Thermal paste applied on your GPU / CPU, survey!

[infrared]

Seems like there's lots of highly rated pastes these days, used to be Arctic Silver on everything!

I use Ceramique on gpu and gpu memory, just because I can get it everywhere and not worry about it, and CLU on the cpu die. I like AS5, never tried mx-4 or IC Diamond.

 

[peche]

Well, I just sort of revived a PS3 with a re-pasting job. I used some of that infamous IC Diamond they were handing out here a while back for the job. I have a tube of MX-4, but I didn't really want to use it on a PS3... and I have lots of IC Diamond still and I figured the PS3 could handle it. The heatsink base isn't all the great to begin with anyways and the chips have heatspreaders on them so I went ahead with the IC Diamond. So far it's working great. Before I got my hands on it they used to have to have a house fan blowing on it just to use the system and it would supposedly still have overheating problems... now there's no fan blowing on it at all and it ran The Last Of Us for over an hour like a champ.

well, i have heard the story of the infamous IC diamond, its funny and also quite weird, since that i have decided not to try that paste, just to avoid it, no matter what, but its great to see you still give a try to it,

Play station 3 its the most frecuent client on a friend store, he also uses CoolerMaster Ice fusion for that tasks, cheap, great presentation, and a relative performance to a arctic ceramique maybe, still good for the great price they sell the Best value flask! i do own a flask of 20G, its great for budget tasks,

I'll save the MX-4 for applications that I think demand better performance and reliability... like applying to bare dies, preserving nice (or fragile) heatsink bases, or situations where I just want lower temps. When the application isn't critical, I'll use the IC Diamond... until I run out (if ever). At which point I'll just buy more MX-4, or whatever the current leading paste is.

Well, you know, arctic MX4 its quite great, value makes that paste even better, since its in the regular price range but offers quite great performance over all others, Thermal Grizzly its a quite great alternative but the price its another point, quite expensive and sometimes the little syringe maybe overpriced [1G presentation.] so for a couple of reasons i guess ill stay with Arctic Cooling, ill give a try to Thermal Grizzly on my delidded Ivy some day!

Seems like there's lots of highly rated pastes these days, used to be Arctic Silver on everything!

I use Ceramique on gpu and gpu memory, just because I can get it everywhere and not worry about it, and CLU on the cpu die. I like AS5, never tried mx-4 or IC Diamond.

Arctic Silver had the moment in the past, now its smoked by Arctic Cooling and Thermal Grizzly mostly, i know that there are another brands out there, Also the fact of arctic silver has Curing time and its a extended perior its what made me quit and seek another solution, the price here in CR its another point, quite expensive, like $18-25 per a 3.5Gtube when the Gelid Exteme tube its arround like $13, you see?

The most rated or sold item for arctic silver may be Arctic clean, thats a well know product that might last an extended time and will perform flawless! at a great price! $15-20 for both flasks!

Regards,

 

[Ungari]

Tired of being ripped off by TIM manufacturers for 4 gram tubes , I now make my own paste out of corn starch and water.
The best part is that it's non-conductive!

 

[infrared]

Arctic Silver had the moment in the past, now its smoked by Arctic Cooling and Thermal Grizzly mostly, i know that there are another brands out there, Also the fact of arctic silver has Curing time and its a extended perior its what made me quit and seek another solution, the price here in CR its another point, quite expensive, like $18-25 per a 3.5Gtube when the Gelid Exteme tube its arround like $13, you see?

The most rated or sold item for arctic silver may be Arctic clean, thats a well know product that might last an extended time and will perform flawless! at a great price! $15-20 for both flasks!

