Thermal Compound show-down. And the winner is...

[DOM]

AS5 > MX-1 after burn in.

MX1 right

 

[Kursah]

I stick with AS5... I have heard some good of MX-1...and it even came on my Freezer Pro 7..but I removed it for use of AS5. I'm not sure of the liquid pro, and hope to hear more about it...my vote is AS5..it's tried, true, it's always delivered great results for me.

 

[Kursah]

I also noticed on AC's MX-1 page that they don't include AS5 in their comparison charts..they have AS2, AS3, AS Ceramique and a couple of others...wonder why this is??? Maybe they don't want to take negativity for spurring the competition themselves, but allowing us to do so? Maybe they know it's not as good?

 

[DOM]

Cuz I have AS Ceramique on my CPU, GPU and NB but they say that AS5 better for CPU and ASC for GPU, NB etc. due to it wont short anything out

So is AS5 it the best one out on the market ?

So I can order some cuz I have very lil left and did'nt put it on the CPU cuz of that but got the big tube of ASC and going to get the same big tube for the AS5 if its the best ??

 

[Kursah]

As far as I'm concerned AS5 is the best. I use it on everything, and if you're careful and properly apply AS5, there's no need to worry about shorthing your equipment...you really don't use much. I've made one tube last 7 or 8 pc's and I still have some left for a few more!

 

[DOM]

As far as I'm concerned AS5 is the best. I use it on everything, and if you're careful and properly apply AS5, there's no need to worry about shorthing your equipment...you really don't use much. I've made one tube last 7 or 8 pc's and I still have some left for a few more!

yea that small tube did last long thats why I dont know what lil is left cuz Ive used it like 10+ times on CPU and used it on my X800XL

 

[Kursah]

Well that alone for the ammount you get, which is not much, but how far the stuff goes and how well it works in small ammounts speaks for itself!

 

[Polaris573]

Now, I compare that to a company like Shin Etsu (MicroSi Inc) or Dow Corning. These are companies that have a HUGE R&D budget and incredible resources, expertise and equipment compared to a company like Arctic-Cooling. Plus MicroSi or Corning specialize in such products. So I find it hard to extremely hard to believe, that a small company like Arctic-Cooling could really develop a product that was superior. It's not impossible, but highly unlikely. Artic-Cooling must be rebranding an OEM product, but which product and which OEM? (I don't have an answer to that.)

I don't think you need a massive Dow chemical R&D budget to develop an effective thermal transfer material. A well funded, focused, group of top notch engineers would be extremely effective if their sole purpose over several years was to develop TIM. Interesting thoughts though, it is definitely something most people don't think about.

 

[overcast]

A well funded, focused, group of top notch engineers would be extremely effective if their sole purpose over several years was to develop TIM..

A well funded, focused, group of top notch engineers whose sole purpose is to work on one project for several years would require a HUGE R&D budget.

 

[anticlutch]

If developing a new and effective TIM was that simple, don't you think that more companies would have jumped on the bandwagon (namely Intel and AMD)? For both Intel and AMD, it would mean more profits for them as the TIM would be developed in-house and put on their stock heatsinks... not to mention the individual buyers who would buy the TIM.

 

[Polaris573]

If developing a new and effective TIM was that simple, don't you think that more companies would have jumped on the bandwagon (namely Intel and AMD)? For both Intel and AMD, it would mean more profits for them as the TIM would be developed in-house and put on their stock heatsinks... not to mention the individual buyers who would buy the TIM.

Not really. Intel produces microchips, motherboards, etc. If they started funneling money to other pet projects that would reduce their focus and their main product might suffer. Intel obviously doesn't produce excellent heatsinks for example, yet there are many much smaller companies that do. Zalman produces much better heatsink than Intel. Do you think they have more money for R&D? Intel would have to create more departments, hire more people, etc. Expand the bureaucracy to provide oversight for the new department. Why would intel waste thousands of man hours and capital starting up a new branch and building new factories to produce something they can buy cheaply from someone else? Whereas a company such as arctic silver 100% of their R&D funds already go to developing TIM. That is the company's niche.

Just because something can be done doesn't necessarily mean that it should be done.

A well funded, focused, group of top notch engineers whose sole purpose is to work on one project for several years would require a HUGE R&D budget.

While, of course, it would be expensive that does not mean that it would be too expensive to justify the initial expense. Or that profit would be too low to pay for it. If the R&D is expensive that would explain why Arctic Silver produces very few products and it is some time between releases. Perhaps the cost is being spread out through time?

Just because a company is small doesn't mean it can't develop its own products. Advancements are routinely made by small firms, not everything is done by the giants.

 

[SK-1]

I am testing Zalman thermal grease ZM-STG1 -VS- Arctic Silver5 -VS- the AC MX-1 at this very moment.It will take me a while to get the results but I am really keeping my first little review as objective, fair and accurate as possible.The first one I am doing is the Zalman grease,it came stock with my CNPS9700 and was the easiest application of thermal compound I have ever had.Just a little "testers paint" kind of brush.

I am finishing up on this and will have ALL the numbers this weekend.I did this,"by the book."
So far I have been surprised a few times by my testing.

