Arctic MX-4 vs Antec Formula 7 Thermal Compound

[psycho1191]

I need to buy some thermal paste regarding which I have a few questions.
I can't decide between Arctic MX-4 and Antec Formula 7

I will be applying it as shown here
http://archive.benchmarkreviews.com...ntent&task=view&id=170&Itemid=38&limitstart=5
using the 2 line method on my CM Hyper TX-3 EVO


1. Which of the two performs better?

2. I have read that the Formula 7 is very thick and difficult to spread.
Will it spread evenly and give good results on my Hyper TX3 using the
line method?

3. The MX-4 is rated as 8.5W/mK whereas the Formula 7 is 8.3W/mK. Does
that mean that it's better?

4. The MX-4 is rated to last 8 years while for this user, it was wearing out
after 4 months.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?285968-Arctic-MX-4-Lacks-Longevity

This user also had very high load temperatures with the MX-4
http://www.overclock.net/t/1365212/...antec-formula-7-nano-diamond-thermal-compound

Both will cost me the same amount, so please help me decide.

Thanks.:thumbsup:

 

[PliotronX]

I think the conductivity numbers are kind of dodgy, kind of like CFM from fan manufacturers. You can compare them with models from the same manufacturer for reference but how they derived the numbers varies. In all likelihood there is probably not a big difference between the pastes. Personally I like Prolimatech PK-1 and Ceramique II. Secondly, the way I apply to my Hyper 212 which is also a HDT heatsink, is dots or lines along the pipes. The steel retaining plates will not aid conductivity and I get good coverage on the pipes this way.

 

[infoiltrator]

There are a bunch of comparison tests, most top rated pastes are within a few degrees of each other.
Applying enough but not too much is a key issue.
MX-4 is a top rated paste.
Gelid Extreme was the "winner" best performance at a reasonable price of the last comparison test I read. MX-4 was close. Do not remember Antec Formula 7.
The idea MX-4 would "wear out" in 4 months seems unlikely.
I know I've used MX-2 and MX-4 for many years.

 

[Belial88]

They are both mediocre, outdated pastes. The best ceramique right now is Hegrease, you can find a $3 1g tube on frozencpu, which is basically a lifetime supply when used right.

But you should really invest in some Coolaboratory liquid ultra, you can find it for about $12 on ebay or a site like sidewinder.

W/mk figures are always misleading and never accurate, just like official specs for CFM and psu ratings on wattage & amperage are 100% wrong, biased, and inaccurate and never verified or tested consistently.

Theres little difference in modern ceramiques, but CLU is an 'extreme' TIM and not a ceramique, its definitely the best value youll find in cooling (youll never see a 5C drop anywhere else per $15, and MX-4 and antec's paste are old and weak. Gelid is pretty good but why get that when you can get CLU for so cheap or hegrease for $3.

ceramique 2 is really old and weak, you wouldnt use a 10 year old GPU. If your putting thought into getting the right CPU and PSU, why would you get crappy TIM. PK1 is also really outdated, theres already a PK3. Google 'belial tim review' and youll see even PK3 is a good 5C better, and PK3 isnt nearly as good as hegrease or CLU.

For reference, on my delid I saw a 10c temp drop switching with CLU. Check out the OCN delid club, people who use CLU see a much larger temp drop, a good 10, 20C better than ceramiques.

Be aware a lot of tim reviews are misleading, they test on stock settings or low overclocks, so it loks like its only 1-2c when in reality its more like 5c+ on a proper overclock. Why buy a crappy paste when you can get the best for only $2, or clu for 15. Even fans dont account for that much.

 

[PliotronX]

I guess you were specifically addressing my choice of TIM but I didn't include a factor that is important to me. I never said PK-1 or C2 were the best but cost is important because I am a tinkerer and if I were to just do one application and be done, it'd be the Indigo Extreme which destroys anything you have suggested but is $20 for two applications. Broken down, I got 4.5g of PK-1 for eight bucks and honestly it is in the top tier. I highly doubt, especially for heatspreader interfaces with much larger surface area than bare die, that any grease is worth any added cost. I have seen comparos that actually put the PK-1 ahead of the PK-3. It goes to show that mounting technique is more important than the material. Case in point, if you look at the old standby AS5, it typically lags a few degrees from others, but if you review other comparos of the same two greases, something else they're trying to pitch is even better. In a spiral sort of way you would end up showing AS5 as 20 degrees worse than X compound which is just not possible. Once we hit the MX-2 generation, there really is not an earth shattering difference among them. 1g might last a while for baredie, but using the line method on a heatspreader, that's only a couple or so applications. And I bet that $3 turns to $8 with shipping.

edit- what the hell man, right on FrozenCPU's page:

http://www.frozencpu.com/images/awards/Skinneelabs%20TIMOverallTempa.jpg

27 HUNDREDTHS of one degree warmer than your Hegrease which wouldn't even register in our software monitoring and the PK-1 is 1/4 the cost.