Worth using EK-TIM Indigo XS?

Mark_D

Mark_D

Mark_D

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Firstly apologies for the double post. I posted in the Overclocking and Cooling forum, but I think it might be more appropriate to ask here...

I'm just about to install an EK Supremacy block on my CPU and it comes with the Indigo TIM. I had intended to just use Arctic Silver as I always do and have never come across Indigo XS before. Are temps with it worth the extra hassle of the reflow process?

The reflow process requires the use of Prime95 or a similar stress testing app. This installation is in a brand new build with no OS installed yet. Therefore as I understand it I'll have to use normal thermal compound initially to install the OS and required software and then swap the TIM over once that's done. Sounds like a big ol' faff!!
 
I'd just use whichever TIM you want to & run the new build as normal.
I've never heard of having to run a program specifically to cure the TIM. I just install & running the machine as normal.
 
The reason being it's a metallic alloy so you basically have to melt it much like solder which requires high temps.
 
Panos said:
I do not think EK makes Liquid Metal

even the CLU doesnt need that
Click to expand...

Indigo extreme does need melting using prime95 or similar.
When you run the stress tests, the temperature will shoot up very quckly, then after a minute or two you will see the temps drop down. This is telling you the flow process has started and is working as the alloy flows into the gaps between heatsink and cpu.
I'd say for 95% of people, it is too much faffing about. Depends how important a few degrees is. Especially if you need to install os etc
 
Yeah read tonight about it, and it's horrors ofc.
But does it worth? There are no CPUs out there to truly benefit from this except if you go for LN2 etc.

Best normal TIM, like the Kryo has 12.5W transfer, Indigo around 40W.
To put in comparison most commonly used Artcic Silver has 8.5 W/mk, same as the EK Ectotherm.

But who needs 40W/mk?
Except if the OP is using some overclocked Thunderbird 1 or 1.4, :D no other CPU going to benefit using this.

An on Tbirds we used peltier and watercoolers :P

And if he has a Haswell, it would be better off delid it.
 
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I use the liquid metal stuff that comes in a syringe, on lapped cpu/waterblock. It's better. In an ideal world it would be solder, but I haven't found the nerve to try that yet
 
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