Does Thermal Paste Brand Matter?!

imported_cinder

Senior member
Sep 19, 2006
258
0
0
Ok I was curious...whats the difference between say one company's thermal paste to another... most are Artic Silver or something like that..but I can't really tell what will make a difference...I do plan to overclock my e6300 so I just want to make a good choice..and see if actually matters.
 

grtmoby

Member
Sep 17, 2006
62
0
0
it does matter, the ingredients of the paste and its usage purpose. do your homework and search for reviews and so u can make up ur mind on which to get. I think u'll end choosing from three, AS, Zalman new paste or OCZ.
 

Roguestar

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
6,045
0
0
A couple of degrees between well applied artic silver and a thermal pad, for example. For the cost of it (a couple of pounds) you may as well get a tube, it'll probably last you years.
 

tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
0
0
I read someplace that AS5 does not last for years once opened.

MX-1 is supposed to be very good as well

MX-1
 

tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
0
0
I read someplace that AS5 does not last for years once opened.

MX-1 is supposed to be very good as well

MX-1
 

tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
0
0
I read someplace that AS5 does not last for years once opened.

MX-1 is supposed to be very good as well

MX-1
 

themisfit610

Golden Member
Apr 16, 2006
1,352
2
81
Anything is better than a thermal pad or the cheap goop that you get with some heatsinks. It's really cheap and has been proven to drop temps at least a couple degrees, which might equal an extra 100 mhz or so with your overclock... Compare that to an extra $50-100 in some instances for the extra 100 mhz stock.

Cooler is always better :D

~MiSfit
 
Jan 9, 2001
704
0
0
Originally posted by: tallman45
I read someplace that AS5 does not last for years once opened.

MX-1 is supposed to be very good as well

MX-1

MX-1 is great, it's easy to apply and it won't hurt anything electrical if you are messy when you do apply it. It is also supposed to last at least 8 years once applied. I have been using it on all my Athlon 64 systems.
 

bjp999

Member
Nov 2, 2006
137
0
0
Have any independent tests been done to compare MX-1 to AS5? If its longer lasting, less dangerous, and works better, I'd certainly be willing to switch! If you know of one, please post a URL.
 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,513
16
81
For CPUs with very small area between the CPU and heatsink - a good thermal compound is quite important.

However, most modern CPUs have some form of integrated heat spreader. The advantage of the heat spreader is that the connection between the spreader and heatsink is much less critical - because the large area spreads the heat.

Nevertheless, you could see core temperature changes of 2-3 C by replacing a standard material, with a high-end one (e.g. AS).

Unless you absolutely want that last 2 C or so, the simple to use, highly reliable material that comes as stock is good enough.
 

Jaepheth

Platinum Member
Apr 29, 2006
2,572
25
91
Is the standard white compound that comes with Zalman products any good?
 

LittleNemoNES

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2005
4,142
0
0
Originally posted by: Jaepheth
Is the standard white compound that comes with Zalman products any good?

AS5 has shown itself to be 2-8* C better than most anything so I make it a point to use AS5
 

Conky

Lifer
May 9, 2001
10,709
0
0
Originally posted by: CCityInstaller
Originally posted by: tallman45
I read someplace that AS5 does not last for years once opened.

MX-1 is supposed to be very good as well

MX-1

MX-1 is great, it's easy to apply and it won't hurt anything electrical if you are messy when you do apply it. It is also supposed to last at least 8 years once applied. I have been using it on all my Athlon 64 systems.
I like MX-1 too. :thumbsup:

My system is running very cool with it. I'm done using "silver" pastes now that I've discovered this stuff.
 

TBSN

Senior member
Nov 12, 2006
925
0
76
quick question: when applying any thermal paste, is there a minimum drying or curing time before the computer should be turned on?

(It probably says on the package of thermal paste, I was just wondering if there are any "unofficial" tips based on experience, etc)
 

Conky

Lifer
May 9, 2001
10,709
0
0
Originally posted by: TBSN
quick question: when applying any thermal paste, is there a minimum drying or curing time before the computer should be turned on?

(It probably says on the package of thermal paste, I was just wondering if there are any "unofficial" tips based on experience, etc)
Nope, you can and should fire it up right away. :D

Some of the pastes require time to cure to get maximum cooling effect but it's expected to cure during the repeated heating and cooling that occurs from regular use. ;)
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
just use any paste, doesn't matter unless you overclock. if your chip is that close to the verge of overheating its trouble anyways. chip that runs at 60degs will probably run just as long as one running at 55:p by the time they croak from heat they'll be so obsolete it won't matter. and no, it won't go faster, but some people get their kicks off cpu temperatures, kinda like if martha stewart were a pc nerd.
 

Conky

Lifer
May 9, 2001
10,709
0
0
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
http://www.dansdata.com/goop.htm
That link is a blast from the past and true to a point.

Most guys negate the value of good thermal goop by either putting too much on or not having enough of a fan on their heatsink to get the job done.

I like to think of decent thermal compound as one would think of "chicken soup" for the treatment of a cold. It might not be a complete cure but it certainly doesn't hurt anything. :p

And it's good geek fun knowing I can control my system and it's temps. I've played 3 separate FPS games today for at least a couple hours and the highest my cpu temp has been today is 98F or a little under 37C for you wacky metric system people. ;) Not even body temperature. :laugh: