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Guru3D Thermal Paste Roundup 2019
Posted by: on: 08/23/2019 11:58 AM [
65 comment(s) ]
Thermal paste is an often-overlooked part of most computer setups. You can simply use the pre-applied stuff, or the thermal paste that comes with your motherboard, and still get reasonable processor temps at stock speeds. Thermal paste is a compound that helps to fill the gap between the CPU and a custom cooler.
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SaberJ2X
Senior Member
Posts: 2490
Senior Member
Posts: 2490
Posted on: 08/23/2019 12:34 PM
yup, just confirms my arsenal of paste is the best...
big tube of Conductonaut and MX-4, and a small one of NT-H1...
and a huge tube of Artic Silver Ceramique when I need to use as a throw away paste to test if it was the bad thermal paste in heating up laptops ... which is still good compared to generic goop...
Zotac mini with conductonaut on core and MX4 in power mosfets, and a bit on the memory
yup, just confirms my arsenal of paste is the best...
big tube of Conductonaut and MX-4, and a small one of NT-H1...
and a huge tube of Artic Silver Ceramique when I need to use as a throw away paste to test if it was the bad thermal paste in heating up laptops ... which is still good compared to generic goop...
Zotac mini with conductonaut on core and MX4 in power mosfets, and a bit on the memory
Undying
Senior Member
Posts: 11575
Senior Member
Posts: 11575
Posted on: 08/23/2019 12:37 PM
HH you have any of those thermal grizzly carbon pads? It would be interesting to see how does it compare.
Interesting test though. Little change from all those gpu/cpus.
HH you have any of those thermal grizzly carbon pads? It would be interesting to see how does it compare.
Interesting test though. Little change from all those gpu/cpus.
Krizby
Senior Member
Posts: 585
Senior Member
Posts: 585
Posted on: 08/23/2019 12:41 PM
Very nice review, from my own experience Conductonaut really drop 4C compare to Kryonaut when applying on GPU die, that and Kryonaut will dry out quickly at high temp (80C+).
Very nice review, from my own experience Conductonaut really drop 4C compare to Kryonaut when applying on GPU die, that and Kryonaut will dry out quickly at high temp (80C+).
tty8k
Member
Posts: 71
Member
Posts: 71
Posted on: 08/23/2019 12:42 PM
Great review, good selection of products right on the spot with testing CPUs, we all know those get hot. MX-4 is my choice, in general.
Great review, good selection of products right on the spot with testing CPUs, we all know those get hot. MX-4 is my choice, in general.
SaberJ2X
Senior Member
Posts: 2490
Senior Member
Posts: 2490
Posted on: 08/23/2019 12:44 PM
also... the carbonaut was tested in LTT, and gamers nexus ripped a hole into it with derbauer..
I don't think it's bad... but for general testing before final final assembly or to use as a baseline comparing it to "best case scenario for stock thermal paste" instead of using it for extreme use..
MX4 is better than it, and the MX4 is dirt cheap
also... the carbonaut was tested in LTT, and gamers nexus ripped a hole into it with derbauer..
I don't think it's bad... but for general testing before final final assembly or to use as a baseline comparing it to "best case scenario for stock thermal paste" instead of using it for extreme use..
MX4 is better than it, and the MX4 is dirt cheap
SaberJ2X
Senior Member
Posts: 2490
Senior Member
Posts: 2490
Posted on: 08/23/2019 12:48 PM
when I got my 6600K stock, with a 3570K bundled heatsink I passed my time in 70c town at stock settings
with a EVO212 it dropped to 64loaded and a 4.2OC
with conductonaut between die and IHS and then MX4 to the 212... it drops to 50-55c loaded and 31c idle, almost ambient temp
Very nice review, from my own experience Conductonaut really drop 4C compare to Kryonaut when applying on GPU die, that and Kryonaut will dry out quickly at high temp (80C+).
when I got my 6600K stock, with a 3570K bundled heatsink I passed my time in 70c town at stock settings
with a EVO212 it dropped to 64loaded and a 4.2OC
with conductonaut between die and IHS and then MX4 to the 212... it drops to 50-55c loaded and 31c idle, almost ambient temp
Evildead666
Senior Member
Posts: 1169
Senior Member
Posts: 1169
Posted on: 08/23/2019 12:56 PM
Excellent article, just in time for my build this weekend.
luckily have a largish tube of Kryonaut.
Excellent article, just in time for my build this weekend.
luckily have a largish tube of Kryonaut.
Hilbert Hagedoorn
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 35889
Don Vito Corleone
Posts: 35889
Posted on: 08/23/2019 01:00 PM
Chris made all the work on this test, but we can certainly add some new TIMs and pads for a future update article. Just post them in this thread and we'll keep an eye out.
