Ceramique or AS5?

[HardWarrior]

Besides ceramique being non-conductive is there any difference between it and AS5? If I have both, which would be better for a CPU mount?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I have used both as well as other themal compounds they both are way over rated!
Truthfully though...both are the same in what your end result will be!!

I know I really didn`t answer your question...lol

 

[HardWarrior]

Sure you answered my question. The reason why I asked was that I got a tube of cermamique with my Storm, which sort of screams "USE THIS!!!"

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

HW, i think you know the drill.

AS5 is good for 1-2C over Ceramique but AS5*must*be applied in a thin/even manner.
AS5 needs to be heat cycled, several stress loadings and cool down cycles. AS5 is more viscous, harder to apply/remove and as you noted,conductive. All that for maybe a 2C advantage. Is it worth it? Depends on the CPU and the OC i guess. Today i will be mounting
a 3.4e with a XP-90C and will use AS5. The heat loading and cool down cycles this CPU will see are for real :laugh:
AS5 after long term use is known to bind the HS to the CPU when removal time comes.
This can be delt with by heating the HS with a hair dryer at the time of removal.

Ceramique is more forgiving in all areas that AS5 is not but it will not get the last bit of heat transfer.

I removed the NB to remove the pink bubble gum, lap the base, mod a PIII 40mm fan onto it, but will use the paste/grease provided Zalman or Thermalright for reinstalling it.
I feel AS5 would be a real disadvantage in this application. I'm not 100% sure about this but my gut feeling from the reading i've done tells me so.

Galvanized

OT, the pc-70s are down to $150 and i'm so tempted.

 

[charlietee]

The Artic Silver 5 is better than the Ceraminqe...That being said...There are certain applications that I feel the Ceraminqe has an advantage.

On standard builds that will not be overclocked and will more than likely be together for years without the thermal compound being re-applyed, in my humble opinion is the better choice.

If you are like me ripping your computer apart and messing with it on a continuing bases and overclock everything into oblivion where 2 degrees is a big deal (to me anyway) then the Artic Silver 5 would be the better choice.

 

[McArra]

Artic Cooling MX1 rocks, and performs better than both. But if you already have one don't even bother

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
HW, i think you know the drill.

Nope, not until the fine schooling you just applied. Since I'm putting the same block on an X2 in about two months there's no point in slathering my CPU with AS5. Thanks for the lowdown guys! :thumbsup:

 

[nealh]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
AS5 is good for 1-2C over Ceramique but AS5*must*be applied in a thin/even manner.
AS5 needs to be heat cycled, several stress loadings and cool down cycles. AS5 is more

Not according to AS website..you just apply a 3/4 BB size dab in the middle of IHS on an A64...do not spread it out...when you apply the HS it will do this..also...if you spread it out there is a risk of getting too much and AS5 acts like a glue..increased risk of pulling the cpu out of the socket on removal of HSF

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: McArra
Artic Cooling MX1 rocks, and performs better than both. But if you already have one don't even bother

I'm considering getting the MX-1 over both the Ceramique or the AS5. But how do you know all of this? Your own personal experience? I wish we could get some reviews for the MX-1. I've only seen the stuff at SVC and it isn't even listed at Arctic Cooling's webpage last I looked. (Perhaps they're test marketing it?)

Here's a link to the MX-1 at SVC. The description makes it sound as though it's the best:

http://www.svc.com/ac-mx-1.html

[Edit] It turns out that the MX-1 is listed at Arctic-Cooling.com's website. But I couldn't find the Siler or Ceramique. Isn't that the same company?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: nealh

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
AS5 is good for 1-2C over Ceramique but AS5*must*be applied in a thin/even manner.
AS5 needs to be heat cycled, several stress loadings and cool down cycles. AS5 is more

Not according to AS website..you just apply a 3/4 BB size dab in the middle of IHS on an A64...do not spread it out...when you apply the HS it will do this..also...if you spread it out there is a risk of getting too much and AS5 acts like a glue..increased risk of pulling the cpu out of the socket on removal of HSF

arcticsilver.com, Yes I sit corrected. They have changed the application instruction since i started using it. I buff it into both the CPU and HS as they suggest, then with a new razor apply a coat that is just about translucent to the CPU, then
install the HS in a lay-down fashion not stright on as they now instruct. I will modify my proceedure.

Thanks for the heads up.
Galvanized

 

[nealh]

Your welcome...How did you ever get As5 so thin...I find it so gooey(sp??)

I am so worried if I ever need to remove my cpu I will remove it from the socket

the recommendations for users is to to run P95 for 30min and get off the HS fast...not so easy though with the XP90s

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

nealh, i have only removed two Inter retail heatsinks and one Zalman 7000 that i installed w/AS3&5. For me, a firm twisting motion combined with a little leaning pressure seemed to work. Never try to lift the HS stright up after AS5 has taken it's set.

