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Is AS5 still the best thermal paste? If not what is the best?

spooks

spooks

spooks

Associate
Joined
21 Aug 2007
Posts
234
As the title suggests, what is the very best thermal paste out there? Is it still arctic silver 5?

Just wondering as I have been using AS5 for so long, is there a challenger out there?

Cheers
 
Its all down to personal choice really, my current favourites are Arctic Cooling MX-2 and Shin-Etsu MicroSi.

The MX-2 I find has marginally better performance than AS5, is a lot easier to spread, no running in period & does not require reapplication every few months.

The Shin-Etsu MicroSi is slightly better in terms of performance, but could be very difficult to spread.
 
Reviews on OCZ Freeze have it beating every other TIM out there. And there's no curing time.
 
Actually Noctua's beats all others (or did in last full review I seen).



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http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17822608&highlight=noctua+username_helmutcheese
 
Van Diemen said:
The MX-2 I find has marginally better performance than AS5, is a lot easier to spread, no running in period & does not require reapplication every few months.
Click to expand...
That is news to me didn't know arctic silver requires reapplication every few months had mine on about a year and temps are the same ? I'd take reviews with a pinch of salt as every time you apply any the results will be different it's not like there's huge gaps between the main contenders.
If I applied AS5 under my tuniq 5 times I guarantee the temps will be slightly different every time.
 
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C64 said:
That is news to me didn't know arctic silver requires reapplication every few months had mine on about a year and temps are the same ? I'd take reviews with a pinch of salt as every time you apply any the results will be different it's not like there's huge gaps between the main contenders.
If I applied AS5 under my tuniq 5 times I guarantee the temps will be slightly different every time.
Click to expand...

m8 your correct, I don't know where he read that but its BS. :rolleyes:

It requires upto 200 hours of normal ON/OFF use to cure fully to optimal condition.

It does not state anywhere on their site or any good review site about how long it lasts if you do not disturb the seal on the Cooler to CPU.

If your anal and want everything 100% its probably good to reapply any TIM 1x per year when you give the case a good clean/going over as dust will get into edge of CPU and stick to any TIM acting as a heat blanket.
 
Pretty much always used Arctic Silver 5, it's good stuff once you get the hang of it (i.e not using too much!) :o

I've heard good things about both Arctic Cooling MX-2 and Thermalright Chill Factor though so will probably pick a few tubes up to use and see for myself. The Thermalright stuff seems a bit strange to me though as it looks like white paste? :confused:
 
I have always stuck with AS5 and find it very easy to apply along with a Credit type card.

It comes off a treat with Nail Varnish Remover. :)
 
i use MX-2 even i have ac5 to mx-2 cheaper comes with more amount of it and better and if u overdo it it does not do any damage as ac5 i think
 
C64 said:
If I applied AS5 under my tuniq 5 times I guarantee the temps will be slightly different every time.
Click to expand...

i agree.

theres no point talking about this.. just use whatever, the diff between them is nothing..

For a 1 degree diff. id expect each TIM to be re-applied around 30 times and then use averages
 
CoolLab Liquid Pro. Liquid metal paste like mercury is the best I have used, but hard to apply, and surfaces need to be re-lapped after removal to remove it all.

Moved away from that to the MX2 and have never gone back to AS5. Mx2 reduced temps a fraction and is not electrically conductive. Therefore WIN WIN !
 
Go over to XS and see the peep testing AS5 could not get it to conduct (a while back) ;)

The Arctic Silver website even states its only slightly conductive and you ain't suppose to slop it all over your pins. :)
 
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