What kind of thermal paste to use?

[Macgruber]

what should i buy to use on an i7 2600k thats going to use a a bigwater 850 GT system


i have some instore thermal paste but i want the best i can buy, im not sure which are more conductive than the others or what stats to really compare so im hoping some input from you guys will help me with my research


i have a few days before i get the case so i do want to order as much as ill need for when i build it i dont have to keep returning parts and exchanging them

 

[ViviTheMage]

Arctic Silver 5, or a lot of people swear by the indigo :

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052GLZ6K...6KNXA2B0NRPFR&

I have some indigo, it is a one time use, but I did see 2~ C in drops from my arctic silver 5 even.

 

[Macgruber]

Arctic Silver 5, or a lot of people swear by the indigo :

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052GLZ6K...6KNXA2B0NRPFR&

I have some indigo, it is a one time use, but I did see 2~ C in drops from my arctic silver 5 even.

What do you mean one time use :X does this mean i cant clean the processor/heatsink after i use it? lol sounds like super glue!!!

 

[ViviTheMage]

Yup, it is literally one time use. You can only apply it once....then removing the heatsink it is useless.

 

[Vectronic]

Most of the best ones are one-time use. If you're careful most of them can be separated afterwards, especially with Intel sockets since you have to worry less about breaking pins and the IHS is clasped down.

If you hadn't de-lidded prior to it, you'll probably want to do it afterwards.

80 TIMs compared
50-ish here (and basically the same here)

It's kinda like everything else though, depends on a lot of specifics.

Almost none of the tests are accurate, but I do like the HardwareSecrets tests simply because they toss in a bunch of stupid s**t... like using Mayonnaise, Chocolate, Diaper Cream.

 

[Torn Mind]

Arctic Silver 5 is most certainly NOT the best anymore. It is obselete. You can do better with the Prolimatech PK-2 or PK-3, or Indigo Extreme. Or, if you want to go really hardcore, the Coolaboratory's "Liquid" series is the absolute best, although disassembly might be an issue with that.

 

[Macgruber]

well i am completely ruling out any one time use product, id be screwed considering i've already changed 3 cooling systems in 1 month


im going to take a look at the prolimatech and try to compare stats and research some tomorrow, am hoping polimatech isnt a one time use xD

 

[Macgruber]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835242028 or AS5 or which prolimatech


edit - also do you guys do a teardrop of compound on your cpu and then apply pressure with the heatsink to evenly spread the compound out or do you actually touch the compound and spread it around the cpu? :S

 

[Vectronic]

rice grain usually (spose that could be tear drop?, not pee-size though).

I've used 2 methods, 3 amounts so far for my Ivy.

1. Line parallel to chip orientation (ie: vertically)
2. Same line more TIM
3. Rice grain

No difference in temperatures with mine (well no noticeable difference), so may as well stay with rice grain to save TIM.

It depends on the consistency and type of TIM really, CL Liquid(s) you spread out, most paste-types you rice grain or pee size... it doesn't really matter too much which method you use as long as whatever method it is, is a solid amount... ie: don't do the dual line method, or the X method because you'll probably get bubbles underneath.

This may not work all that well with a water loop, but I also usually just let the cooler sit on the TIM + IHS... turn the PC on, let it warm up for awhile before tightening the heatsink.

 

[ronss]

i would be more concerned with the type of cooling you are using than the thermal compound...i don,t like the thick stuff, and just use coolermaster,,,,easy on , easy off....most of your cooling will come from the heatsink and fan, or water cooling device

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103027

 

[T_Yamamoto]

As5 is obsolete now but people stand by it.

 

[lehtv]

As5 is obsolete now but people stand by it.

Pretty much. So many compounds better than AS5 not only in performance but in the time needed to cure as well as the physical composition.

 

[SaurusX]

I thought that user idontcare had determined that the Noctua NT-H1 was the best traditional TIM, i.e. non-liquid metal. You can see his thread here:

Edit: This is the thread I was thinking of:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2285595

 

[ScottAD]

I am a big fan of IC Diamond myself. Used it on all my systems one runs a 2500k at 5 Ghz on air. Granted that's also part of the chips doing but YMMV.

 

[Deders]

I thought that user idontcare had determined that the Noctua NT-H1 was the best traditional TIM, i.e. non-liquid metal. You can see his thread here:

Edit: This is the thread I was thinking of:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2285595

Also despite this thread's findings, MX4 gave me 10c better load temps than Arctic Silver 5. the Noctua is also reputed to be excellent.

 

[Kenmitch]

Also despite this thread's findings, MX4 gave me 10c better load temps than Arctic Silver 5. the Noctua is also reputed to be excellent.

For the lazy

Not a whole lotta diff between them all in the end. I guess it would depend on how lucky of a mount a person gets, using too much, too little, etc. could sway ones results.

 

[Torn Mind]

For the lazy

Not a whole lotta diff between them all in the end. I guess it would depend on how lucky of a mount a person gets, using too much, too little, etc. could sway ones results.

Funny how Ceramique beats out its supposed big brother in that run.

 

[Liquid_Static]

I've always used Arctic Silver 5. From what I understand it's essentially middle of the road stuff, a "jack of all trades"

 

[Deders]

I believe ceramic based TIM's are better for larger gaps, some laptops require special ceramic formula's for their northbridge as the heatsink can't be mounted as tightly as it would be on a CPU.

 

[Macgruber]

going to order me some Noctua NT-h1, not even going to compare its specs with the others

anything will beat the instore coolermaster thermal compound i bought, and even with that compound and the H100 i was hitting <<<63*C 100% load after hour+ at 4.5ghz 1.320v so i couldnt complain

 

[blastingcap]

AS5 is old school, even MX-2 edges it out. I would get something like MX-2, MX-4, PK-1, or if you really want to, a liquid metal solution like Indigo Xtreme.