentaly get it on my GPU would I ruin it or not?(I'm not a perfectionist on applying but I think I should start)

Solaris17 · Mar 19, 2006, 12:21 PM

Arctic silver5 its the best its metal based but is very resistant iv gooped it on stuff and its caused no problems but i wouldnt try to do it very often.

infrared · Mar 19, 2006, 12:29 PM

Yep, AS5's what i use on most things, though Arctic cooling's MX-1 thermal compound is also very good.

spectre440 · Mar 19, 2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infrared

Yep, AS5's what i use on most things

same here.

intel igent · Mar 19, 2006, 03:26 PM

as 5/ as ceramique

Zebbo · Mar 19, 2006, 03:32 PM

Arctic Ceramique for everything

Azn Tr14dZ · Mar 19, 2006, 05:13 PM

Alright, thanks, I'ma go buy one right now because my Zalman's TIM was crap.

Cybie1111 · Mar 19, 2006, 05:15 PM

I only used Arctic Silver 5 and it works great especally with the hot prescotts (mostly depends on what heatsink/fan you have). I never used Cremique before. I heard it works great for graphics cards.

Azn Tr14dZ · Mar 19, 2006, 05:19 PM

Well, I have an Arctic cooling Freezer 7 pro on myPentium D. I'm gonna put the AS5 on my GPU and re-install my Zalman. AS5 would work on GPU, right?

zekrahminator · Mar 19, 2006, 05:25 PM

yeah. but you need to be VERY CAREFUL when installing it...its arctic SILVER. if you don't put the smallest amount possible, you'll do a very good job of shorting your card lol.

infrared · Mar 19, 2006, 05:35 PM

It's not electrically conductive. It's slighly capacitive though, which is why it's bad to get it in cpu sockets. It's fine to acidentaly blob some across power supply circuits for example. I got some AS5 on the resistors next to the core on my r480, and i just got my arcticlean out and a soft paintbrush and just dissolved it away, then wiped it up.

Azn Tr14dZ · Mar 19, 2006, 05:40 PM

As I said in my first post though, I'm noy too neat at applying these things so.. should I just go for ciramique?

infrared · Mar 19, 2006, 05:48 PM

yeah, that's your best bet then

Hosao · Mar 19, 2006, 10:44 PM

I was installing a 4800 dual core cpu and I got thermal paste on the pins! Oh nos!

So I decided to do some searching and found that you can use 91 or 99% Isopropyl alchohol to clean off thermal paste. Using a tooth brush/q-tips I got most off but I couldn't get all the TIM off. I just got a plastic square container.. dumped half a bottle of the alcohol in, and threw the cpu in for 3 mins. I then let the cpu air dry for an hour. I put the cpu back in and no problems.

So while everyone tells you to be careful with the metal TIM paste..you don't need to be that careful. I never had the board or cpu short when I gotten the tim on the pins/motherboard. For video cards.. I'll let you know when I do my dual x1900xtx and get some TIM on the transistors.

infrared · Mar 19, 2006, 10:59 PM

You can use a toothbrush and hot soapy water too

as long as you rinse it and let it dry well afterwards

If you get TIM on the resistors/capacitors or whatever they are, get some isopropyl alcohol, or purpose use arcticlean, just soak the area around where you've got the compound, and use a soft paintbrush to loosen it off, and dissolve it, then mop it up with a lint free cloth easy!

wazzledoozle · Mar 20, 2006, 12:32 AM

Arctic Silver Ceramic is the best thermal interface material. Its not conductive OR capacitive, and it doesnt have a set in time. It performs as well as setin AS5 too

Oh did I mention its a lot cheaper? And its easier to spread.

infrared · Mar 20, 2006, 12:41 AM

i need to get some

My collection of Thermal greases is getting quite big!

Also, If your changing your cooler frequently, get some arcticlean, it's awsome stuff! Using it lowered my temps by about 3-5c after using it on my r480 core, and my ati silencer.

Azn Tr14dZ · Mar 20, 2006, 01:28 AM

I'm going to re-install my Zalman again but using either AS5 or Ciramique. Most probably Ciramique because I'm not a perfectionist in installing TIM's.

