So what thermal paste is everyone using now?

[Potatocodone]

I use to ride the Arctic Silver 5 boat for the longest time years back.

It wasn't till some website had a major clearance on some Shin Etsu (can't remember which) for like a $3 and I ended up buying about 15 of them that lasted me a good 3 or 4 years.

Now I'm all out of Shin Etsu and looking for a good replacement.

What is everyone using these days?

 

[tiraides]

We've been mainly recommending thermal paste with no curing time, like the Arctic Cooling MX series or the Noctua NT-H1.

Shin Etsu and AS5 are still good choices, but we warn people about the cure-in times that both require.

 

[Forceman]

I use MX-4 - easy to spread and works as well as any other.

 

[PaperclipGod]

On a related note: do thermal pastes have a shelf life once opened? I've got an old tube of AS3 or 5 floating around that i last used in 2003. Assuming it hasnt hardened in the tube, should it still be good?

 

[Direfox]

MX-4 for me also. A little safer than AC5 and works every bit as well, plus little to no cure time.

 

[Forceman]

On a related note: do thermal pastes have a shelf life once opened? I've got an old tube of AS3 or 5 floating around that i last used in 2003. Assuming it hasnt hardened in the tube, should it still be good?

They do, I think AS5 was 5 years. But don't hold me to that.

 

[masscrazy]

Ill be using the one that comes with the D14, not yet opened the box so dont know, but i heard its good.

 

[Cerulean]

MX-4 because it's the pros of all other pastes without the cons.