well, I'm new using arctic cooling mx TIM, now is on my delidded chip on my gaming build temps are awesome,
Arctic Cooling MX4: I'm using arctic cooling mx4, 20G tube that I got from a TPU friend, this compound rocks I was waiting to use it, have seen several reviews of it outperforming several brands and models, pretty easy to apply despite its texture, pretty bold one,
Arctic Silver 5, it tends to dry a little bit faster compared to silicone based ones, I have used it for more than 5 years, doing repastes every 1 and a half year or 2, pretty hard to apply ir correctly at least for me, recommended to apply a thin layer on CPU cooler, Tinting the Heatsink or cooler, take a watch:
http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appmeth/int/vl/intel_app_method_vertical_line_v1.1.pdf
the thing that I hate about this paste:
Break-In Period by Thermal Compound:
Arctic Silver 5: Break-in period: 200 hours (Break-in period will occur during normal use.) Temps will drop several degrees over the break-in period measured with a thermal diode in the hottest part of the CPU core.
Céramique: Break-in period: 25 hours (Break-in period will occur during normal use.) Temps will drop several degrees over the break-in period measured with a thermal diode in the hottest part of the CPU core.
Arctic Alumina: Break-in period: 36 hours (Break-in period will occur during normal use.) Temps will drop several degrees over the break-in period measured with a thermal diode in the hottest part of the CPU core.
Matrix: Break-in period: 300 hours (Break-in period will occur during normal use.) Temps will drop several degrees over the break-in period measured with a thermal diode in the hottest part of the CPU core.
Coolermaster Ice Fusion, the cheap alternative to my customers, pretty decent, lasts pretty much despite being silicone one, and also the most important part easy to apply, comes with a applicator blade for easy spread, budgetish source, 40G source, pretty cheap and also lasts pretty much on the flask…
They all do eventually
What is more important is the method and surface conditions
this ... completely on the point !!
clean old past always, be sure that old paste is gone prior to appply a new layer of fresh paste, arctic clean recommended on well, isopropyl alcohol, both cooler and CPU IHS must be cleaned,
Arctic Cooling MX-2 lasts a hell of a long time though... doesn't perform the best or take any number one spots (still pretty darn good though) but I use it for client builds because that stuff lasts a decade if you let it. My clients also aren't the kind of people who like frequent maintenance visits, sadly. My wallet would like it if they were.
that’s why I have 3 pastes on my stock for customers, the most used … cheap alternative, coolermaster ice fusion, I have used it on several builds since I got the flask, on all of them still working as the first day!
and also i thing everyone would like to have enthusiasts clients, that come more often for computer check outs!