Best Thermal Compound under £10?

Reza86 · 22 Aug 2013 at 09:49

So is there much of a difference in what you can get?

I'm fitting a new coole ron Friday so I figure I might as well use some decent compound instead of the cheapo stuff that I have in at the moment.

Adam_101 · 22 Aug 2013 at 09:55

Arctic Silver 5 is good. Know a lot of people who use PK3 too on systems from 2500k to 3930k and are well pleased.

seanr28 · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:15

Gelid GCExtreme Cutting Edge Thermal Compound

this stuff is well recommended.

Doomedspeed · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:17

seanr28 said:
this stuff is well recommended.

Remove that link...

I use MX-2, thats good stuff!

stuie · 22 Aug 2013 at 10:20

Under a tenner its got to be liquid ultra hasnt it?

Reza86 · 22 Aug 2013 at 12:37

Thansk for the recommendations, I think i'm going to go for the Liquid Ultra, never applied thermal compound like that before, looks like it could be a little easier when trying to get an unruly heatsink to sit dead centre on top.

Hyburnate · 22 Aug 2013 at 12:39

I use MX-2 I think

Helios1234 · 22 Aug 2013 at 13:50

Reza86 said:
Thansk for the recommendations, I think i'm going to go for the Liquid Ultra, never applied thermal compound like that before, looks like it could be a little easier when trying to get an unruly heatsink to sit dead centre on top.

The Coollaboratory stuff is very good but be very careful with it. All you need is the tiniest of drop. Then use a cotton bud to spread it across.

Otherwise, get some Thermalright Chillfactor 3. Thermalright CF3 > Arctic MX3 > GC-Extreme > MX2/4 > AS5.

Reza86 · 22 Aug 2013 at 15:08

Helios1234 said:
The Coollaboratory stuff is very good but be very careful with it. All you need is the tiniest of drop. Then use a cotton bud to spread it across.

Otherwise, get some Thermalright Chillfactor 3. Thermalright CF3 > Arctic MX3 > GC-Extreme > MX2/4 > AS5.

Thanks for the advice, I'll let you know how it goes.

Flying_Hellfish · 22 Aug 2013 at 15:10

Reza86 said:
Thanks for the advice, I'll let you know how it goes.

Assume you've already read the classic thread?

doyll · 22 Aug 2013 at 18:50

Flying_Hellfish said:
Assume you've already read the classic thread?

You mean the one with no ambient temperature in the data?

SouthEastBlue · 22 Aug 2013 at 20:20

I used MX-2 for a few years and always worked very well.

Helios1234 · 22 Aug 2013 at 22:09

Those using MX-2 and posting here, it might be good but there have been much better alternatives for a few years now, so it's not really worth recommending it for those looking for new/better options.

Idleman · 22 Aug 2013 at 22:17

Still using AS5, but might looking at trying some CL Pro.

Philtor · 23 Aug 2013 at 00:21

Helios1234 said:
Those using MX-2 and posting here, it might be good but there have been much better alternatives for a few years now, so it's not really worth recommending it for those looking for new/better options.

It's great value for money however and still holds it's own against the more modern compounds.

Helios1234 · 23 Aug 2013 at 09:25

Philtor said:
It's great value for money however and still holds it's own against the more modern compounds.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-002-TR

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-004-AR

Not particularly great value really.

sastusbulbas · 23 Aug 2013 at 09:39

Helios1234 said:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-002-TR

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-004-AR

Not particularly great value really.

Value is not the point when the difference is the price of a pint or two.
Most here will have read stullid's guide which showed even back then MX-2 as an old underdog did well. I think this is still the guide many readers of this forum use.

Maybe you have links to more up to date group tests and reviews?

Helios1234 · 23 Aug 2013 at 09:53

sastusbulbas said:
Value is not the point when the difference is the price of a pint or two.
Most here will have read stullid's guide which showed even back then MX-2 as an old underdog did well. I think this is still the guide many readers of this forum use.

Maybe you have links to more up to date group tests and reviews?

I tested and reviewed them myself.

In my first test, Arctic MX3 beat MX2 by quite a margin:

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/arctic_mx_3_thermal_paste_review,5.html

In my second test, Thermalright's CF2 edged ahead of the MX3:

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/arctic_mx_4_thermal_paste_review,6.html

And then a comparison of CF2 vs CF3:

http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/thermalright_hr_02_cpu_cooler_review,10.html

When Thermalright's CF3 is cheaper and a fair bit better than the MX2, I see little point in opting for the latter.

bainbridge · 23 Aug 2013 at 22:05

AS5 is the best all rounder IMO, it is so easy to apply, a great performer but what I like best is the way it gives gradually gives better temps for the first couple of weeks while it cures

Following the AS5 guide exactly gives great performace, the tinting takes a few extra minutes but well worth the effort:

http://www.arcticsilver.com/intel_application_method.html#

doyll · 24 Aug 2013 at 11:18

sastusbulbas said:
Most here will have read stullid's guide which showed even back then MX-2 as an old underdog did well. I think this is still the guide many readers of this forum use.

With no ambient temp record the most valuable part if review is the TIM spread data. :rolleyes: