Stock AMD thermal paste quality?

[moproblems99]

Getting ready to assemble my 3700X build and realized I was out of my normal past (NTH1). I have sopme XSPC K2 and XigmatekPTI-G4512 laying around and wondering if it is worth using one of them instead of AMD's paste. What do you think?

I thought about waiting on the build until I get some NTH2 or something else but that is just silly talk. I am replanning my custom loop so this paste is only going to be temporary.

 

[Zach_01]

I'm sure that factory quality paste is more than ok. I've never had any short of issues. For normal usage and low OC will be just fine.
Its the CPU cooler itself that its not the best. Except the bigger one that comes with 3900X. Take care the case air flow/cooling and you would be fine.

 

[moproblems99]

I'm sure that factory quality paste is more than ok. I've never had any short of issues. For normal usage and low OC will be just fine.
Its the CPU cooler itself that its not the best. Except the bigger one that comes with 3900X. Take care the case air flow/cooling and you would be fine.

It's going into a Tower 900 case that I could probably live in myself if I had to so I am not too concerned about airflow at the moment. I suppose I could just the AMD paste and if it is a problem then I can sub it out. I will be using the stock cooler for a bit until I figure out what I am going to do with my loop.

 

[tabascosauz]

Getting ready to assemble my 3700X build and realized I was out of my normal past (NTH1). I have sopme XSPC K2 and XigmatekPTI-G4512 laying around and wondering if it is worth using one of them instead of AMD's paste. What do you think?

I thought about waiting on the build until I get some NTH2 or something else but that is just silly talk. I am replanning my custom loop so this paste is only going to be temporary.

I'm sure that factory quality paste is more than ok. I've never had any short of issues. For normal usage and low OC will be just fine.
Its the CPU cooler itself that its not the best. Except the bigger one that comes with 3900X. Take care the case air flow/cooling and you would be fine.

3700X comes with a Wraith Prism. Pretty respectable.

The problem with the AMD pre-applied paste is not the "quality" of the paste, more that it's too sticky. With how AMD's weak retention PGA sockets work, sometimes the cooler will stay stuck to the IHS of the chip and rip the CPU straight out of the socket.

Having heard the horror stories, I never used pre-applied paste. I have so many little syringes of NT-H1 and AS5 that I never have to look far. I don't see why that K2 wouldn't work, given that your setup will be temporary anyways.


Somehow, I knew there was going to be that one person throwing in with "that can happen with any paste". Have you seen, felt and used the stock paste on the AMD coolers? They may as well start calling it "thermal tape". No, it doesn't happen with a regular, decent paste like NT-H1 - just loosen up the cooler and wiggle until it comes free.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

That’s not because it’s “too sticky” .. it can happen with any paste. The issue lies in forming an airtight seal that suctions it to the cooler. And that’s not a bad thing either...

 

[Zach_01]

Just let the pc warm up and the cooler itself with minimum fan rpm and quickly shutdown and remove cooler with a rotation move. Warm paste makes it alot easier.

3700X comes with a Wraith Prism. Pretty respectable.

Sorry for the wrong info, I had other impression...

 

[Ruru]

With a twist, the CPU shouldn't come along with the cooler when removing it.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

Yep, always give it a wiggle from side to side to break the bond.

 

[moproblems99]

So I ended up going with the Xigmatek to see how it worked. Any who, my impressions of the Tower 900 are so-so at the moment. The case itself is great with tons of room and will make a great, clean, nice looking build.

Where the problems lie is in the overall quality of the craftsmanship. So far, 2 of chromey thumb screws that hold the front glass panel on, don't seem to be drilled straight. So the knobs don't sit flush on the glass. And when I say not drilled straight, I mean it isn't even close. I could probably do better with my eyes closed. It's disappointing for what is an expensive case ($260 when not on sale). I might be able to tweak the flange and straighten them out but that shouldn't be needed.

EDIT: Actually, of the twelve chrome thumbscrews, five of them are drilled crooked. Piss poor quality. I saw that in the reviews people complained of it but my T81 from Tt was built quite nice.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

If unhappy with it, send it back!

 

[HTC]

3700X comes with a Wraith Prism. Pretty respectable.

The problem with the AMD pre-applied paste is not the "quality" of the paste, more that it's too sticky. With how AMD's weak retention PGA sockets work, sometimes the cooler will stay stuck to the IHS of the chip and rip the CPU straight out of the socket.

Having heard the horror stories, I never used pre-applied paste. I have so many little syringes of NT-H1 and AS5 that I never have to look far. I don't see why that K2 wouldn't work, given that your setup will be temporary anyways.


Somehow, I knew there was going to be that one person throwing in with "that can happen with any paste". Have you seen, felt and used the stock paste on the AMD coolers? They may as well start calling it "thermal tape". No, it doesn't happen with a regular, decent paste like NT-H1 - just loosen up the cooler and wiggle until it comes free.

I can attest to that.

That’s not because it’s “too sticky” .. it can happen with any paste. The issue lies in forming an airtight seal that suctions it to the cooler. And that’s not a bad thing either...

Regardless, that's some mighty "suction power" ...

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

It’s all about the suction. There’s nothing inherently sticky about it.

 

[moproblems99]

You should always do the twist. Problem solved.

Edit:. Have to save I am impressed with the box cooler that comes with the 3700x.

 

[1000t]

Hi!
I've replaced the stock cooler on my 3700X after two months. I used hair dryer on low setting to heat up the heatsink a little bit, 20 seconds was enough. The paste at room temperature seems to be somewhat stiff and given the generous amount that is pre-applied it holds the heatsink well.

With help of a bathroom appliance and twist it's easy to remove the stock cooler.

