Pastes: Akasa And Alpenföhn
Akasa 455
Model 455 is basically the entry-level product from Akasa. However, it is quite thick and thus not suitable for beginners. A low price cannot make up for the paste’s difficult application.
| Akasa 455 | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 2.4 W/(m*K) |
| CPU Water Cooling, High Pressure | 33.4 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, High Pressure | 37.4 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, Low Pressure | 37.8 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| GPU Cooling | 70.0 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| Electrically Conductive | No |
| Viscosity | 5 (1-10, lower numbers mean easier to use) |
| Ease of Use | 5 (1-10, higher numbers mean easier to use) |
| Application Hints | The paste can be spread more easily if you warm it to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit in a pot of water, sealed in a water-tight pouch. |
| Price (approximate) | $10 (5 grams) |
Akasa Pro-Grade 460
This paste barely differs from the Akasa 455, described above. It is not any easier to use, and the results we measured are only slightly better. Since it's also more expensive than the 455 paste, its purchase is questionable.
| Akasa Pro-Grade 460 | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 3.3 W/(m*K) |
| CPU Water Cooling, High Pressure | 33.2 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, High Pressure | 37.0 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, Low Pressure | 37.2 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| GPU Cooling | 69.0 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| Electrically Conductive | No |
| Viscosity | 5 (1-10, lower numbers mean easier to use) |
| Ease of Use | 5 (1-10, lower numbers mean easier to use) |
| Application Hints | The paste can be spread more easily if you warm it to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit in a pot of water, sealed in a water-tight pouch. |
| Price (approximate) | $8 (3.5 grams) |
Akasa Pro-Grade+ 5022
This is another product from Akasa that costs more than the one we just looked at. While the performance measurements we generated are again better than the previous two compounds, and it is somewhat softer, this is still a thick paste. Warm it up a bit, though, and it can be applied more easily, yielding very satisfactory results.
| Akasa Pro-Grade+ 5022 | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 4.0 W/(m*K) |
| CPU Water Cooling, High Pressure | 32.6 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, High Pressure | 36.2 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, Low Pressure | 37.6 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| GPU Cooling | 69.0 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| Electrically Conductive | No |
| Viscosity | 5 (1-10, lower numbers mean easier to use) |
| Ease of Use | 6 (1-10, higher numbers mean easier to use) |
| Application Hints | The paste can be spread more easily if you warm it to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit in a pot of water, sealed in a water-tight pouch. |
| Price (approximate) | N/A |
EKL Alpenföhn Schneekanone
Schneekanone translates to Snow Cannon, which sounds like a whimsical name promising icy-cold CPUs. While your processor certainly won't hit temperatures that low, this paste's thermal performance is still pretty good. However, its price is too high and it's not very easy to use. While it is more expensive than the classic Arctic MX-2, it isn’t any better. Fortunately, enthusiasts in the U.S. won't need to worry about this, since EKL's Alpenföhn Schneekanone isn't available here.
| EKL Alpenföhn Schneekanone | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 1.134 W/(m*K) |
| CPU Water Cooling, High Pressure | 32.8 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, High Pressure | 36.8 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| CPU Air Cooling, Low Pressure | 38.0 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| GPU Cooling | 67.5 ΔT (22 °C ambient) |
| Electrically Conductive | No |
| Viscosity | 5 (1-10, lower numbers mean easier to use) |
| Ease of Use | 5 (1-10, higher numbers mean easier to use) |
| Application Hints | The paste can be spread more easily if you warm it to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit in a pot of water, sealed in a water-tight pouch. |
| Price (approximate) | N/A |