As i noted to HW, some ppl use a hair dryer to pre-heat the HS. I have a heat-gun for shrinkable tubing. If i had too, a cardboard dam would be used the keep the heat off other componets and the hot air centeralized on the HS. Some do run P95. Some have bent pins by rough removal, but i haven't heard of one case where strightening the pins and reinstaling the chip has caused problems. That doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

To put a very fine point on it.
If i was worried about heating the HS too much and damaging the chip, the Temp-Tell crayons would come into play. They mark like a chaulky white crayola and melt clear at an exact temperature. The lowest temp ones i have melt at 150F. I used them in the past to monitor electrical,hydralic and exhaust system restriction/resistance problems.
An inexpensive and very helpful diagnotic tool. Seldom used but very handie when needed. Google temptell crayon for more intresting info.

Galvanized

 

[nealh]

my concern is the XP90 when attached to retention mechanism allows almost no twisting motion to help loosened the heated AS5 after running P95...I have yet to remove after applying but hope if prices are good to get a X2 3800 at Xmas..so I am concerned about this

just do not want to damage a venice 3200 that does 2750 at 1.57v(at 1.62v will do 2.8)

 

[forumposter32]

I remember reading messages by one person saying he broke pins on two CPUs because he had used AS5 and heatsinks were sticking to the CPUs while people are saying they don't have these problems with Arctic Silver Ceramique.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: nealh
my concern is the XP90 when attached to retention mechanism allows almost no twisting motion to help loosened the heated AS5 after running P95...I have yet to remove after applying but hope if prices are good to get a X2 3800 at Xmas..so I am concerned about this

just do not want to damage a venice 3200 that does 2750 at 1.57v(at 1.62v will do 2.8)

My mobo is not in the case yet. A low-end Lian Li w/o a slide out tray. If i had too. The mainboard would be removed and an offset phillips head screw drive used to remove the
retaining bracket screws. The offset would just be used to break them free then a stright phillips to spin them out. Now the XP-90 is free of the clamping springs.
I doubt if i will ever have this difficulty. If i do, i will post it.

I have the large syringe of AS5 and will continue to use it. How do i spread it because it is so gooie :laugh: I might do the grain of rice thing. That's reccomended to keep bubbles of air from being trapped in the TIM.
In the past i used a new single edge razor after feeling it for any burrs. Nice and smooth
is how it should feel. Then use it as if spreading a light coat of Bondo on a car panel.
I make sure the AS5 is warm first. How do you warm-up AS5? The same way i warm up 35mm film and AA batteries that are stored in the frige. It goes in the front pocket of my Levis for about an hour, that'll bring it up to about 92F+. I suppose if it was placed under arm it might reach 96+F This slight warming seems to help. I store it in the garage cabinet and it stays around 50-80F here in SoCal.

I get burdened by FUD but in the end i say"blaszes"and just go for it. Way too many worriers and mixed opinions to work through. Seems like we all want to justify our purchases or engineering experaments and say what's best. There is no best,only the now and right now AS5 is near the top.

Galvanized

 

[nealh]

offset screwdriver nice idea..thanks I will keep that in mind...

 

[MadScientist]

AS5 is, according to AS, non-conductive.

From their website:
Not Electrically Conductive:
Arctic Silver 5 was formulated to conduct heat, not electricity.
(While much safer than electrically conductive silver and copper greases, Arctic Silver 5 should be kept away from electrical traces, pins, and leads. While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive and could potentially cause problems if it bridges two close-proximity electrical paths.)

 

[JEDIYoda]

AS5 is meant to be non conductive yet there have been people who have been careless with the As5 and ended up shorting out there mobo`s......

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: McArra
Artic Cooling MX1 rocks, and performs better than both. But if you already have one don't even bother

I'm considering getting the MX-1 over both the Ceramique or the AS5. But how do you know all of this? Your own personal experience? I wish we could get some reviews for the MX-1. I've only seen the stuff at SVC and it isn't even listed at Arctic Cooling's webpage last I looked. (Perhaps they're test marketing it?)

Here's a link to the MX-1 at SVC. The description makes it sound as though it's the best:

http://www.svc.com/ac-mx-1.html

[Edit] It turns out that the MX-1 is listed at Arctic-Cooling.com's website. But I couldn't find the Siler or Ceramique. Isn't that the same company?

Yup personal experience. I really like this MX1, it performs better than Ceramique by a nice margin (3-4ºC in my case). Also bery easy to apply, put a little bit in the midel of the core and push the heatsink. Works great in both, my VGA and CPU

 

[Zepper]

Boy, this thread title can be a bit tricky if you're not paying close attention...

.bh.

 

[Ike0069]

I've used both and I'm staying with Ceramique.

 

[JEDIYoda]

well again I have used many many thermal pastes over the course of the years....
And sure some are mor or less conductive of electricity than others but basically on the whole a thermal paste is well....how can I say...a thermal paste!!

Its not a heatsink...
Its has nothing to do with good airflow......
it has nothing to do with cable management......
it has been my experiences that when people talk of temps that are better using one than the other they are basing that temp reduction on a reading from a heatsink that has been on there machines for several months maybe even years....
So as I will tell you after I install my heatsinks using any trhermal paste I alweays check my temps after a fresh install and after the "burn in " period!
It only stands to reason that if your heatsink had been on your computer for say a year and that after you cleaned the dust and dirt off and pulled and reseated the heatsink applying new thermal compound you would see some sort if decrease in your temps!

Just my opinion!