 

[Bill_Bright]

so this paste is only going to be temporary.

If temporary, then why worry?

That’s not because it’s “too sticky” .. it can happen with any paste. The issue lies in forming an airtight seal that suctions it to the cooler. And that’s not a bad thing either...

Right. Always remove heatsinks with a little twisting motion and yes, if cold, running the computer for a few seconds to warm up the TIM may help.

But, there are "adhesive" TIMs used to actually glue heatsinks to devices when there is no heatsink mounting mechanism. So in some cases, it is all about being "too sticky".

 

[moproblems99]

If temporary, then why worry?

It could be 1 month or 6 months or more. I am replanning my loop and may go hard tubing this go round which could easily chew up time while I over think everything

 

[Bill_Bright]

It does not matter - even if it ends up staying there permanently.

Your thread title suggests you are concerned about the "quality" of the OEM TIM (thermal interface material). The "quality" is excellent! That is, it is not full of corrosives or hard chunks of impurities that would interfere with proper mounting and allow insulating air to get trapped in between the processor and heatsink.

It is important to understand the primary purpose of TIM. It is NOT to transfer heat! It is to fill the microscopic pits and valleys in the mating surfaces to push out any insulating air that might otherwise get trapped within. The best transfer of heat occurs with direct metal to metal contact, so in reality, any excess TIM is in the way! This is why applying as thin a layer as possible is desired.

If you "need" the few degrees of extra cooling a top "performing" TIM may provide to keep from crossing thermal thresholds and triggering thermal protection features, you have greater problems to deal with first - such as better case cooling.

Because Man cannot - yet - create perfectly flat surfaces with 0 pits and valleys, the use of TIM is critically important.
A proper application of TIM is critically important.
Keeping temps comfortably within the normal operating range of the device is critically important.
Obtaining the lowest temps possible is not.

 

[64K]

Because Man cannot - yet - create perfectly flat surfaces with 0 pits and valleys, the use of TIM is critically important.
A proper application of TIM is critically important.

True. The surfaces look and feel flat but they are not. Looked at under a microscope it's clear why TIM and a proper application of it is important.

 

[ShurikN]

I can attest to that.
Regardless, that's some mighty "suction power" ...

Happened to me with an aftermarket paste on an old AM2 build. So it's not entirely the paste's fault.

 

[robot zombie]

Yeah... I've definitely had aftermarket pastes try to grab pga CPUs out of the socket. One time it actually did! Was Arctic MX-4. Cryonaut always really wants to grab it for me too, though I've always twisted loose.

I always think back to taking apart peanut butter cracker sandwiches. Works every time. Never pull if you can help it. Just keep twisting until it slides a little and then you can easily pivot it to one side to remove the cooler.

Come to think of it, I can't remember a time when the TIM didn't want to grab the CPU, no matter which brand. Always assumed it was due to air being pushed out creating suction. It's almost worse the fresher the paste is. As it cures out it seems to relax a little.

On OEM TIM... if there's a difference I've never seen it. I'll put it this way... I've never used a stock cooler where the temperature problems were due to the TIM. It's always been the cooler.

I used to fret over brands of paste and performance... now I'm at a point where I have all of these little pouches and syringes of stock paste from different coolers that I randomly choose from. If I do pick a certain brand it's because I like how it applies. Never had temperature problems that weren't better corrected by changes to the cooling setup itself. Better paste just isn't enough to make a dent.

No need to overthink it. Personally I have gone with the preapplied paste on bundled Ryzen coolers several times and it's been fine. I was actually impressed with how well those coolers held up. They're great if you're just running stock in an average-performimg case.

Honestly it's kinda nice... the way it's spread in an even layer takes out the possibility of having to reapply. You just know it's gonna mate properly and there will be just enough where it's needed. They're nothing if not consistent.

 

[moproblems99]

Well, I can say I didn't really like the consistency of what on the stock hsf. It was almost the consistency of jello where the pti was at least spreader. It also was really thick...at least 1mm probably more.

 

[Zach_01]

It also was really thick...at least 1mm probably more.

That is not possible... I just looked at my stock Ryzen cooler and thickness could not be more than 0.1mm

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Most thermal paste that comes pre-applied to heatsinks or in a packet is usually a DuPont thermal grease which is cheap and works. It doesn't improve with time or anything...it just does what is necessary.

Something like Arctic Silver 5 in the short term isn't as good as the DuPont thermal grease but as it sinters, it improves to exceed DuPont's thermal grease.

TL;DR: it's fine, you don't have to change it unless you remove the HSF for some reason (e.g. screwed up installing it the first time).

 

[MrPotatoHead]

Yea stock thermal paste/pads on stock heatsinks is more than finefor regular use, if you overclock then it's a null point anyway as you want better than the stock cooler and hence will likely need to buy thermal paste, I've used mx4 and coolermaster pro gel something-or-other in recent memory and both are within touching distance of each other,, as it is with the stock stuff you might gain a few (4-5c) degrees by using a branded TIM but under a stock cooler unless you're banging on 90c then there's no immediate requirement to go out and buy some and swap it out.

Who doesn't have some sitting around in a tube or sachet anyway? I've got some CM stuff on hand if and when I ever need it and have had generic sachets I have got with motherboards or cheap HSF and generally tend to keep them just in case.

 

[Zach_01]

Something like Arctic Silver 5 in the short term isn't as good as the DuPont thermal grease but as it sinters, it improves to exceed DuPont's thermal grease.

Its true...
I always use AS 5 for at least the last 16~17 years. If I remember correctly AS 5 needs about 200 hours and a few dozens cycles (warm>cool>warm>cool) to settle properly.