Two Artic Silvers, which one should I use?

[bX510]

I recently took apart my HP laptop since it was getting really hot and I decided to give the fan a cleaning and also add the artic silver. I have two, Arctic Silver Ceramique Thermal Compound and Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound. Which one should I use for my laptops CPU and GPU? Also, what should I clean the stock thermal paste with?

 

[robertk2012]

I use 91% isopropyl alcohol and coffee filters to clean old thermal paste. Either should be fine but I would use the plain ole AS5.

 

[bX510]

I use 91% isopropyl alcohol and coffee filters to clean old thermal paste. Either should be fine but I would use the plain ole AS5.

I bought the two when I was younger without even doing research. What exactly is Ceramique? Which is ideal in what situation? Does 99% isopropyl work?

 

[ihyagp]

Use the AS5 if it isn't separated. 99% isopropyl is great.

 

[Jhatfie]

Both AS5 and Ceramique perform within a degree or so and are great compounds, so you cannot really go wrong with either. I also use isopropyl alcohol for cleanup, it works well.

 

[corb01772]

Ceramique is not electrically conductive and performs maybe 1-2 C worse than Arctic Silver 5. AS5 has traces of silver for better thermal performance but is also somewhat electrically conductive. Although you'd have to be a real klutz to spill it all over your motherboard and possibly cause a short. 🙂 I'd just go with the AS5.

When you clean the old thermal paste off, use a lint-free cloth. As previously suggested, coffee filters are lint-free and work great.

 

[skinnee]

I can only echo what has already been said... except, try Goo-Gone on a paper towel or coffee filter for cleaning thermal paste (TIM). That's what I use right away on the IHS and block/heatsink, and follow it up with Arctic Clean 1 and 2.

As for AS5 vs. Ceramique... Skinnee Labs Tim Round-Up V1 & Skinnee Labs TIM Round-Up V2.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Berrymans Chemtool and your standard electrical cleaners are both good for removing old TIM also. Neither leaves a residue and they evaporate quickly.

 

[SonicIce]

isn't ceramique permanant?

 

[skinnee]

No... you're thinking of thermal epoxy, which Ceramique is certainly not.