Anyone ever get a bad batch of TIM?

[Rubycon]

I think I just opened a tube of defective MX3!
This stuff is crazy runny and temps are really whack!
When I remove the heatsink there appears to be water droplets and very poor coverage!

 

[qazwsxokmijn]

Pics?

 

[Rubycon]

Pics?

Here's the bottom of the HSF (Prolimatech Megahalems)

CPU:

I know in the past this past ALWAYS performed better if it was applied and the heatsink removed and excess paste wiped but leaving a thin film. Then applying another small line on the CPU and re-mounting did the trick. I will try again...

I mean if it blows up the CPU there are plenty where that came from!

 

[WoodButcher]

Seems to have separated like oil and water. From the pics it looks almost as if it were repelled by the metal itself. I've had stuff too thick and dried out but never like that.

 

[Tsavo]

I've had some separate, quick mix did the trick.

 

[God Mode]

All foam and no beer.

 

[Dark Shroud]

I had that happen with a tube of Artic Silver that I left sitting on my work bench for a year. It just needs some mixing.

 

[Rubycon]

I've seen other pastes when they separate and this does not look like that.
Although it does seem runny compared to the other tube I had.

When you mix it do you squirt it out and mix it around with a stick like epoxy?

I figured it was separated INSIDE the tube squeezing it out results in a bad mix - too much solvent and too little active ingredient thus external paddling has no effect?

I dunno. I cleaned it up and used the Dow Corning supplied by Intel and watched temps drop nearly 5C off the bat!

 

[ehume]

Are you sure the tube was new? Could it have been adulterated with water?

Of course, you are surrounded by water, lots and lots of it.

 

[Rubycon]

Are you sure the tube was new? Could it have been adulterated with water?

Of course, you are surrounded by water, lots and lots of it.

Haha yes it was new right out of a box of other junk like 980Xs which arrived perfect. (but at 4.4GHz / Air frankly it was a let down and I've expressed my concerns so perhaps some B batches will show up in Miami. )

 

[Fayd]

i had a tube of as5 separate... popped the stopper out, stirred it up with a skewer, popped it back in and continued. worked well.

dunno what it would have looked like if i tried applying it like that tho.

ooc, what did it look like going on?

 

[nipplefish]

eurgh.. I just got a tube of MX3 for my changeover to water. hope it wasn't part of that batch D:

 

[skinnee]

I've been using MX-3 since MX-2 has pretty much disappeared from etailers.

To me, MX-3 is completely different than MX-2... 3 seems to be oily like you're seeing and the consistency is completely different than I was used to. All four tubes I went through testing Air Coolers was the same.

Some TIM Print shots of the TRUE and Mega Shadow for comparison.

 

[Rubycon]

Right - I just remounted with CF2 and temps are a solid 5C lower!

I was told to twist the plunger and pull it back and push it forward. (to mix it up!) Well wouldn't you just know it! The tip was not pushed on securely and this gunk shot out all over the place! Thank goodness I was not pointing it at anything important or at my face!

The last run I used a LOT more than usual - large 10mm bead like the site said and while it was better than before it still sucked. There was also a mess around the CPU when I removed the heatsink!

That Coollaboratory liquid metal looks interesting but if that gets on anything but the IHS there will be a short! Not good!

I've been using MX-3 since MX-2 has pretty much disappeared from etailers.

To me, MX-3 is completely different than MX-2... 3 seems to be oily like you're seeing and the consistency is completely different than I was used to. All four tubes I went through testing Air Coolers was the same.

Some TIM Print shots of the TRUE and Mega Shadow for comparison.

 

[skinnee]

Yeah, I'm not liking MX-3 at all... bring back the MX-2 and 30g tubes at that!

 

[Rubycon]

Weird thing is last summer when I was handed a tube to try I had great results. 30G tubes?

At this rate give me a 11oz tube that fits in a caulk gun!

 

[nipplefish]

So you guys don't like it, eh? I haven't opened mine yet, so I can still return it. Would you recommend IC Diamond, Shin-Etsu X23-7762, Ceramique, or AS5? Those are my other choices from this store.

I've used AS5 for the last decade but thought I'd change it up for once. MX3 seemed like it got the best temperatures from what I've read. I don't want it if it's messy and a PITA to use, though.

 

[Rubycon]

Shin-Etsu is the best out of that bunch mentioned.

Don't use IC7 if you value your cpu warranty! It's so abrasive that just applying it and removing it twice erases the markings on the IHS!

It CAN provide good results but by far it's the pickiest with application. If not done PERFECTLY it will have worse temperatures than other compounds.

 

[nipplefish]

Heh, if I valued the warranty I wouldn't be about to watercool and push it past 4ghz

That said, thanks for the advice... the IC Diamond sounds like it's a pain to use. I guess I'll give the Shin-Etsu a try.

 

[ehume]

I've found I really like CG Extreme. Here it's $9.99 with free shipping. In the 80-way TIM shootout it was one of the very best. I also got a tube of their top performer, the Shin-Etsu MicroSi G751, but I like the way the GC-Ex flows, and I get better results from a glob in the center.

 

[Tristor]

+1 for G751. It's cheap ($2.99 a tube on Newegg + shipping) and it's fabulous. It matches or beats AS5 in every test I've run personally (across several different builds). It tends to be a little thick, but using a razor blade to form 2 Xs + 2 Dots makes it pretty decent.

 

[Rubycon]

Looks like lots of folks complaining about MX3 and sticking with MX2. :hmm:

 

[notposting]

Not a fan of MX-3. Ended up with some from MC when they didn't have any AS5, though I don't think it looks like that.
Will go back to AS5 after this. Got real good with it when playing with exposed cores

 

[aamsel]

Looks like lots of folks complaining about MX3 and sticking with MX2. :hmm:

I just opened a new syringe of MX-3 and had the identical experience that you
did. I am not going to use it. Going back to MX-2.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Heh, if I valued the warranty I wouldn't be about to watercool and push it past 4ghz

That said, thanks for the advice... the IC Diamond sounds like it's a pain to use. I guess I'll give the Shin-Etsu a try.

Just an FYI, Shin-Etsu x23-7762 isn't necessarily that good. It's brother, x23-7783D, now that's the stuff.

Among the TIMs you mentioned, IC Diamond 7 was probably the best of the bunch.