Best thermal compound

[Homeless]

I'm debating between the OCZ Freeze, MX-2 and TX-2. All the reviews I read say something different, so I figure user opinions are better

 

[Morgoth]

artic silver 5

 

[ShadowFold]

OCZ Freeze and Arctic Cooling MX-2 are the best.

 

[dark2099]

I use MX-2 and like it. From most reviews I've seen, those are always 3 of the best performing so I would say you would be fine with any.

 

[oli_ramsay]

mx-2 FTW, doesn't require burning in like AS5, plus it's non-conductive so it won't short out any components if you spill it.

 

[daehxxiD]

I've gone through Liquid Metal Pads, to Arctic Silver 5 and am now using MX-2. Beats them all, hands down. AS5 performed the worst but it is safer than the liquid metal pads...

From what I've read those 3 you mentioned are all pretty much the same; with a slight favour to maybe the TX-2?

Personally I couldn't be happier with the MX-2; I don't think I could get much more out of my cooling systems than with that paste; plus it is super easy to apply and does not shortcircuit your system. It also comes off your Heatsink easily whenever you want to change it. (Which, unless you want to change a component, you will not need to do for at least 8years going by arctic cooling).

BTW: Even though the MX-2 has no cure time like the AS5, it will still perform a little better after you let it properly seat in through some heatcycles (especially if u use the blob method of applying the paste). It will take a while for the paste to really spread itself perfectly thin over the whole contact area... brought me around 1-2°C of lower temps.

 

[SK-1]

mx-2 ftw.

 

[BrooksyX]

+1 to to AC MX-2

 

[Binge]

I like this Shin Etsu I'm usin right now.

 

[xu^]

+1 for MX-2

 

[Arctucas]

T-C Grease 0098.

 

[Solaris17]

MX-2

put it on everything including my GF

 

[Flyordie]

AS5 = Conductive, has to be re-applied every 6-7 months (it starts to break down) and lose transferance ability.
I never use anything thats conductive for TIM. So for everything, I use Arctic Silver Ceramique. It lasts a LIFETIME (not 8 years like MX-2). So I trust it for all my builds.

Fly

 

[SK-1]

MX-2

put it on everything including my GF

She must be hot

 

[SK-1]

I use Arctic Silver Ceramique. It lasts a LIFETIME (not 8 years like MX-2). So I trust it for all my builds.
Fly

I am lucky to have my cpu and HS in place for 8 days let alone 8 years

 

[MKmods]

I am lucky to have my cpu and HS in place for 8 days let alone 8 years

LOL, sounds like me...

I use MX2 and OCZ now.

 

[kid41212003]

Zalman Super Thermal Grease ZM-STG1

That's what I'm using, easy to apply, easy to remove, and worked well.

 

[allen337]

as5

 

[eidairaman1]

AS5, and Antec Silver are my Favs, both work well under temps.

 

[BloodTotal]

+1 TC Grease, but I think it was a fluke (you either know what I'm talking about or you don't)

So +1 for MX-2

 

[Arctucas]

+1 TC Grease, but I think it was a fluke (you either know what I'm talking about or you don't)

So +1 for MX-2

Apparently I do not, enlighten me, please?

 

[WarEagleAU]

Me neither as IVe never heard of it. MX-2 or DiamondFreeze (the diamond powder stuff) is the best out right now.

 

[Arctucas]

Me neither as IVe never heard of it. MX-2 or DiamondFreeze (the diamond powder stuff) is the best out right now.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=1

http://www.tim-consultants.com/products.html

 

[SK-1]

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=1

http://www.tim-consultants.com/products.html

Meh. Not enough heat generated by his test bed to determine much conclusive evidence. Too bad because I bet a ton of effort was spent on this test.

Even Olin, the author admits "My biggest regret is not having a more powerful test system, and by system I don't mean computer hardware. You see, even with a heavy overclock on the most modern processor there just isn't enough heat produced to create a clearly evident divide between products. Telling the difference between products producing less than one degree of temperature variance isn't a perfectly accurate method, which is why a heat source that approaches boiling point would be best. Until that day arrives, you will have the better part of three days worth of testing to prove the point."

 

[Damian^]

The difference between most mainstreams is not much.
Go for something cheap, yet reliable like Arctic Silver Ceramique:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100009