Thermal Compounds

Theophany · 4 Sep 2010 at 09:05

Hey guys

Done a quick search, but it's not flagging up much of any use with regards to this question. Basically, I'm at a loss as to which thermal compounds/pastes/greases are the best.

Arctic Silver 5 is the one I've always heard people rave about for years now, but I see that Arctic has a number of competing products, such as MX-3, Silver Matrix and Thermal Epoxy.

I'm guessing each has better application depending on what use you put it to, but I'm stumped. Can anybody give me any pointers?

Cheers.

RJC · 4 Sep 2010 at 09:20

I believe MX-2 is still one of the best thermal compounds along with the AS5.

Not sure how good MX-3 is though.

dfour · 4 Sep 2010 at 09:26

Be carefull you will start another 'best thermal paste debate'

Look here

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18172301&highlight=mx3

Artic slver is old school and has had its day.

silversurfer · 4 Sep 2010 at 09:28

Some sort of setting liquid silver would be the best thermal conductor. I believe the best stuff cannot be removed afterwards

Theophany · 4 Sep 2010 at 10:25

dfour said:
Be carefull you will start another 'best thermal paste debate'

Look here

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18172301&highlight=mx3

Artic slver is old school and has had its day.

Oops! My bad. That Indigo Xtreme stuff looks pretty leet, though looking at the manual for it the entire process seems a touch anal retentive for what is essentially thermal paste. I'd usually slark on a spot and let the HSF do the work... :confused:

Worth the £15?

Mr Paul · 4 Sep 2010 at 10:30

Ahem remove the link or face bannage

Theophany · 4 Sep 2010 at 10:40

Mr Paul said:
Ahem remove the link or face bannage

Changed it, oops! :eek:

Arcimbaldo · 4 Sep 2010 at 11:07

I personally use Arctic silver 5, thats because it was the only thing in stock

,
However anything silver based which is a well known brand should be fine.

Helios1234 · 4 Sep 2010 at 13:49

Thermalright Chillfactor II/III is that I use these days. It's much better than AS5 or the Arctic MX-2 and marginally ahead of the MX-3/4.

OLDPHART · 4 Sep 2010 at 13:59

Still using MX-2 easy to spread and still a very good thermal compound.

silversurfer · 4 Sep 2010 at 18:23

Lapping and the most extreme tiny pea sized amount of most pastes would be best. I put it on so thinly, its see through and it still gets squeezed out the side so I think thats usually the best solution

Theophany · 4 Sep 2010 at 20:20

I'd rather tint than lap, sandpaper and my CPU scares me senseless. Already had the pre-applied garbage glue to my CPU and rip it out of the locked socket...

Sycho · 5 Sep 2010 at 00:45

I just received my Megahalems, is it best to use the paste i got with it or Arctic Silver 5 with it?

dfour · 5 Sep 2010 at 00:50

Is it just some unbranded paste or a pre applied gunk??

Sycho · 5 Sep 2010 at 00:54

It's an unbranded tube of it but some reviews i read of the cooler said it's good paste though not sure what was better of the two.

Nyoron · 5 Sep 2010 at 01:06

Sycho said:
It's an unbranded tube of it but some reviews i read of the cooler said it's good paste though not sure what was better of the two.

I would play it safe and use the Artic Silver 5, very few thermal compunds are better.

dfour · 5 Sep 2010 at 01:21

I wouldnt expect a unbranded gue to be bettter than as5 even before the 200 hours curing time.

xRowan · 5 Sep 2010 at 01:34

I use MX-3 . On my dell laptop I replaced the thermal compound with MX-3 and the temperature of the CPU dropped 40oC :eek:

JonJ678 · 5 Sep 2010 at 02:14

Liquid pro is easier to use than people would have you believe.