Best thermal paste for the CPU
- Thread starter M05K
- Start date
Solution
anything will do fine, i use arctic ceramique, others use arctic silver, others use arctic mx-4, others use the cheapest. its all paste, it all works. whatever is cheap will do fine
EDIT: just dont get thermal adhesive, it is like super glue and wont come off
EDIT: just dont get thermal adhesive, it is like super glue and wont come off
Gam3r01
Titan
- Jan 12, 2013
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Look here:http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermal-paste-performance-benchmark,3616-21.html
There really is no paste thats "better" than another, they are are fairly similar.
Many will recommend AS-5, but thats a relatively old recommendation at this point.
Arctic MX-4 is a good recommendation.
Grab whichever is cheaper on the lower half (temp wise) of the charts in the reviews.
There really is no paste thats "better" than another, they are are fairly similar.
Many will recommend AS-5, but thats a relatively old recommendation at this point.
Arctic MX-4 is a good recommendation.
Grab whichever is cheaper on the lower half (temp wise) of the charts in the reviews.
kira70591
Honorable
- Feb 2, 2014
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I have always grabbed AS-5 or Artic Mx-4 when it goes on sale. I have honestly not noticed much of a temperature difference. Even the paste that comes on coolers such as the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo perform similarly. A lot of TIMS are hype; however, as Gam3r01 said, choose one from the chart that is not too expensive. If you have to look twice at the price, look at something else.
At the moment I am using the stock TIM that comes on the 212 Evo and my i7 4770 idles in the high 20's / low 30's and maybe reaches 70c while under 100% synthetic stress. Much of your temperature variation is going to come from the ambient temperature in your room. The lower your room temperature (along with adequate airflow throughout the case) the lower our temps will be generally (if you have a decent normal temped chip and decent cooler).
At the moment I am using the stock TIM that comes on the 212 Evo and my i7 4770 idles in the high 20's / low 30's and maybe reaches 70c while under 100% synthetic stress. Much of your temperature variation is going to come from the ambient temperature in your room. The lower your room temperature (along with adequate airflow throughout the case) the lower our temps will be generally (if you have a decent normal temped chip and decent cooler).
Vitric9
Distinguished
- Jan 26, 2014
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mayonnaise, .....I am just trolling. What was the question again..
It is really arbitrary, as long as it's not the Cooler Master Stuff.
AC5 and Arctic cooling MX2 and MX4 are great for GPUs as well as CPUs.
Noctua, IC7 the list goes on. AC5 is a bit dated and has a 200 hour+ curing time but it works.
AC MX4 is very fast. No Curing time really.
It is really arbitrary, as long as it's not the Cooler Master Stuff.
AC5 and Arctic cooling MX2 and MX4 are great for GPUs as well as CPUs.
Noctua, IC7 the list goes on. AC5 is a bit dated and has a 200 hour+ curing time but it works.
AC MX4 is very fast. No Curing time really.
hunter315
Champion
- May 12, 2009
- 10,653
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I still enjoy the HW Secrets round up, because "no paste thats 'better' than another" doesn't really hit home until you see MX-4 tied with mayonnaise and mustard coming in a mere 2C higher.
OP - use what ever paste you can get, it doesn't make much difference, just don't use chocolate!
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Thermal-Compound-Roundup-February-2012/1490/5
kira70591
Honorable
- Feb 2, 2014
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Hahaha, thanks for the article. There is such a thin layer there and all it does is help facilitate the transfer of the heat so like the article shows, as long as some sort of layer that is halfway permeable, most anything will do the job 
. Hopefully it does not make the people that spent $$$ on TIM feel bad!
. Hopefully it does not make the people that spent $$$ on TIM feel bad!
AnnoniMoose
Commendable
- Feb 17, 2019
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I respectfully disagree that one paste is as good as another. The issue isn't simply initial thermal conductivity, as expressed in the limited testing referred to in this forum.