HH you have any of those thermal grizzly carbon pads?
Chris made all the work on this test, but we can certainly add some new TIMs and pads for a future update article. Just post them in this thread and we'll keep an eye out.
rl66
Senior Member
Posts: 2097
Senior Member
Posts: 2097
Posted on: 08/23/2019 01:47 PM
I confirm that those pad seem very nice on a computer i have done for a friend.
the cool thing is that they are easy to use.
It might be interesting to compare it to regular TG.
*edit* btw it is nice to see that even the worse TG is not a bad one and do the job, not like in the past were the worse one were really bad.
Chris made all the work on this test, but we can certainly add some new TIMs and pads for a future update article. Just post them in this thread and we'll keep an eye out.
I confirm that those pad seem very nice on a computer i have done for a friend.
the cool thing is that they are easy to use.
It might be interesting to compare it to regular TG.
*edit* btw it is nice to see that even the worse TG is not a bad one and do the job, not like in the past were the worse one were really bad.
coth
Senior Member
Posts: 406
Senior Member
Posts: 406
Posted on: 08/23/2019 02:20 PM
MX4 is pretty bad nowadays. Loses all its properties in just weeks. And doing even worse. Nice temps you are only getting for a short term, but eventually you can end up with temperatures much higher, than before MX4. A lot of thermal pastes are actually drying out pretty quick and losing thermal properties. So longevity tests would be much more useful, than thermal.
MX4 is better than it, and the MX4 is dirt cheap
MX4 is pretty bad nowadays. Loses all its properties in just weeks. And doing even worse. Nice temps you are only getting for a short term, but eventually you can end up with temperatures much higher, than before MX4. A lot of thermal pastes are actually drying out pretty quick and losing thermal properties. So longevity tests would be much more useful, than thermal.
Astyanax
Senior Member
Posts: 3031
Senior Member
Posts: 3031
Posted on: 08/23/2019 02:21 PM
nonsense.
going to have to call bs on that.
MX4 is pretty bad nowadays.
nonsense.
Loses all its properties in just weeks.
going to have to call bs on that.
WhiteLightning
Posts: 27894
Posts: 27894
Posted on: 08/23/2019 02:31 PM
excellent review, need to order some paste myself soon, so this really comes in handy atm.
btw hilbert it would be "cool" if liquid pro/ultra could be added next time.
Im using their ultra since years atm.
-edit- I see they also have a new one called extreme. https://www.coollaboratory.com/product/coollaboratory-liquid-extreme/
excellent review, need to order some paste myself soon, so this really comes in handy atm.
btw hilbert it would be "cool" if liquid pro/ultra could be added next time.
Im using their ultra since years atm.
-edit- I see they also have a new one called extreme. https://www.coollaboratory.com/product/coollaboratory-liquid-extreme/
Richard Nutman
Member
Posts: 82
Member
Posts: 82
Posted on: 08/23/2019 02:41 PM
I'm surprised Arctic Silver 5 does soo poorly when it has a very respectable thermal conductivity figure.
That's been my paste of choice for years. Time to switch up!
I'm surprised Arctic Silver 5 does soo poorly when it has a very respectable thermal conductivity figure.
That's been my paste of choice for years. Time to switch up!
Kool64
Senior Member
Posts: 288
Senior Member
Posts: 288
Posted on: 08/23/2019 03:00 PM
I'm surprised Arctic Silver 5 does soo poorly when it has a very respectable thermal conductivity figure.
That's been my paste of choice for years. Time to switch up!
me too I've been using AS5 for so long that I don't remember but it's way more than 10 years.
I'm surprised Arctic Silver 5 does soo poorly when it has a very respectable thermal conductivity figure.
That's been my paste of choice for years. Time to switch up!
me too I've been using AS5 for so long that I don't remember but it's way more than 10 years.
Strange Times
Senior Member
Posts: 184
Senior Member
Posts: 184
Posted on: 08/23/2019 03:06 PM
no toothpaste paste or mayonnaise? SAD.
no toothpaste paste or mayonnaise? SAD.
AStaUK
Member
Posts: 61
Member
Posts: 61
Posted on: 08/23/2019 03:13 PM
Using MX4 on my new 3900X build and very happy with it. Started with Kyronaut but found it hard to spread, even after warming it in hot water. When I removed the cooler it was almost chalky, so switched to MX4 as I'd had good experiences with Arctic Silver before.
Using MX4 on my new 3900X build and very happy with it. Started with Kyronaut but found it hard to spread, even after warming it in hot water. When I removed the cooler it was almost chalky, so switched to MX4 as I'd had good experiences with Arctic Silver before.
OnnA
Senior Member
Posts: 9158
Senior Member
Posts: 9158
Posted on: 08/23/2019 03:40 PM
My Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut waiting for Ryzen 3700X :p
Bought it over a month ago.