Hmm, I have to agree, even the pre applied MX1 arctic cooling paste on the freezer 7 pro (feels like ancient history now!) was quite a lot better than Arctic silver 5 with an un-lapped IHS/heatsink, but I found the story changed when lapping both surfaces, I guess due to the AS5 being runnier and spreading out thinner perhaps. I have some stuff by OCZ somewhere too, I seem to remember that worked ok. TBH I think they all perform fairly similarly, other than the CLU which is really good but expensive. I'll try the grizzly stuff at some point too, hadn't even heard of it until recently but I've been away

On the topic of Arctic clean, I did buy it years back and rated it very highly, but I just use 100% Isopropyl alcohol now, comes in a 1L bottle for £5 and free postage on ebay. Works just as good if not better, doesn't smell as good though

 

[peche]

Hmm, I have to agree, even the pre applied MX1 arctic cooling paste on the freezer 7 pro (feels like ancient history now!) was quite a lot better than Arctic silver 5 with an un-lapped IHS/heatsink, but I found the story changed when lapping both surfaces, I guess due to the AS5 being runnier and spreading out thinner perhaps. I have some stuff by OCZ somewhere too, I seem to remember that worked ok. TBH I think they all perform fairly similarly, other than the CLU which is really good but expensive. I'll try the grizzly stuff at some point too, hadn't even heard of it until recently but I've been away

well arctic have two options now days, Arctic mx4 which is the newer formula / version of their traditional compound, easier to apply /spread, and the old MX2 which is harder to apply and spread as far as i know both give the same results,
Termal Grizzly has several pastes, moar info here!

Arctic Silver 5 its a old tale!

On the topic of Arctic clean, I did buy it years back and rated it very highly, but I just use 100% Isopropyl alcohol now, comes in a 1L bottle for £5 and free postage on ebay. Works just as good if not better, doesn't smell as good though

i have several solutions for the cleaning topic, but i like so much arctic cleaner, i use it mostly for GPU's,
the isopropyl alcohol its another fgreat option, a friend that works for a chemical plant brought me like 2 lts of isopropyl alcohol and ether, so mixed them and use that solution for cleaning labors!


Regards,

 

[GreiverBlade]

if you want nano diamond past,

my recommendation are Antec Nano and Cooler Master Mastergel Maker Nano, unlike IC .... their rep are clear about issues and "do & don't" about their TIM

i did test the Cooler Master, well, temp wise, it's on par with the TG Kryo, which is a good thing and it cost a little less than the TG.

(nonetheless TG still keeps my preference all category confounded, and MX-4 for cheap work if i need )

 

[peche]

i did test the Cooler Master, well, temp wise, it's on par with the TG Kryo, which is a good thing and it cost a little less than the TG.

Master Gel Maker?
Tell me moar!
Regards,

 

[Ungari]

if you want nano diamond past,

my recommendation are Antec Nano and Cooler Master Mastergel Maker Nano, unlike IC .... their rep are clear about issues and "do & don't" about their TIM

i did test the Cooler Master, well, temp wise, it's on par with the TG Kryo, which is a good thing and it cost a little less than the TG.

(nonetheless TG still keeps my preference all category confounded, and MX-4 for cheap work if i need )

For me Diamond Paste is too pricey, I go instead with Cubic Zirconia Paste, made by Fugazi.

 

[FilipM]

I am not really happy with the MX4 and for a fact I think that my old MX2 performed better by 1 or 2 deg. So, after reading reviews on google, stating that this is better than Gelid GC Extreme, I went for it. Hope I did not make a mistake

 

[hat]

well, i have heard the story of the infamous IC diamond, its funny and also quite weird, since that i have decided not to try that paste, just to avoid it, no matter what, but its great to see you still give a try to it,

Play station 3 its the most frecuent client on a friend store, he also uses CoolerMaster Ice fusion for that tasks, cheap, great presentation, and a relative performance to a arctic ceramique maybe, still good for the great price they sell the Best value flask! i do own a flask of 20G, its great for budget tasks,



Well, you know, arctic MX4 its quite great, value makes that paste even better, since its in the regular price range but offers quite great performance over all others, Thermal Grizzly its a quite great alternative but the price its another point, quite expensive and sometimes the little syringe maybe overpriced [1G presentation.] so for a couple of reasons i guess ill stay with Arctic Cooling, ill give a try to Thermal Grizzly on my delidded Ivy some day!



