thermal compound/grease/paste recommendations

[screwballl]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Arctic Cooling's MX-2 is actually cheaper than AS5.

In another year or two when I use up all my AS5, I will try to remember that

[Capper]

and its very easy to work with.....another compound I like is Zalman's......you literally paint the compound on the IHS

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Capper

add the TX-2 to the list.....there are just too many good options to be using AS5 anymore, theres almost no difference in performance, no cure time, and the non-conductivity issue.

Gah but there's something incredibly fun to put AS5 on your video card mosfets and ramchips. It's a thrill, seeing if it will boot or if you fried your video card. ;)

[Capper]

Ok, due to popular demand....i'll be working on a thermal paste comparative tonight and tomorrow....if i can get it finished this weekend, I'll post it...if not probably monday.

I'll compare

Stock INTEL Thermal pad
Shin Etsu
Arctic Silver 5
Arctic Silver Ceramique
Arctic Silver Luminere
Arctic Cooling MX-2
Tuniq TX-2
Cooler Master Thermal Grease
Thermalright Thermal Grease
Zalman ZM-STG1
OCZ FreeZe

I'll head out to Fry's tonight and see what else I can pick up as well.

[RA1D]

do we have the internet's best site owner or what? rich's dedication to this site and its members is unquestionable.

[Parker]

Originally Posted by RAID

do we have the internet's best site owner or what? rich's dedication to this site and its members is unquestionable.

Rich, you are awesome!
I really do think you work to hard for HL, you seriously need to take a break sometime!

Your dedication is amazing!

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

I've gotten best results with Arctic Silver 5, Arctic Silver Ceramique, or Arctic Cooling MX-2. You can read my review of MX-2 compared to Ceramique and find that the two are very similar in terms of performance. Here is a good guide to check out on how thermal paste works and the best ways to apply it. Just make sure you stay away from thermal adhesive! It is exactly what it sounds like, an adhesive that bonds the two surfaces together (which is not something you want to do with a processor and its heatsink/fan. Thermal Adhesive is used for small memory chips or similar hot components that do not have any mounting holes in which to fasten a heatsink to the chip.

I would not use Vodka or any other liquor to clean a heatsink or processor. Those substances are not pure and will leave behind residue or short out your component if some is left behind because it doesn't evaporate very fast compared to 99% isopropyl alcohol. Vodka might taste strong, but it's not good for cleaning heatsinks and processors! Use only isopropyl alcohol or Arctic Silver's ArctiClean substance for cleaning the surfaces!

Blake did an excellent review here of thermal compounds. He presented real world numbers and made suggestions. So why are we revisiting all this? We need to focus on our own internal reviews and give them a whirl.

Just my take...
Ron

[One4yu2c]

Originally Posted by Reloadron

So why are we revisiting all this?

Blake, as always, did a stellar job, but there are other compounds that he didn't have on hand to test that have fared well in HL's labs, including Tuniq's TX-2. There's also one that we haven't even mentioned yet but had planned on reviewing, AITechnology's Cool Silver.

Matt (Prolific_One) was going to do a massive roundup of pastes, but his work schedule shifted, leaving him little free time for the moment. Will be interesting to see what kind of results Rich comes up with when he takes over that project, and here's hoping he incorporates a taste-test into the testing as well!

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by One4yu2c

Will be interesting to see what kind of results Rich comes up with when he takes over that project, and here's hoping he incorporates a taste-test into the testing as well!

I think that's what he has Bling Bling for!

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by Capper

I'll head out to Fry's tonight and see what else I can pick up as well.

I hear toothpaste works pretty well.