Also have Arctic Silver 5 in my drawer...
My Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut waiting for Ryzen 3700X :p
Bought it over a month ago.
Also have Arctic Silver 5 in my drawer...
RzrTrek
Senior Member
Posts: 2261
Senior Member
Posts: 2261
Posted on: 08/23/2019 03:49 PM
I've always been using Arctic MX-4, but then again it cost like ~$5 and I just want to replace the stock compound.
I've always been using Arctic MX-4, but then again it cost like ~$5 and I just want to replace the stock compound.
TheDeeGee
Senior Member
Posts: 6092
Senior Member
Posts: 6092
Posted on: 08/23/2019 04:02 PM
I have the same experience with MX4. After 2 weeks the Temp went up by 10C, and it looked all watery.
I'll stick to Noctua NT-H1 on my CPU and GPU like i have been doing for the past 10 years. It doesn't dry out either. I recently applied new paste after 2 years and the temps were the same.
MX4 is pretty bad nowadays. Loses all its properties in just weeks. And doing even worse. Nice temps you are only getting for a short term, but eventually you can end up with temperatures much higher, than before MX4. A lot of thermal pastes are actually drying out pretty quick and losing thermal properties. So longevity tests would be much more useful, than thermal.
I have the same experience with MX4. After 2 weeks the Temp went up by 10C, and it looked all watery.
I'll stick to Noctua NT-H1 on my CPU and GPU like i have been doing for the past 10 years. It doesn't dry out either. I recently applied new paste after 2 years and the temps were the same.
Fox2232
Senior Member
Posts: 9678
Senior Member
Posts: 9678
Posted on: 08/23/2019 04:02 PM
Good tests, good testing method. (long time sessions of cold/heat before actual tests)
Only "Each one has been applied using the big X pattern" kind of rises eyebrow.
I always use rather tiny amount, assemble things. Then disassemble again and see if that was good or not. Clean again and reapply (adjust amount if needed).
Good tests, good testing method. (long time sessions of cold/heat before actual tests)
Only "Each one has been applied using the big X pattern" kind of rises eyebrow.
I always use rather tiny amount, assemble things. Then disassemble again and see if that was good or not. Clean again and reapply (adjust amount if needed).
H83
Senior Member
Posts: 2691
Senior Member
Posts: 2691
Posted on: 08/23/2019 04:05 PM
I´ve always used Noctua paste because it comes with their coolers so i can save some euros...
But the only paste that stands apart from the others is the Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut, powerful stuff! But the fact that it can "destroy" MBs leaves me uneasy... I think i will continue with Noctua even if it´s worse.
Nice article!
I´ve always used Noctua paste because it comes with their coolers so i can save some euros...
But the only paste that stands apart from the others is the Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut, powerful stuff! But the fact that it can "destroy" MBs leaves me uneasy... I think i will continue with Noctua even if it´s worse.
Nice article!
Prince Valiant
Senior Member
Posts: 686
Senior Member
Posts: 686
Posted on: 08/23/2019 04:43 PM
Thanks for this, nice article. I'd also be curious to see some thermal pad results like the others have mentioned.
Thanks for this, nice article. I'd also be curious to see some thermal pad results like the others have mentioned.
jose2016
Member
Posts: 41
Member
Posts: 41
Posted on: 08/23/2019 05:22 PM
It's a pity not to see the Thermalright Chill Factor 3 that comes with the "Le Grand Macho RT" heatsink to see if it's worth changing or not.
It's a pity not to see the Thermalright Chill Factor 3 that comes with the "Le Grand Macho RT" heatsink to see if it's worth changing or not.
chocoaddict
Member
Posts: 25
Member
Posts: 25
Posted on: 08/23/2019 05:39 PM
This. Those test is what I’m looking for all these years. Unfortunately, no one have the time nor exact hardware for doing it simultaneously for each thermal paste, and it’s sure costly. For now I’m sticking with kryonaut, and always keep an eye for any thermal degradation.
MX4 is pretty bad nowadays. Loses all its properties in just weeks. And doing even worse. Nice temps you are only getting for a short term, but eventually you can end up with temperatures much higher, than before MX4. A lot of thermal pastes are actually drying out pretty quick and losing thermal properties. So longevity tests would be much more useful, than thermal.
This. Those test is what I’m looking for all these years. Unfortunately, no one have the time nor exact hardware for doing it simultaneously for each thermal paste, and it’s sure costly. For now I’m sticking with kryonaut, and always keep an eye for any thermal degradation.
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Senior Member
Posts: 109
nice article, would be nice to add the grizzly carbonaut and innovative IC graphite pad also, they are nice alternative to thermal paste