Arctic Silver had the moment in the past, now its smoked by Arctic Cooling and Thermal Grizzly mostly, i know that there are another brands out there, Also the fact of arctic silver has Curing time and its a extended perior its what made me quit and seek another solution, the price here in CR its another point, quite expensive, like $18-25 per a 3.5Gtube when the Gelid Exteme tube its arround like $13, you see?

The most rated or sold item for arctic silver may be Arctic clean, thats a well know product that might last an extended time and will perform flawless! at a great price! $15-20 for both flasks!

Regards,

AS5 was a good paste in its day, as far as performance goes... but it was electrically conductive and it needed to be cleaned up and re-applied far more often than current pastes (MX-2, MX-4 etc) which aren't electrically conductive!

Yeah, the PS3 has problems for sure. Most PS3 deaths are related to heat. God knows how many people have them in small enclosed spaces where they can't really breathe properly... or play them a lot and never clean them, so I mostly blame that (even though you can't really open the PS3 on your own anyway, but you can at least blow it out). But the thermal paste they use is a real issue as well. Underneath layers of plastic and metal and piles of screws are two big chips with a crappy application of god knows what paste. Clean it up and do it yourself and you get better results.

I know what it's like to work in a factory... things get rushed all the time and "passable" parts are going out the door on a constant basis. And this is just for plastic things... garbage cans, totes and whatnot. A PS3 is unimaginably more complex. I don't think they have the time to do a proper thermal paste application and check each one to make sure it's good. Of course I can do a better job of it myself at home... I have all the time in the world to do it right. That said I think most of the benefit comes from a better application, not so much the paste itself. There's barely a difference between thermal paste when it comes to temperature when I've seen TIM wars where they all get pitted against eachother. I'm sure the IC Diamond was better than the paste they used at the factory... but I think it mostly comes down to a better application of the stuff (and probably the original paste getting old).

MX4 is a good performer but I like it for being easy to apply, easy to clean up, its longevity and non conductivity. I'm all for lower temps but all that other stuff is quite important too! If they never made MX3 or MX4, MX2 still being their current product, I'd still use that. It was significantly better than any silver paste I've ever used. It cleaned up much easier and I didn't have to worry about shorting something out either... and that silvery paste has a tenancy to stain the surfaces it's on for so long.

 

[GreiverBlade]

I am not really happy with the MX4 and for a fact I think that my old MX2 performed better by 1 or 2 deg. So, after reading reviews on google, stating that this is better than Gelid GC Extreme, I went for it. Hope I did not make a mistake View attachment 80941 View attachment 80942

ohhh no, you won't regret it!

 

[peche]

I am not really happy with the MX4 and for a fact I think that my old MX2 performed better by 1 or 2 deg. So, after reading reviews on google, stating that this is better than Gelid GC Extreme, I went for it. Hope I did not make a mistake

ypu are unhappy for 1 or 2 degrees? im ultra happy with MX4

Yeah, the PS3 has problems for sure. Most PS3 deaths are related to heat. God knows how many people have them in small enclosed spaces where they can't really breathe properly... or play them a lot and never clean them, so I mostly blame that (even though you can't really open the PS3 on your own anyway, but you can at least blow it out). But the thermal paste they use is a real issue as well. Underneath layers of plastic and metal and piles of screws are two big chips with a crappy application of god knows what paste. Clean it up and do it yourself and you get better results.

agreed, most game centers...

 

[FilipM]

2 deg @ 60C is 3.33% bud

 

[Grings]

My tube of Kryonaut ran out and i have been using some ek ectotherm that came bundled with a waterblock, zero difference in temperatures as far as i can tell on my sandybridge rig (more likely to show a difference than the skylake due to soldered die), good stuff

 

[AhokZYashA]

still using the olde NT-H1
works well, cheap, and easy to find here.
application is always a rice grain size in the middle, let the pressure from the HSF spreads the paste.

