What is the best thermal compound?

megalizardfish · Jul 19, 2015

Hi, I'm wondering what the best thermal compound is. I hear you don't want it to be conductive, but thats all I know.

Martell1977 · Jul 19, 2015

I like the Arctic MX-4:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186038

I've recently used it on the GPUs in my desktop, my laptop's GPU and CPU and my brothers GPU and CPU. Saw a good drop in temps across the board, the biggest on my laptop (dropped about 10c).

Good stuff, easy to apply and non-conductive.

Winly · Jul 19, 2015

this article may help you pick a great thermal paste!
http://overclocking.guide/thermal-paste-roundup-2015-47-products-tested-with-air-cooling-and-liquid-nitrogen-ln2/
check it out!

RazberyBandit · Jul 19, 2015

I like Prolimatech's PK-3. Its thermal conductivity rating (11.2 W/m) is higher than Arctic Cooling's MX-4 and Gelid Solution's GC-Extreme (both 8.5), which tend to be the two most popular high-performance TIMs. (And no, I don't consider Arctic Silver 5 high-performance.)

http://www.prolimatech.com/en/products/detail.asp?id=1582&page=1

Of course, there are better alternatives, but some may have serious drawbacks.

One such alternative is CooLLaboratory's Liquid Ultra or Liquid Pro. These are brush-on, conductive, liquid-metal alloys which are applied (like paint with a brush) in a very, very thin layer. Unfortunately, these must be used with nickle-plated copper heatsinks and cannot be used with aluminum or they will eat away at it. Also, because they are conductive, getting any of it on a CPU's or GPU's surrounding capacitors is likely going to cause them to fry.

Here's an application demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFhbqiFh9Us

megalizardfish · Jul 19, 2015

RazberyBandit :

The PK-3 looks pretty good, except how should I apply that particular one? It seems thicker than the others, and makes me wonder if I should use the pea method or actually spread it.

RazberyBandit · Jul 19, 2015

Prolimatech recommends that PK-3 be applied via the spread method using the included applicator, though pea method also works. And yes, PK-3 is kind a little more viscous than other TIMs. If that's of concern, PK-2 is less viscous and spreads more easily, and its thermal performance is almost as good as PK-3's.

I warmed PK-3 up in a cup of hot water prior to applying it once and found it slightly easier to spread.

megalizardfish · Jul 20, 2015

RazberyBandit :

From what I have seen, the spreading method is bad, so I would probably just go with the pea method/rice grain method.

RazberyBandit · Jul 20, 2015

Spread method works very well when it is done correctly. The key is to apply a thin, even layer. It's not for everyone because it requires patience and a steady hand.

Winly · Jul 20, 2015

megalizardfish :

very simple. 2 or 3 rice size in the middle of the CPU, get the cooler, twist it left and right and install. The pressure of the cooler into the CPU will spread the paste and the twist a little, will disperse it properly.

megalizardfish · Jul 24, 2015

Winly :

megalizardfish :

very simple. 2 or 3 rice size in the middle of the CPU, get the cooler, twist it left and right and install. The pressure of the cooler into the CPU will spread the paste and the twist a little, will disperse it properly.

Ok, I know this is a bad question, but the pk3 can be used with the cryorig h7 right? I just don't want it to be like the liquid metal and nickel heatsinks.

RazberyBandit · Jul 24, 2015

Yes, it can. PK-3 is non-corrosive and non-conductive, so it's safe for any surface.

And I just bought an H7, too! I'm going to install it Saturday and use some PK-3 on it...

Small world! LOL

Winly · Aug 2, 2015

let us know how it went.

RazberyBandit · Aug 4, 2015

It went pretty well. I find the H7 highly comparable to the 212 EVO, yet shorter, easier to install/remove RAM around, and more attractive. However, CM 212 HS/Fan models mount far more easily. The PK-3 is better than the Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 I had used when I put the 212 EVO system together back around XMAS of 2013. Idle temps (using the same Noiseblocker E-Loop fan) are the same across four cores, but load temps dropped 1-2C.

I decided to open up my AMD APU-powered lappy and replace the stock TIM with some PK-3. Idle temps dropped 4C, max load temps dropped 10C. (I also replaced the stock thermal pads on the chokes with some EKWB thermal padding, though.) The fan never kicks itself into high-gear anymore. Not even when gaming.

PK-3 is good stuff. It is a little thick/viscous and it's not easy to spread using the spread method. Spreading it requires a lot of patience and steadiness, along with slow, easy, light strokes.

megalizardfish · Aug 17, 2015

RazberyBandit :

It went pretty well. I find the H7 highly comparable to the 212 EVO, yet shorter, easier to install/remove RAM around, and more attractive. However, CM 212 HS/Fan models mount far more easily. The PK-3 is better than the Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 I had used when I put the 212 EVO system together back around XMAS of 2013. Idle temps (using the same Noiseblocker E-Loop fan) are the same across four cores, but load temps dropped 1-2C.

I decided to open up my AMD APU-powered lappy and replace the stock TIM with some PK-3. Idle temps dropped 4C, max load temps dropped 10C. (I also replaced the stock thermal pads on the chokes with some EKWB thermal padding, though.) The fan never kicks itself into high-gear anymore. Not even when gaming.

PK-3 is good stuff. It is a little thick/viscous and it's not easy to spread using the spread method. Spreading it requires a lot of patience and steadiness, along with slow, easy, light strokes.

I think I should reapply my thermal paste. Under prime95, it gets up to like 75 degrees.

RazberyBandit · Aug 17, 2015

What CPU do you have?

megalizardfish · Aug 18, 2015

RazberyBandit :

I have a 4790k, but it actually only runs like 50-60 max after hours of playing rome II, so I think im good. However , I noticed some flickering by the cpu under the cpu cooler, and this concerns me. Do you have any idea what this is?

RazberyBandit · Aug 18, 2015

Flickering? No... That definitely shouldn't be happening. Are there any LEDs or LED fans in the system that might simply be reflecting or refracting off a nearby surface? Or perhaps the motherboard has an LED display of some sort?

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