Aevum · Mar 20, 2006, 09:01 AM

latley artic cooling MX1 has been also showing some potential, and the zalman 850 stuff seems to be rebadget Artic ceramic, artic silver is NOT recommened for GPU´s since its properties might affect the values of the resistors which are usualy on the GPU surface,

now, theres a new player around called Liquid metal, which is based on gallium or something like that, its almost twice as effective as artic silver 5, but it has an affinity for alimunium, basicly it eats it, so its quite dangerus to use, it eats aluminim parts on heatsinks, it bonds with impurities in the copper, and will eat away at your heatspeaders, just a fair warning

Mar 19, 2006, 05:22 AM	#1
Azn Tr14dZ Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,415 (1.67/day) Thanks: 16 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts System Specs	What's a good TIM? Is there any good TIM you guys would recommend out there or should I just get whatever the store sells? Also, If I plan on getting a Metal-Based TIM and I accidentaly get it on my GPU would I ruin it or not?(I'm not a perfectionist on applying but I think I should start)

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Mar 19, 2006, 12:21 PM	#2
Solaris17 Creator Solaris Utility DVD Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Reinacting scenes from platoon with Charlie Sheen Posts: 13,708 (4.83/day) Thanks: 4,366 Thanked 3,295 Times in 2,311 Posts System Specs	Arctic silver5 its the best its metal based but is very resistant iv gooped it on stuff and its caused no problems but i wouldnt try to do it very often. __________________ I Made the Millionth post! \| "Please come to WI now so I can beat you over the head with a bratwurst."-Kreij PS3 mod 8500/8600GT Mod Guide Rebuild a Copperhead Heat Ware NF4 Ultra SLI Mod Solaris Utility DVD 4.0 Broken CPU pin guide Vista Mark

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Mar 19, 2006, 12:29 PM	#3
infrared Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 2,878 (0.99/day) Thanks: 233 Thanked 185 Times in 156 Posts System Specs	Yep, AS5's what i use on most things, though Arctic cooling's MX-1 thermal compound is also very good. __________________ I don't suffer from insanity - I enjoy every minute of it!

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Mar 19, 2006, 03:26 PM	#5
intel igent Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,242 (1.11/day) Thanks: 453 Thanked 445 Times in 413 Posts System Specs	as 5/ as ceramique

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Mar 19, 2006, 03:32 PM	#6
Zebbo Mushkin Tech Rep Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: End of the Redline Posts: 125 (0.04/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Arctic Ceramique for everything

Mar 19, 2006, 05:13 PM	#7
Azn Tr14dZ Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,415 (1.67/day) Thanks: 16 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts System Specs	Alright, thanks, I'ma go buy one right now because my Zalman's TIM was crap.

Mar 19, 2006, 05:15 PM	#8
Cybie1111 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Diego, California, USA Posts: 294 (0.11/day) Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts System Specs	I only used Arctic Silver 5 and it works great especally with the hot prescotts (mostly depends on what heatsink/fan you have). I never used Cremique before. I heard it works great for graphics cards.

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Mar 19, 2006, 05:19 PM	#9
Azn Tr14dZ Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,415 (1.67/day) Thanks: 16 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts System Specs	Well, I have an Arctic cooling Freezer 7 pro on myPentium D. I'm gonna put the AS5 on my GPU and re-install my Zalman. AS5 would work on GPU, right?

Mar 19, 2006, 05:25 PM	#10
zekrahminator McLovin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: My house. Posts: 6,280 (2.35/day) Thanks: 105 Thanked 340 Times in 246 Posts System Specs	yeah. but you need to be VERY CAREFUL when installing it...its arctic SILVER. if you don't put the smallest amount possible, you'll do a very good job of shorting your card lol. __________________ “Just because you're hung like a moose doesn't mean you should do porn.”

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Mar 19, 2006, 05:35 PM	#11
infrared Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 2,878 (0.99/day) Thanks: 233 Thanked 185 Times in 156 Posts System Specs	It's not electrically conductive. It's slighly capacitive though, which is why it's bad to get it in cpu sockets. It's fine to acidentaly blob some across power supply circuits for example. I got some AS5 on the resistors next to the core on my r480, and i just got my arcticlean out and a soft paintbrush and just dissolved it away, then wiped it up. __________________ I don't suffer from insanity - I enjoy every minute of it!

