Which Compound?

Solemn · 1 Mar 2011 at 15:35

Hi,

So I am water cooling my two 470s my 950CPU and my Asus Rampage II extreme mobo. I have all the pads that came with the blocks for the 470s and asus blocks. but I want to know for where i would need to put compound, on these blocks inc the CPU, what would be the correct compound to use.

I'm not looking to spend high amounts of money on compound thats just going to make a degree or so difference, im looking for the what is ok and what to avoid really.

Thanks =)

Emphacy · 1 Mar 2011 at 15:51

You need to put compound on the memory chips on the graphics card and on the GPU. Then on everything your placing a waterblock over.
Arctic Cooling Silver MX3 I use to use until I ran out, don't know about the latest on the market now though.

Mick-1965 · 1 Mar 2011 at 15:57

Ive just been testing between these two.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-003-AR&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=27
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-001-ID

The ICD just pips the MX4 by a fraction of a degree.

IMO The MX4 is far easier to apply and is half the price for roughly the same quantity and performance.
I used it on the core of my GTX470 with EK full cover block

stock · 1 Mar 2011 at 16:10

I thought everything but the GPU has to be covered with thermal pads?

Non conductive on the GPU, correct? Ceramique the best option?

Mick-1965 · 1 Mar 2011 at 16:17

stock said:
I thought everything but the GPU has to be covered with thermal pads?

Depends which block the OP has.
But yes on my EK full cover. pads are supplied for everything except the core.

Non conductive on the GPU, correct? Ceramique the best option?
MX4 is non electrically conductive. Conducts heat very well though

Frozennova · 1 Mar 2011 at 16:18

IC Diamond is also non-conductive and currently performs the best, although you do pay the extra for it.

Solemn · 1 Mar 2011 at 16:25

got these for my gpus
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-065-EK

I have have thermal pads with them but need paste for the core i believe.
Not sure about the mobo blocks yet as i havent decided altho i have the moffset but they have pads as well.

Thanks for the imput so far, is there any reason why no one suggested
Arctic Cooling MX-2 High Performance Thermal Compound ?

I realse the MX-4 is better ofc, but are we talking 1 two degrees better here? or 10 / 20 degrees difference?

Cheers =)

pastymuncher · 1 Mar 2011 at 19:15

I use MX-2 in my pc's. It's cheap and performs within a degree or two of MX-3/4.

stock · 1 Mar 2011 at 20:28

How many good quality Non conductive pastes are there? (apart from the ones mentioned above)

I also have some MX-3 but find it near impossible to spread

Emphacy · 1 Mar 2011 at 20:33

stock said:
How many good quality Non conductive pastes are there? (apart from the ones mentioned above)

I also have some MX-3 but find it near impossible to spread

I just put a small dollop in the middle of whatever it's going on and let the heatsink do the spreading.

stock · 1 Mar 2011 at 20:41

I do the same for CPUs but I always read/see GPUs with the spread method used

pastymuncher · 2 Mar 2011 at 09:17

MX-2 is very spreadable. I use the spreading method using a stanley knife blade.

Solemn · 2 Mar 2011 at 10:44

Thanks everyone!!! =)

Think I'll use the X2, esp, when we are only talkin a few degress different really.

Thanks for everyones input, much apprieciated!

Mick-1965 · 2 Mar 2011 at 11:04

Apparently the MX2 maybe OK to start with but goes off very quickly.

If you are planning on keeping the system "as is" and not dismantling every couple of months, then why not spend a few extra quid on a compound with good longevity.

Solemn · 2 Mar 2011 at 12:02

Mick-1965 said:
Apparently the MX2 maybe OK to start with but goes off very quickly.

If you are planning on keeping the system "as is" and not dismantling every couple of months, then why not spend a few extra quid on a compound with good longevity.

Is this absolutely true though? Would I need to replace thermal paste ever couple of months if I use this? I've never heard of needing to replace thermal paste regularly

Mick-1965 · 2 Mar 2011 at 14:39

If you want consistent thermal performance. Some are more expensive than others for a reason, not just the 1c cooler than the rest, the ability to sustain this performance into the future is also a factor.

Ok not the best performing, not the most expensive not the cheapest either. But shouldn't degrade like the cheaper stuff. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-002-ID

pastymuncher · 2 Mar 2011 at 19:04

Mick-1965 said:
Apparently the MX2 maybe OK to start with but goes off very quickly.

If you are planning on keeping the system "as is" and not dismantling every couple of months, then why not spend a few extra quid on a compound with good longevity.

How do you reckon that? I have been using it for a couple of years now and have never had it "go off" as you put it. Temps have remained constant throughout the time it has been applied, the longest being around 10 months.

Also, if you check the results people have been posting, MX-2 is beating the IC stuff and i have to say that i am finding the same here. Will be posting my results tomorrow.

Mick-1965 · 2 Mar 2011 at 20:54

pastymuncher said:
How do you reckon that? I have been using it for a couple of years now and have never had it "go off" as you put it. Temps have remained constant throughout the time it has been applied, the longest being around 10 months.

Also, if you check the results people have been posting, MX-2 is beating the IC stuff and i have to say that i am finding the same here. Will be posting my results tomorrow.

Ive read this in a couple of places while researching, etc. even in that very same ICD results thread you refer to it is mentioned.

Notice the word "Apparently"

A polite way of saying do your own research and find out for yourself.