Thermal Compound - Is One Better Than The Other?

Lady Fitzgerald · 09 Dec 2013

Arctic Silver 5 is clearly superior temperaturewise but Arctic MX-4 is easier to use and is more forgiving of errors.

linnemeyerhere · 09 Dec 2013

Next time I apply I'm going to give the lap method a try rather than the pea or those variations.

GeneO · 09 Dec 2013

Most perform the same. I prefer MX-4 because it is easy to apply. I get slightly better temps than arctic silver 5 with it.

Layback Bear · 09 Dec 2013

I have only tried a few different thermal compounds but alway ended back using Arctic Silver 5.

linnemeyerhere · 09 Dec 2013

It's just a little like AV programs, it's a matter of what works for you. proper application of almost any premium thermal compound will net temps within a couple of degrees of the other to where better case cooling would make a bigger difference.

kbronski · 09 Dec 2013

Haha, alright, well, for sake of saving a couple bucks, I'll give Arctic Silver 5 a try and see how it works! :)

Mellon Head · 09 Dec 2013

kbronski said:

Haha, alright, well, for sake of saving a couple bucks, I'll give Arctic Silver 5 a try and see how it works! :)

Good choice. I've used it for years and it works well.

AddRAM · 10 Dec 2013

Arctic Silver 5, Arctic Alumina, and Cooler Master Ice Fusion have all worked well for me.

IanDrexP · 11 Dec 2013

[YOUTUBE] Thermal Paste - NCIX Showdown
All you need to see

madcratebuilder · 11 Dec 2013

AddRAM said:

Arctic Silver 5, Arctic Alumina, and Cooler Master Ice Fusion have all worked well for me.

Those are all good products, I've used all of them at one time or another. I'm using GELID now as it's a non conductive compound, also non curing and non corrosive. In the TIM shootouts GELID gc-extreme is always the winner by a degree or two.

Careful application of any of the major brands gets the job done.