Best thermal pastes in 2021 ?

[Kaliphtan]

Hello guys,

I'm pretty noob in cpu cooling paste, there are a lot of thermal pastes, like a lot ! I'm using NT-H1 for my i5 9600k and it's getting "old", trying to cool it further down, so I'm looking for a new one.
All the benchmarks on the internet aren't good, most of them are not the same benchmark condition so the temperatures from a video to another are different.
I also saw that Kryonaut paste scratchs the aluminium chipset/ maybe copper on cooler, it's still true today ? And the main question is what's the best thermal pastes in 2021 ?

Thanks in advance

 

[P4-630]

I also saw that Kryonaut paste scratchs the aluminium chipset/ maybe copper on cooler, it's still true today ?

There was a bad batch in the past.

There is a new version:
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme

Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme Wärmeleitpaste

Kryonaut Extreme ist eine Hochleistungs-Wärmeleitpaste mit optimierter Tieftemperatur-Belastbarkeit für Extreme-Overclocking.

www.thermal-grizzly.com

 

[Kaliphtan]

There was a bad batch in the past.

There is a new version:
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme

Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme Wärmeleitpaste

Kryonaut Extreme ist eine Hochleistungs-Wärmeleitpaste mit optimierter Tieftemperatur-Belastbarkeit für Extreme-Overclocking.

www.thermal-grizzly.com

Thanks for your answer, are there any syringe version ? I'm looking on Amazon, only the normal version is here.

 

[P4-630]

Thanks for your answer, are there any syringe version ? I'm looking on Amazon, only the normal version is here.

It isn't cheap though...

Amazon.com: Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme The High Performance Thermal Paste for Cooling All Processors, Graphics Cards and Heat Sinks in Computers and Consoles (2 Gram): Computers & Accessories

Buy Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme The High Performance Thermal Paste for Cooling All Processors, Graphics Cards and Heat Sinks in Computers and Consoles (2 Gram): Heatsinks - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[freeagent]

Thermalright TFX is rated slightly higher, and is cheaper, but not cheap.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Thermal grizzly is always overpriced and overrated hydronaut is the only one never said to scratch anything.
NT-H1 I use or newer NT-H2 although I don't like it little too wet and dries too fast
MX-4 2019 and they do have a new version too

 

[Countryside]

Been using Arctic MX paste for many years now, its best in my book.

 

[dirtyferret]

NT-H1 is a very good thermal paste. Even if you use thermal grizzly the difference would likely be minimal during gaming.

 

[kapone32]

Noctua NTH2

 

[kayjay010101]

+1 for Noctua's NT-H1. Been using it for years.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Wasn't there an issue with kryonaut where they had pretty big particles that were causing pitting on coolers and CPUs?

 

[P4-630]

Wasn't there an issue with kryonaut where they had pretty big particles that were causing pitting on coolers and CPUs?

See post #2

 

[nguyen]

kingpin KPx should be the best paste for now.

 

[bug]

Hello guys,

I'm pretty noob in cpu cooling paste, there are a lot of thermal pastes, like a lot ! I'm using NT-H1 for my i5 9600k and it's getting "old", trying to cool it further down, so I'm looking for a new one.
All the benchmarks on the internet aren't good, most of them are not the same benchmark condition so the temperatures from a video to another are different.
I also saw that Kryonaut paste scratchs the aluminium chipset/ maybe copper on cooler, it's still true today ? And the main question is what's the best thermal pastes in 2021 ?

Thanks in advance

Changing paste will not lower the temps significantly.
Imho, applying the paste right is more important than picking the best paste.

 

[kapone32]

Changing paste will not lower the temps significantly.
Imho, applying the paste right is more important than picking the best paste.

I changed from NTH1 to NTH2 and it dropped my temps by about 4 degrees C. As far as i am concerned Noctua's NTH2 is the best easily acccessible paste.

 

[freeagent]

Thermalright TF8 is very easy to use. It was previously my favorite. I only bought TFX because I couldn't get TF8 for some reason.. couldn't be shipped to me from the U.S. So I bought my TFX.. from the US and I'm pretty sure it was the same seller lol.. TFX is a lot thicker, but the difference between the two is noticeable. I'm having a hard time deciding between a 12g tube of TF8 or a 6g tube of TFX for the same price..

I am a massive Thermalright fanboy though, so take it for what you will..

 

[dgianstefani]

There's basically 3 that are worth paying for if you don't want to use the preapplied paste or stock stuff supplied with cooler.

NT-H2. Cryonaut/Cryonaut Extreme. Conductonaut.

These are ranked in order of performance.

Conductonaut has some preconditions. No aluminium. If used on bare copper you need to reapply since it will alloy. Nickel plated is fine.