 

[peche]

My tube of Kryonaut ran out and i have been using some ek ectotherm that came bundled with a waterblock, zero difference in temperatures as far as i can tell on my sandybridge rig (more likely to show a difference than the skylake due to soldered die), good stuff

i wish intel would never stoped to do soldered processors instead the current ones with that shitty paste...
but its great to see there is a comparison between pastes like Thermal Grizzly and a 3rd party branded one, i would try to look up for moar info about the EK ectotherm to see moar about specs and info! could be also Thermal Grizzly branded, so thats the reason why no difference between temps

still using the olde NT-H1
works well, cheap, and easy to find here.
application is always a rice grain size in the middle, let the pressure from the HSF spreads the paste.

have heard a lot about this one, several people claims its performace pretty close to MX4 or Kyronaout

Spoiler: NT H1

Regards,

 

[GreiverBlade]

i wish intel would never stoped to do soldered processors instead the current ones with that shitty paste...
but its great to see there is a comparison between pastes like Thermal Grizzly and a 3rd party branded one, i would try to look up for moar info about the EK ectotherm to see moar about specs and info! could be also Thermal Grizzly branded, so thats the reason why no difference between temps


have heard a lot about this one, several people claims its performace pretty close to MX4 or Kyronaout

Spoiler: NT H1

Regards,

nah nah nah .... the only one close to the Kryonaut is the GC-Extreme, the NT-H1 is close to the ICD7 (more like demolished 7) and above the MX-4 indeed but lower than Hydronaut. (in a pocket of the 8° TIM only the Kyronaut pass the 8° and do 7.88° )

EK TIM are rebranded GC-Extreme most of the time, i wonder about the Ectotherm tho but i never saw some good conclusion.

Spoiler: remember that chart?, it only miss the Mastergel to add in

only one king before the LM TIM and we know who it is now

 

[peche]

only one king before the LM TIM and we know who it is now

you should ask for a job on Thermal Grizzly, you convinced me for a moment to replace Arctic on my stock and use TG!
thanks for info my friend

Regards,

 

[GreiverBlade]

you should ask for a job on Thermal Grizzly, you convinced me for a moment to replace Arctic on my stock and use TG!
thanks for info my friend

Regards,

ahah ... true that ... ... the saddest part would be: i am Swiss ... shame on me to drop Arctic for a German brand (oh well i keep the MX-4 for lesser jobs hehehe )
(raahhhh cooler master tempt me nonetheless ... but i am no fan of nano diamond past ... although that one is the best of them, and not mentioning the best feature : not IC related )

 

[peche]

ahah ... true that ... ... the saddest part would be: i am Swiss ... shame on me to drop Arctic for a German brand (oh well i keep the MX-4 for lesser jobs hehehe )
(raahhhh cooler master tempt me nonetheless ... but i am no fan of nano diamond past ... although that one is the best of them, and not mentioning the best feature : not IC related )

i guess everyone has a loved brand like you right now! its easy to guess mine!

Regards,

 

[FilipM]

Week old MX4 after 5 min of LinX:

73-72-70-70

CM Nano stuff

70-69-67-68


Worth it in my case.

 

[peche]

Week old MX4 after 5 min of LinX:

73-72-70-70

CM Nano stuff

70-69-67-68


Worth it in my case.

weird but great numbers on temps!

 

[FilipM]

I dont know bud, maybe my MX4 was poop, or this thing is really good.

 

[GreiverBlade]

I dont know bud, maybe my MX4 was poop, or this thing is really good.

second statement ... while the 1st number are good the 2nd row are excellent .... (for a per core monitoring )

 

[peche]

Update

Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 Reference: Stock paste & thermal Pads
Previous temps:
idle: 35-38
Load: 79-85


Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 Reference: Arctic MX4 & Actic Thermal Pad (1mm):
Current temps:
idle: 27-31
Load: 71-78


Decided to give a fresh TIM application on this babe, thermal pad replace with some pieces of a thermal pad a friend had lying around there, sadly was way too old and little bit hard, I was able to replace almost all thermal pads, so in a near future I'll replace all of them with a brand new thermal pad, this is my first time replacing thermal pads on video cards vi the way!


Feel free to post any TIM re-application and comments about the topic!



Regards,