Which Thermal Paste?

Paul_RD · 12 Jul 2019 at 19:41

I use the following:

Dow Corning 340 Heat Sink Compound
Just under a tenner for a 100g tube

mikeym · 12 Jul 2019 at 19:53

awaybreaktoday said:
GELID Solutions GC-Extreme

I have some of this lying around and it still seems to rate well in reviews so will likely use it for my impending upgrade to 3900x.

thenewoc · 12 Jul 2019 at 20:30

an0nym0us said:
I like the "Jackson Pollock" method:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0vmQOO4WLI4&t=6m51s
Just kidding. This video is hilarious, but don't take it seriously.

lol sounds like Mr Woo from Benidorm.

AStaley · 19 Jul 2019 at 11:43

So got my 3900X and applied some Kyronaught, which even though I warmed it up was hard going. I went with the spread method but as I was trying to spread it it kept coming away. After a little perseverance I got it spread although was a little patchy, do you think this will be okay, I imagine it will spread as I apply pressure with the cooling block?

beany_bot · 19 Jul 2019 at 15:59

AStaley said:
So got my 3900X and applied some Kyronaught, which even though I warmed it up was hard going. I went with the spread method but as I was trying to spread it it kept coming away. After a little perseverance I got it spread although was a little patchy, do you think this will be okay, I imagine it will spread as I apply pressure with the cooling block?

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/kryonaut-abrasive.18827970/

Mercutio · 19 Jul 2019 at 21:09

If you're buying something, kryonaut. They're all so close that "whatever you have to hand" is generally fine too.
Depends how important the 1-2c difference is to you.

adrichardson81 · 21 Jul 2019 at 12:20

AStaley said:
So got my 3900X and applied some Kyronaught, which even though I warmed it up was hard going. I went with the spread method but as I was trying to spread it it kept coming away. After a little perseverance I got it spread although was a little patchy, do you think this will be okay, I imagine it will spread as I apply pressure with the cooling block?

Did you use the included spreader? I had a mare with the spreader on my 3700x and resorted to the tried and tested old credit card, which was much better.

Dervious · 21 Jul 2019 at 19:47

Still working my way through a 20g syringe of MX-4 I bought a few years ago for £13. Used it on quite a few CPUs for customer builds (admittedly fairly low end) and on my current GPU (GTX1070), old i5-2500K and current R5 1600.

It's cheap and nothing has fried so far.

AStaley · 21 Jul 2019 at 21:56

adrichardson81 said:
Did you use the included spreader? I had a mare with the spreader on my 3700x and resorted to the tried and tested old credit card, which was much better.

I did, I even left it in a glass of boiling water to try and soften it. In the end I've cleaned off the Kyronaut and replaced it with MX-4, application was much smoother and around the same temps. Lows are currently around 33c and maximum when running Prime95 is 82c and that's leaving my cooler on silent setting, if I bring the fans speed up to just about audible it drops to 74c. In hindsight should have stuck with what I know.

adrichardson81 · 21 Jul 2019 at 22:33

Doubt you'll notice a huge difference, but I definitely recommend using a credit card if you decide to reapply. Nice even spread that way. Personally I'm wondering if IC graphite pads aren't the way forwards...

Jokester · 21 Jul 2019 at 22:51

V F said:
Strange how nobody ever mentions Shin-Etsu here.

That’s a brand I’ve not heard of in at least 10 years!

Still use AS5 here, plus credit card spread method. Performs better that way compared to the blob method.

Only thing I’ve used that was measurably better was liquid metal, but it has it’s own problems.

NathG79 · 21 Jul 2019 at 22:58

Jokester said:
That’s a brand I’ve not heard of in at least 10 years!

Still use AS5 here, plus credit card spread method. Performs better that way compared to the blob method.

Only thing I’ve used that was measurably better was liquid metal, but it has it’s own problems.

I`ve always used AS5, not sure if Kryonaut is the way forward with 3900x.

V F · 21 Jul 2019 at 23:20

Jokester said:
That’s a brand I’ve not heard of in at least 10 years!

Still use AS5 here, plus credit card spread method. Performs better that way compared to the blob method.

Only thing I’ve used that was measurably better was liquid metal, but it has it’s own problems.

I had been using Shin-Etsu for years (perhaps since 2010) until I ran out. Currently on IC Diamond 24. There wasn't much difference between them. 1 - 2 degrees.

You have to warm up Shin-Etsu in hot water or it's just like dry very soft plastic. I quite liked it.

azazl187 · 21 Jul 2019 at 23:22

Artic silver 5 or Grizzly for me.

Thin plastic bag over the finger and spread the paste evenly. It keeps it tidy and thin.

V F · 21 Jul 2019 at 23:24

Arctic Silver 3 and 5 on the Athlon Thunderbird/Barton days.

The Old School Gamer · 22 Jul 2019 at 00:01

Still using Artic silver 5 just because that's what I have kicking around.
I'll eventually get around to trying some Kryonaut (or peanut butter lol).

Nghtmare · 22 Jul 2019 at 12:26

I always use Kryonaut, has never let me down. Used it on my OC 7700K and now on the 3800X.

andy_mk3 · 22 Jul 2019 at 12:29

Just recently used Kryonaut on my CPU and GPU with both under water blocks, can't fault it. Easy to apply and thermals seem great.

Wingz · 22 Jul 2019 at 12:34

Spread method worked best for me I twist the waterblock left and right once it makes contact to get rid of air gaps. Temps were 3c lower compared to the x-method.