Arctic silver alternative?

Supercow

Supercow

Supercow

Soldato
Joined
30 Aug 2003
Posts
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Location
Straya
I have always used AS, and had ordered some new paste for a system re-build this weekend. Everything apart from the paste had turned up (coolers, fans etc), so I'm a bit miffed as I only really have the time over a weekend to be doing it.

I however have a competitor close by my house, that sells COOLER MASTER HTK-001 HIGH PERFORMANCE THERMAL COMPOUND KIT and I wanted to know how it compares to AS5 and if there will be any diff's in temps at all?

Cheers
 
AS5 is really overrated. There are a LOT of other thermal compounds out there that perform the same or better.

from http://translate.google.com/transla...fe=off&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=/language_tools



|crappy thermal interface|
Tital Nano Blue 59
Panasonic 58.5
KPT-8 (reference) 56.6

|decent thermal interface|
Data Cooler 57
Titan TTG S-104 , S-103 56.7
Pasta Siliconowa 56.6
Zalman CSL 850 56.5
Noctua 56.5
Stars Silver 56.5
Stars 700/Aero 700 56
GeIL GL-TCP1b 55.6
Thermopox 55.6
КПТ-8(BeO) 55.5
Sil more 55.5
Shin-Etsu(white) 55.5
W.P. 55.5
STARS (white, soft pack) 55.5
AKT-842 55
Fanner 420 55
Koolance 55

|good thermal interface|
Arctic Alumina 55.5
Arctic Silver-3 54.6
AOS 54.5
DC-340 54.5
Asetek 54.5
Arctic Silver-5 53.5
Arctic Ceramique 53.5

|great thermal interface|
Apus TMG 301 52.5
Gigabyte 52.5
Titan Nano Grease TTG-G30010 52.5
GFC-M1 D90T8-010 52.5
Shin-Etsu MicroSi G-751 52

|outstanding thermal interface|
Arctic Cooling MX-1 51.5
Shin-Etsu MicroSi MPU-3.7 50.5
Coollaboratory Liquid Pro 50
 
Out of interest, was that from OcUK? As when I ordered my near complete system from them that was the one thing that was missing from my order as well. Similar thing, I had a Saturday delivery and only had the weekend to build it.
 
chaosophy said:
Out of interest, was that from OcUK? As when I ordered my near complete system from them that was the one thing that was missing from my order as well. Similar thing, I had a Saturday delivery and only had the weekend to build it.
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Yes it was also from OcUK - but it's the only thing I ordered, the other stuff was from a competitor.
It said dispatched on wednesday already :(
 
That's a pain :(

I'd say if you're desperate go and pick up what you can and get it built, you can always redo it later if you're not happy with it. Looking at that list above from the crappy to the outstanding is 9 degrees so as ling as you have decent cooling and aren't going for any overclock records you should be fine.

Though if you're like me it will bug you until you get it done with the AS5 :)
 
chaosophy said:
That's a pain :(

I'd say if you're desperate go and pick up what you can and get it built, you can always redo it later if you're not happy with it. Looking at that list above from the crappy to the outstanding is 9 degrees so as ling as you have decent cooling and aren't going for any overclock records you should be fine.

Though if you're like me it will bug you until you get it done with the AS5 :)
Click to expand...

I don't want to be doing it twice, might just wait... GRR :(
 
IMO AS5 is not overrated, it dont plug itself much now its being out a while, the others do make claims that are slighlty BS, some even eat your Alu heatsink.
 
I've only used 3 on that list, AS5, MX1 and the Coollaboratory Liquid Pro stuff. I've used the generic stuff you get with kit as well of course.

Of the 3 brands, I noticed little difference if any between AS5 and MX1, and the Liquid Pro was better by a couple of degrees. the generic stuff never seemed to be THAT bad... That was with not very scientific testing though!

I'm back to using AS5 now, as it does the job, and is easy to get off, unlike the Liquid Pro which renders your CPU looking like it has been lapped, as you have to use chrome polish to get it off! I really wouldn't recommend it.

Your local PC shop should have some good stuff in, so you can get on with your build?
 
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After starting out with as5, i changed to mx-1 years back.

I did a few test myself, and after curing a bit, the mx-1 seemed fairly consistant in being 4°c cooler than the AS5...

And now, MX-2 is out... i think im going to have to perform some more tests :D
 
Tooks said:
Your local PC shop should have some good stuff in, so you can get on with your build?
Click to expand...

Erm, unfortunately it's not quite the "local pc shop" type place, more like people who has no idea what a PC is and they waer purple shirts :p
The only one they sell is this on I had mentioned in my op.
 
Am I the only person who thinks AS5 is **** because of the really really poor application method? Everytime you try to get just a small bit out a load of it oozes out without you even having to press on the syringe part. Then when you come to applying the stuff it leaves an annoying really thin trail after you try and stop applying it.... AS5 sucks.

I tried some Zalman ZM-STG1 that came with my Zalman 9700NT cooler and the application is so straight forward. You get a nice little paint brush to put the stuff on with, there is no wastage and the performance is as good as if not better than AS5. I have used AS5 for years but never again! Zalman ***.
 
I see that the MX-2 is out now.. I wonder if thats any better..

Just been reading the PC Format magazine and there is a reader in there who was building a system and he didnt have any thermal paste. He scoured the house and being a mechanic he found some thermal copper grease that garages put on breaks to stop them sticking.. He said he had a temperature drop of 12oC..:D

Just a thought, and its defiently in this months PC Format magazine if you want to check..

P.S he said its good to cool at 1300oC...:eek:
 
Kingy1968 said:
I see that the MX-2 is out now.. I wonder if thats any better..

Just been reading the PC Format magazine and there is a reader in there who was building a system and he didnt have any thermal paste. He scoured the house and being a mechanic he found some thermal copper grease that garages put on breaks to stop them sticking.. He said he had a temperature drop of 12oC..:D

Just a thought, and its defiently in this months PC Format magazine if you want to check..

P.S he said its good to cool at 1300oC...:eek:
Click to expand...

aaahh good old copper ease. ;) i had some of that as it happens.. :D
 
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