NT-H2 Set and forget. Cryonaut/Extreme - best non conductive paste but needs reapplying every 3-5 years ideally. Conductonaut - Best performance by huge factor but you need to be careful and precise during application.

 

[John Naylor]

The formulations over the years haven't changed significantly for the most part but every now and then a new player shakes things up ..... Benchmarkreviews.com had always done the most exhaustive testing and their test results were always "the benchmark), pun intended, of TIM testing and their "How to Apply" articles were great, showing that there was no "best" method .... that the method used should depend on the type of cooler used. Unfortunately, when the site was updated, these articles were lost. Each was oft referenced here on TPU as a "go to" source over the years. Some brands are just OEM's from other suppliers and others are knockoffs of lesser value.

https://moddiy.com/product_images/uploaded_images/t2czhdxe6dhjnxxxxx-90102141.jpg

The two top performers were AS5 and Shin Etsu G751. AS5 is capacative (scary if ya get on contacts) and has significant curing time (about 7 weeks @ 3 hours a week) both of which are detailed on AS5's web site leaving Shin Etsu as the best choice for CPUs, and it was also half the price everywhere (typically $3.99) of AS5 ... until recently. Can still be had for $4-5 if ya look around.. Later the liquid metal type became available but those come with significant risks and should not be used by a novice. Thermal Grizzly's The 12.5 W/mK Kryonaut arrived on the scene and 'took the title" by a significant margin. But it was expensive at about $15.... It has since dropped down to the typical $7-8 range of most everyone else. Later Noctua released NT-H2 which matched Thermal Grizzlies 12.5 W/mK rating ..... Kryonaut Extreme came later and upped the ante at 14.2 W/mK

But the thermal performance rating is not the be all and end all of what you need to be concerned about ... workability also comes into play ... on a GFX card for example where you may have up to 25 or so application points wurg GPU, memory and VRMs, potentially warranting application on both the block and back plate. Where longer viability is needed, Gelid Extreme is a great go to source.

 

[Solid State Soul ( SSS )]

Noctua NT-H2 or Arctic MX4

Thermal Grizzly is overpriced for what you get, really

 

[bobbybluz]

Gelid CG Extreme or MX-4 are what I use.

 

[Bones]

Noctua NT-H2 or Arctic MX4

Thermal Grizzly is overpriced for what you get, really

This.

For the money spent, unless doing subzero stuff Grizzly is just too expensive and know it's formulated for subzero use anyway, hence the expense of it.

NT-H1 and MX4 Carbon are my go to's for what I do including subzero runs. Great stuff for everyday use as well, not difficult to apply and these just work with all I've ever used them for.
Gelid CG Extreme, although good itself is very expensive for what you get vs results in return for the money paid and you have to watch what you get, if it's goopy it's fine but there is also the issue of it being "Dry" sometimes and if so, it's no good.

I suggest NT-H1 or MX4 since there are no real issues with dried batches or it scratching stuff and lasts for a very long time too per application.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Copper Anti-Seize! just ask @lexluthermiester !

 

[Kaliphtan]

Been using Arctic MX paste for many years now, its best in my book.

Did you see the new Arctic MX 5 or used it ? How better it performs against the MX 4 ?

 

[Zach_01]

Hello guys,

I'm pretty noob in cpu cooling paste, there are a lot of thermal pastes, like a lot ! I'm using NT-H1 for my i5 9600k and it's getting "old", trying to cool it further down, so I'm looking for a new one.
All the benchmarks on the internet aren't good, most of them are not the same benchmark condition so the temperatures from a video to another are different.
I also saw that Kryonaut paste scratchs the aluminium chipset/ maybe copper on cooler, it's still true today ? And the main question is what's the best thermal pastes in 2021 ?

Thanks in advance

Best in what?

1. Best performance no matter the cost?
2. Best "cheap"?
3. Best performance/$$$?

I cant answer all the questions but 1st one... and thats still Liquid Metal.

 

[Bones]

Best in what?

1. Best performance no matter the cost?
2. Best "cheap"?
3. Best performance/$$$?

I cant answer all the questions but 1st one... and thats still Liquid Metal.

Personally I will not use it because of the detrimental effects it has with the metals it come into contact with.
Well documented this stuff deteriorates the surfaces it comes in contact with and while it may take awhile for it to start affecting things. Once done the effects are there and non-reversible, meaning whatever coolers/blocks it's used with along with the CPU lid are permenantly affected.

Usually it takes a year or so for the effects to appear, many say the machine will last until you're ready to upgrade but that's not the point - Thing is we don't know for how long anyone is expecting their build to last or even need it to. Could be a few years, could be for longer than that based on the user's needs and budget/situation.

Really up to the OP but to know the pros and cons about Liquid Metal is the thing here.