What is Your fav thermal paste/metal and apply method?

HiCZoK

HiCZoK

Gawd
Joined
Sep 18, 2006
Messages
860
Hey everyone!

I was always using some noname silicone or silver paste. Did some reading because I wanted something universal, that is non conductive and can be used for cpu, gpu, console etc. Easy to clean, long lasting and performing at least well... Don't know if I did well but ordered Arctic mx-4 as it seemed as general recommendation.

I wanted to get some IC Diamond at first but was afraid of it scratching surfaces.

As for apply method, I don't think it matters at all but I like pea and line method for my macho 120.

share!
 
AS5 and tiny little dabs in the shape of a box with an X in the middle. I leave a little room around the edge for it to spread. Never had a single issue with conductivity but yes it does have a brake-in period. Used it for years and years and years on CPUs, gpus, chipsets, laptops, xboxs, TVs, anything with a heat sink really.
 
Ancient symbol of the OC gods. Blesses me with superior overclockability! Started with my duron 600 that would do almost 1200! So I stick with it.
 
I just spread a thin consistent layer across the entire surface. Never had an issue with temperatures, been using this method for 15 years.

I know people complain about trapped air with this method, but I think most of those people are using a credit card to flatten the surface. I just use my finger to make circles to flatten things out, so the surface is rougher than people who use a straight edge.

Rough surfaces tend to allow air to escape as you're pressing down with the heatsink. This is the same reason why a dab in the center is recommended.

If you use my method, be sure to wash your finger before you do it. Oils are bad for conductivity :D
 
As seen in this video:


Every method is good and exactly the same except getting waaaay not enough
 
pendragon1 said:
Ancient symbol of the OC gods. Blesses me with superior overclockability! Started with my duron 600 that would do almost 1200! So I stick with it.
Click to expand...

I Lol'd hard

Me I just focus on the larger issue - aiming at the CPU without hitting the panel I/O pins or the walls.

It's an amorphous blob of MX-4
 
I've checked the temperature transmission with thermal pastes before and I'm rarely satisfied with the results I'm getting.
It's really the same everywhere, companies are just ripping you off.
I swear I'm gonna take the pastes of a couple manufacturers to the lab and do some tests on thermal conductivity.
I'd be very surprised if the provided values would be correct.
 
I have used as5, and asc for probably 10-15 years. Depending on what I have sitting around at the time.

I apply it in a straight line down the center of the die over the cores as recommends by AS. I have never had a single problem.

The issue 99% of the time is people putting on too much tim.
 
The line method over DIE is probably the most reasonable but how do I recognize in which way cores are set on 2500k ?
I 've got that mx4 but still hasn't got around to replacing the paste
 
AS5 is so outdated. They have much, much better thermal grease/paste that doesn't require long break-in periods that is as good as if not better than AS5.
 
AS5 isnt outdated IMO. It still works fine. Is there better? Yeah, probably. I think AS5 is still a good way to go but if you must have the very best then get whatever the best is this month. Me, I still use AS5 and it does the job very nicely. I'm not a hard core overclocker though.

As for application I use the long grain of rice method. Its how I was taught years ago and it works well. I've also used hsf and AIO coolers that come with grease pre applied covering the entire block and never had issues with that either.
 
I've tried AS5, but I found that the paste that came with my cooler was very close in performance and didn't require a break-in period. AS5 is definitely good stuff, but you would probably have to drive the processor really hard for it to make a difference. In my case, I found that CoolerMaster's default paste on a 212 EVO did about as well as the AS5, but without the curing time. The AS5 was about a degree cooler on my Sandy Bridge... but it certainly wasn't worth what I paid.

I also tried this higher-end product from CoolerMaster called ExtremeFusion X1... and it seemed to do better than the AS5, although maybe I applied the AS5 wrong... not sure whether it lived up to the claim of beating silver-based pastes or not. Honestly, I'm starting to think it's the overclocker's equivalent of snake oil... especially these days, when the TIM used on Intel's internal heatspreaders is so low-quality anyway that you can only dissipate so much heat.
 
Skott said:
AS5 isnt outdated IMO. It still works fine. Is there better? Yeah, probably. I think AS5 is still a good way to go but if you must have the very best then get whatever the best is this month. Me, I still use AS5 and it does the job very nicely. I'm not a hard core overclocker though.

As for application I use the long grain of rice method. Its how I was taught years ago and it works well. I've also used hsf and AIO coolers that come with grease pre applied covering the entire block and never had issues with that either.
Click to expand...

It is outdated. Absolutely no reason to buy AS5. When they have better, non-conductive, no-cure period grease that does the job as good as if not better than AS5.
 
Question was "what is your favorite?"
I don't care if there is better it's what I use. If you don't like don't use it. simply saying there's better and it's outdated and not offer alternatives or your insight on application is pointless. Troll like even.
 
I've used the CLU on my old 280x and on my old lapped fx8320. It's great stuff, results are in here somewhere.
Now though, I'm happy with the Gelid Extreme
 
alxlwson said:
I've used the CLU on my old 280x and on my old lapped fx8320. It's great stuff, results are in here somewhere.
Now though, I'm happy with the Gelid Extreme
Click to expand...

how much of an improvement did that make? been thinking about doing it to my 8120...
 
athenian200 said:
I've tried AS5, but I found that the paste that came with my cooler was very close in performance and didn't require a break-in period. AS5 is definitely good stuff, but you would probably have to drive the processor really hard for it to make a difference. In my case, I found that CoolerMaster's default paste on a 212 EVO did about as well as the AS5, but without the curing time. The AS5 was about a degree cooler on my Sandy Bridge... but it certainly wasn't worth what I paid.

I also tried this higher-end product from CoolerMaster called ExtremeFusion X1... and it seemed to do better than the AS5, although maybe I applied the AS5 wrong... not sure whether it lived up to the claim of beating silver-based pastes or not. Honestly, I'm starting to think it's the overclocker's equivalent of snake oil... especially these days, when the TIM used on Intel's internal heatspreaders is so low-quality anyway that you can only dissipate so much heat.
Click to expand...


I used the CM default paste on my 212 Evo as well and its doing a wonderful job as well.
 
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