Arctic Silver vs. Generic

[dlock13]

I am in the market for thermal paste since my computer has decided to recently start overheating. Anyway, I'm on my way to Best Buy tomorrow, and they have this generic off brand thermal paste which I will link here.

Now, if I purchase thermal paste today from Newegg, it will cost exactly the same, but the only downfall is I will receive it next week.

Should I try the generic kind, or would I be better off waiting to purchase the AS5?

Plus, if anyone has ever had any experience with this brand of thermal paste or any other generic brand, please feel free to respond!

Thanks.

 

[LifeStealer]

You know it really depends on who you ask, some people will say its a huge difference while others will say you could put axle grease on there and achieve close to the same results. Personally I've had better luck with AS5 but it could have simply been a better fit. If they're the same price I would defiantly go for AS over generic.

 

[ManBearPig]

go with the AS5

 

[CurseTheSky]

Artic Silver 5 will provide superior cooling performance. However, this is pretty much useless unless you NEED it.

If you're running an unoverclocked system with all stock heatsinks and fans, the generic stuff is probably perfectly fine. AS5 really only gives you a 2-5C temperature drop in most common cases (which is a big deal when overclocking), so if it was going to overheat on generic paste, it's probably going to be at least at dangerous levels with AS5.

 

[dlock13]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
Artic Silver 5 will provide superior cooling performance. However, this is pretty much useless unless you NEED it.

If you're running an unoverclocked system with all stock heatsinks and fans, the generic stuff is probably perfectly fine. AS5 really only gives you a 2-5C temperature drop in most common cases (which is a big deal when overclocking), so if it was going to overheat on generic paste, it's probably going to be at least at dangerous levels with AS5.

My computer has been running with AS5 as the thermal paste for the past year, and it just started to overheat.

I'll probably still purchase the Dynex, and then order some AS5 tomorrow or so and put that on next week.

Though, I think I am going to go with the Ceramic. I have heard it drops temps around 8-12 degrees C.

Thanks for the replies though.

 

[Seekermeister]

I suppose that it depends on where you live, but you should be able to buy AS5 in a local store. I believe that I bought my last tube in CompUSA.

 

[DLM]

[My computer has been running with AS5 as the thermal paste for the past year, and it just started to overheat.

I'll probably still purchase the Dynex, and then order some AS5 tomorrow or so and put that on next week.

Though, I think I am going to go with the Ceramic. I have heard it drops temps around 8-12 degrees C.

Thanks for the replies though.

here the scoop on this, we were using AS3 since 2000 or 2001 and then AS announced they were coming out with a new product and it was not conductive...the did and AS Ceramique was a hit, then a year or so later AS5 came out, but many people including myself still prefer it to AS5.

now if you check out AS website here's how they rate the 2 of their products (these are exact excepts from their website);

Ceramique
Performance:
2 to 10 degrees centigrade lower CPU full load core temperatures than standard thermal compounds or thermal pads when measured with a calibrated thermal diode imbedded in the CPU core.

ArticSilve 5
Performance:
3 to 12 degrees centigrade lower CPU full load core temperatures than standard thermal compounds or thermal pads when measured with a calibrated thermal diode imbedded in the CPU core.

I use only Artic Silver myself, but don't you see how word of mouth distorts the facts? We've gone from a guy saying that he's heard it drops temps by 8-12C over AS5 and if you check Artic Silver site out, you'll see that Ceramique will only best AS5 by 1-2c. in the same application.

word of mouth doesn't take the place of reading the hard facts.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

go with the original AS5

 

[Jeff7]

I'm not saying if you SHOULD get AS5 or not, but if you do go that route, SVC is a cheaper source than Newegg - $6/tube, with free first class mail shipping.

I think that for most normal usage though, regular heatsink paste should do fine. Heck, I'm using the retail heatsink with my Core2Duo E6600. I'm just using whatever that thermal stuff is that's stuck to the heatsink. My processor's been under full load for at least a half hour now, and my case/CPU temps are 40/54C. A bit on the warm side, but nothing to worry about.

 

[dlock13]

Originally posted by: DLM

[My computer has been running with AS5 as the thermal paste for the past year, and it just started to overheat.

I'll probably still purchase the Dynex, and then order some AS5 tomorrow or so and put that on next week.

Though, I think I am going to go with the Ceramic. I have heard it drops temps around 8-12 degrees C.

Thanks for the replies though.

here the scoop on this, we were using AS3 since 2000 or 2001 and then AS announced they were coming out with a new product and it was not conductive...the did and AS Ceramique was a hit, then a year or so later AS5 came out, but many people including myself still prefer it to AS5.

now if you check out AS website here's how they rate the 2 of their products (these are exact excepts from their website);

Ceramique
Performance:
2 to 10 degrees centigrade lower CPU full load core temperatures than standard thermal compounds or thermal pads when measured with a calibrated thermal diode imbedded in the CPU core.

ArticSilve 5
Performance:
3 to 12 degrees centigrade lower CPU full load core temperatures than standard thermal compounds or thermal pads when measured with a calibrated thermal diode imbedded in the CPU core.

I use only Artic Silver myself, but don't you see how word of mouth distorts the facts? We've gone from a guy saying that he's heard it drops temps by 8-12C over AS5 and if you check Artic Silver site out, you'll see that Ceramique will only best AS5 by 1-2c. in the same application.

word of mouth doesn't take the place of reading the hard facts.

That helps a great deal. Thank you so much.

I am going to hold off on the purchase then and get AS5. Thank you once again.

 

[DLM]

:thumbsup:

 

[Roguestar]

Always worked well for me.