Thermal Compound - Is One Better Than The Other?

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  1. Posts : 297
    Windows 7 Pro x64
       #1

    Thermal Compound - Is One Better Than The Other?


    I'm curious about this, since I have to get some to put the new heatsink module on my motherboard when it arrives. I've found compounds ranging from a dollar a tube to $8.99/tube.

    Is it going to kill my CPU to get cheap-priced compound? What compounds transfer heat better? I have an Intel i7-2720QM in my laptop, so heat's always been a bit of an issue. This is why I'm curious.
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  2. Posts : 7,466
    Windows 10 Home Premium 64bit sp1
       #2

    kbronski said:
    I'm curious about this, since I have to get some to put the new heatsink module on my motherboard when it arrives. I've found compounds ranging from a dollar a tube to $8.99/tube.

    Is it going to kill my CPU to get cheap-priced compound? What compounds transfer heat better? I have an Intel i7-2720QM in my laptop, so heat's always been a bit of an issue. This is why I'm curious.
    Usually you want to go with a Nano Diamond compound I find Arctic Silver the best even though i used higher grades before

    Honestly i would just go with Arctic Silver as it isn't to watery nor too thick which is why it's rated the best because you don't need much and it gets good results that usually runs around 7-8.99 i wouldn't go any cheaper

    http://www.microcenter.com/product/4...l_Compound_35g
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  3. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #3

    I would vote for Arctic Silver too. Worked well for me. Lasted several uears now.
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  4. Posts : 2,973
    Windows 7 Professional 64bit SP1
       #4

    I'd say unless you got a really crappy kind for the most part they all perform very similar. I think what's most important is getting both surfaces very clean, and using the RIGHT amount of thermal paste. I personally like Arctic MX-4 because it's non-conductive, is known to be some of the best commercial paste in terms of heat transfer, and it spreads very well. After you have both surfaces clean, I use an amount the size of a grain of rice right in the middle and you'll be good to go.
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  5. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #5

    kbrady1979 said:
    I'd say unless you got a really crappy kind for the most part they all perform very similar. I think what's most important is getting both surfaces very clean, and using the RIGHT amount of thermal paste. I personally like Arctic MX-4 because it's non-conductive, is known to be some of the best commercial paste in terms of heat transfer, and it spreads very well. After you have both surfaces clean, I use an amount the size of a grain of rice right in the middle and you'll be good to go.
    It also doesn't need to be burned in.
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  6. Posts : 297
    Windows 7 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Burned in? What does that mean?
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  7. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #7

    kbronski said:
    Burned in? What does that mean?
    Deliberately running the CPU at a high load to force high temperatures at first to get the compound to spread better and give a better heat transfer. Some TIM (the fancydancy name for thermal paste) has metal in it and burning it in gives the metal better contact between the CPU and the cooler. Most TIM will eventually settle in just from normally running the computer but burning in gives faster results and, sometimes, better results.
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  8. Posts : 1,486
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    just get some MX-2. best stuff i used.
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  9. Posts : 297
    Windows 7 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Lady Fitzgerald said:
    kbronski said:
    Burned in? What does that mean?
    Deliberately running the CPU at a high load to force high temperatures at first to get the compound to spread better and give a better heat transfer. Some TIM (the fancydancy name for thermal paste) has metal in it and burning it in gives the metal better contact between the CPU and the cooler. Most TIM will eventually settle in just from normally running the computer but burning in gives faster results and, sometimes, better results.
    Interesting, that makes pretty good sense then. So, would it be better, practically speaking, to go with the Arctic Silver 5, or the Arctic MX-4? Since the Silver 5 is, well, silver-based and the MX-4 is carbon-based...
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  10. Posts : 7,466
    Windows 10 Home Premium 64bit sp1
       #10

    I use Arctic Silver5
    I have used both but find Arctic Silver5 beats it by a few C's
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