Mar 19, 2006, 05:40 PM	#12
Azn Tr14dZ Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,415 (1.67/day) Thanks: 16 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts System Specs	As I said in my first post though, I'm noy too neat at applying these things so.. should I just go for ciramique?

Mar 19, 2006, 05:48 PM	#13
infrared Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 2,878 (0.99/day) Thanks: 233 Thanked 185 Times in 156 Posts System Specs	yeah, that's your best bet then __________________ I don't suffer from insanity - I enjoy every minute of it!

Mar 19, 2006, 10:44 PM	#14
Hosao Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4 (0.00/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I was installing a 4800 dual core cpu and I got thermal paste on the pins! Oh nos! So I decided to do some searching and found that you can use 91 or 99% Isopropyl alchohol to clean off thermal paste. Using a tooth brush/q-tips I got most off but I couldn't get all the TIM off. I just got a plastic square container.. dumped half a bottle of the alcohol in, and threw the cpu in for 3 mins. I then let the cpu air dry for an hour. I put the cpu back in and no problems. So while everyone tells you to be careful with the metal TIM paste..you don't need to be that careful. I never had the board or cpu short when I gotten the tim on the pins/motherboard. For video cards.. I'll let you know when I do my dual x1900xtx and get some TIM on the transistors.

Mar 19, 2006, 10:59 PM	#15
infrared Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 2,878 (0.99/day) Thanks: 233 Thanked 185 Times in 156 Posts System Specs	You can use a toothbrush and hot soapy water too as long as you rinse it and let it dry well afterwards If you get TIM on the resistors/capacitors or whatever they are, get some isopropyl alcohol, or purpose use arcticlean, just soak the area around where you've got the compound, and use a soft paintbrush to loosen it off, and dissolve it, then mop it up with a lint free cloth easy! __________________ I don't suffer from insanity - I enjoy every minute of it!

Mar 20, 2006, 12:32 AM	#16
wazzledoozle Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,316 (1.35/day) Thanks: 23 Thanked 166 Times in 89 Posts System Specs	Arctic Silver Ceramic is the best thermal interface material. Its not conductive OR capacitive, and it doesnt have a set in time. It performs as well as setin AS5 too Oh did I mention its a lot cheaper? And its easier to spread. __________________ *bellybuttons are great holes, their single purpose is to suck up pinkys* -DanTheBanjoman

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Mar 20, 2006, 12:41 AM	#17
infrared Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southampton, UK Posts: 2,878 (0.99/day) Thanks: 233 Thanked 185 Times in 156 Posts System Specs	i need to get some My collection of Thermal greases is getting quite big! Also, If your changing your cooler frequently, get some arcticlean, it's awsome stuff! Using it lowered my temps by about 3-5c after using it on my r480 core, and my ati silencer. __________________ I don't suffer from insanity - I enjoy every minute of it! Last edited by infrared; Mar 20, 2006 at 01:31 AM.

Mar 20, 2006, 01:28 AM	#18
Azn Tr14dZ Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,415 (1.67/day) Thanks: 16 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts System Specs	I'm going to re-install my Zalman again but using either AS5 or Ciramique. Most probably Ciramique because I'm not a perfectionist in installing TIM's.

Mar 20, 2006, 09:01 AM	#19
Aevum Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 562 (0.20/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 12 Posts System Specs	latley artic cooling MX1 has been also showing some potential, and the zalman 850 stuff seems to be rebadget Artic ceramic, artic silver is NOT recommened for GPU´s since its properties might affect the values of the resistors which are usualy on the GPU surface, now, theres a new player around called Liquid metal, which is based on gallium or something like that, its almost twice as effective as artic silver 5, but it has an affinity for alimunium, basicly it eats it, so its quite dangerus to use, it eats aluminim parts on heatsinks, it bonds with impurities in the copper, and will eat away at your heatspeaders, just a fair warning

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