 

[D007]

dangit lol.. this weekend is to long.. i need info now so i can buy the best one lol.. ok I think im gonna try the mx-1.. no wait.. the as5.. no.. uhm.. yes.. arrrgg...lol.. I seriously cant make up my mind on this lol.. anyone recommend a good heatsink/fan to go with it? something top notch please and not to loud. well at least i know i have to choose between as5 and mx1 atm.. better than having to choose between 50 brands lol.. jeeze..

 

[erocker]

What should I use on my NForce3 chipset?

 

[D007]

A well funded, focused, group of top notch engineers whose sole purpose is to work on one project for several years would require a HUGE R&D budget.

working hand in hand with engineers most of my life
( in civil and architectural design principles ) I have to say I agree.. there are few things more expensive than hiring engineers to design something. projects like this would easily climb to the millions within a year if you hired "a group of engineers" because they work for a firm and the firm is making money too.. not to mention the 150.00 an hour their going to bill you at..lol..

 

[Solaris17]

just bought some of this-Coollaboratory Liquid Pro ,i will post in a few days and let you guys know if i get temp drops.i am gonna try ths on my gpu too.


EDIT-
DO NOT get this stuff near aluminium parts-

http://www.frostytech.com/permalink.cfm?NewsID=46586

http://www.nokytech.net/forum/showthread.php?t=72471

but does Coollaboratory Liquid Pro do that? if not ill get it i only have an AL heat sink though can someone tell me?

 

[D007]

i didnt realise you could use this stuff on a gpu lol.. im still new to this though. but i catch on fast. is there a link or something that covers the application of thermal compound to a gpu? want to make sure i do it right of course.

 

[Eric_Cartman]

but does Coollaboratory Liquid Pro do that? if not ill get it i only have an AL heat sink though can someone tell me?

according to the liquid pro manual it can only be used with copper or silver, no aluminum, so i assume it does the same thing

another thing to note is that the reaction needs water to happen, normally it is a slow processes due to the humidity in the air, running water over it like that guy did is probably the worst thing he could have done

 

[Polaris573]

i didnt realise you could use this stuff on a gpu lol.. im still new to this though. but i catch on fast. is there a link or something that covers the application of thermal compound to a gpu? want to make sure i do it right of course.

DJbenn wrote a great article a while back. It explains how to apply it to a processor without an IHS, which is exactly what a GPU is.
Thermal Paste and How to Use It.

 

[mandelore]

I have replaced as5 with liquid pro and i can say from my own experiance that it is on par with as5 after its set in period. I have noticed zero improvement on temperature. However, the liquid pro requires no set-in time and therefore reaches as5's peak efficiency immediately (and is somewhat more bothersome to apply)

And as for aluminium, i took an old athlon stock heatsink and applied a very tiny amount and spread the size of a 5p, the effects after a while where dramatic, the aluminium bubbled in small pores as it dissolved, and wiping clean did not fix it, , it immediatly began again hehe

oh, and the reaction required no water to happen

heres a pic

 

[D007]

DJbenn wrote a great article a while back. It explains how to apply it to a processor without an IHS, which is exactly what a GPU is.
Thermal Paste and How to Use It.

cool thanx Polaris..

 

[D007]

I have replaced as5 with liquid pro and i can say from my own experiance that it is on par with as5 after its set in period. I have noticed zero improvement on temperature. However, the liquid pro requires no set-in time and therefore reaches as5's peak efficiency immediately (and is somewhat more bothersome to apply)

And as for aluminium, i took an old athlon stock heatsink and applied a very tiny amount and spread the size of a 5p, the effects after a while where dramatic, the aluminium bubbled in small pores as it dissolved, and wiping clean did not fix it, , it immediatly began again hehe

oh, and the reaction required no water to happen

heres a pic

HOLY CRAP MAN!!! lmfao is that what it did to the aluminum? omg lol.. i figured it would cause some discoloration. maybe a little decay.. but omg thats like someoen killed an alien from the movie on top of that thing.. wow.. Bet it was fun ( and traumatising) to watch lol.. i can't get over how serious that is lol.. scares me to even think of putting something like that on my mobo. Wow, Just wow man..

 

[mandelore]

lol yeah it was funny, i had to put it on the windowsil to vent coz the aluminium was bubbling and giving off god-knows what toxic crap. rubbing the heatsink flaked out ever deepening flakes of aluminium, it was just breaking up. I cleaned it after it started discolouring, and within 2 seconds the reaction started up again, damn it just kept going


Liquid Pro Aluminium

 

[D007]

lol yeah it was funny, i had to put it on the windowsil to vent coz the aluminium was bubbling and giving off god-knows what toxic crap. rubbing the heatsink flaked out ever deepening flakes of aluminium, it was just breaking up. I cleaned it after it started discolouring, and within 2 seconds the reaction started up again, damn it just kept going


Liquid Pro Aluminium

again please allow me to say . WOW...lol.. lmfao you had to move it to the window all smokin in your hands hoping none of it dripped on u in terror lol.. i can so see the facial expression "holy crap im gonna die" lol.. run!! .. seriously im diein here..

 

[mandelore]

again please allow me to say . WOW...lol.. lmfao you had to move it to the window all smokin in your hands hoping none of it dripped on u in terror lol.. i can so see the facial expression "holy crap im gonna die" lol.. run!! .. seriously im diein here..

well, it WOULD have been scary if it was smoking, no smoke, but by the bubbling i guessed it would be giving off some crap. Better safe than sorry

I now have many sabotage thoughts running through my mind, hmmmm.. what things are made from aluminium