What's truly important is how long the paste continues to work at peak efficiency. Most manufacturers use cheap paste which dries out quickly and becomes more of an insulator than a conductor.
My advice is NEVER SCRIMP ON THERMAL COMPOUND! Pay a couple extra bucks to get top-quality stuff that's designed to last many years. You may not keep your computer that long, but buying top quality paste ensures you'll have high performance as long as you do own it.
People who scrimp on paste also tend to be the ones who put cheap oil in their engines.
If you want your stuff to last and not give you trouble, use only good quality products.
What's truly important is how long the paste continues to work at peak efficiency. Most manufacturers use cheap paste which dries out quickly and becomes more of an insulator than a conductor.
My advice is NEVER SCRIMP ON THERMAL COMPOUND! Pay a couple extra bucks to get top-quality stuff that's designed to last many years. You may not keep your computer that long, but buying top quality paste ensures you'll have high performance as long as you do own it.
People who scrimp on paste also tend to be the ones who put cheap oil in their engines.
If you want your stuff to last and not give you trouble, use only good quality products.
Groveling_Wyrm
Distinguished
- Dec 11, 2002
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You just necroposted a 5 year old thread. Yes, there have been many advancements. Reviving an old thread to prove it....prolly not the best thing to do.
AnnoniMoose
Commendable
- Feb 17, 2019
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And that's a problem for you because???
Since this post still happens to be a first-page google hit, many people will happen upon this thread in 2019 and beyond when searching for help. Old tread or new, this is still where they end up. So it's why I posted a reply to such an old thread. It may be old, but it's as relevant as it ever was. (So am I, haha!)
You might want to ask yourself why you felt compelled to go out of your way to make it an issue. Is it because unofficial "rules" and "netiquette" say old threads should be left alone? pfffft! I'm not a rule follower—I'm a helper.
Never mind the rules, ignore the ego, and just do what works.
P.S. Is this how you "distinguished" yourself? By making lots of pointless posts?
I personally believe in quality, not quantity.
Oh never mind, it must have appeared shiny to you. You're forgiven.
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Groveling_Wyrm
Distinguished
- Dec 11, 2002
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And that's a problem for you because???
Since this post still happens to be a first-page google hit, many people will happen upon this thread in 2019 and beyond when searching for help. Old tread or new, this is still where they end up. So it's why I posted a reply to such an old thread. It may be old, but it's as relevant as it ever was. (So am I, haha!)
You might want to ask yourself why you felt compelled to go out of your way to make it an issue. Is it because unofficial "rules" and "netiquette" say old threads should be left alone? pfffft! I'm not a rule follower—I'm a helper.
Never mind the rules, ignore the ego, and just do what works.
P.S. Is this how you "distinguished" yourself? By making lots of pointless posts?
I personally believe in quality, not quantity.
Ok, to go down your list...
It is a problem because, there have been several other threads, in this forum, and others, that ARE more informative and up to date. Reviving an old thread that has no new information is confusing to others, and since is still relevant to google (As you say), then do help making it more informative. Reviving an old thread, then not giving new information, but just giving your opinion, and attacking this website/forum does not help.
The "Distinguished" title I have is something that Tomshardware has given me. Why you brought that up in a thread about thermal paste is pointless. So is the argument about my post count and whether it is pointless or not. I would say that you might want to hang around Tomshardware more and you would see the different titles that people have.or other's post counts. But alas, let's keep it on subject, and not threadjack this thread.
If you wish to "Help", then please do. Add something informative to this thread. Add how things have changed in the last 5 years, yet stayed pretty much the same; add substance about thermal conductivity, or viscocity, usability, or anything informative. You could talk about how the TIM market has matured or how choosing the right TIM can get roughly 25°C difference in your temperatures (Which is huge), depending on the TIM. For example, you could link to the review that Toms did in 2017 like this....Tomshardware TIM Roundup 2017. This IS pretty informative.
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