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    Best Thermal Compound?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by GrassCube, Jun 9, 2012.

  1. GrassCube

    GrassCube Notebook Geek

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    Hi, i want to apply a new thermal compound to the GPU and CPU, i looked for the right compound but there are a lot of views about which works best.. made me more confused.Im not really sure how to do that on a laptop, and if its time or i can wait with that a bit more.

    I have the M17x R1, have it since 2009.
     
    GrassCube, Jun 9, 2012
    #1
  2. bluke424

    bluke424 Notebook Geek

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    I'm using Arctic Cooling MX-4 for my R1, gives me excellent temps even when I overclock the thing.
    There are lots of guides on how to open the laptop, this video (click) is an excellent example.
     
    bluke424, Jun 9, 2012
    #2
  3. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    MX-4 is a great choice.

    Personally, i use Promimatech PK-1, but Mx-4 is easier to source and probably cheaper too
     
    SlickDude80, Jun 9, 2012
    #3
  4. Greywolf22

    Greywolf22 Notebook Deity

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    I use OCZ Freeze on both my CPU and GPU and have had great results with it (and it's fairly inexpensive).
     
    Greywolf22, Jun 9, 2012
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  5. the_cubanate

    the_cubanate Notebook Guru

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    It's not quite easy to apply, but I like the fact that Arctic Ceramique is non-conductive and non-capacitive. In the odd reviews it gets it usually achieves 1 degree less than the metallic-silver alternatives. I think what it has against it, it that it takes at least 200 hours to settle before you start to get the good results.
     
    the_cubanate, Jun 10, 2012
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  6. timurStas

    timurStas Notebook Guru

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    I use mx-4 and its been good so far.
     
    timurStas, Jun 10, 2012
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  7. Optimistic Prime

    Optimistic Prime Notebook Evangelist

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    Personally, I vote PK-1. It has been great paste and I'm glad I bought it.

    I would also vote MX-4 as my second choice. It seems to have very good performance and is cheaper/easier to get ahold of.

    Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX Using Tapatalk 2
     
    Optimistic Prime, Jun 10, 2012
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  8. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    All of the top 10 or more thermal compounds perform within a few degrees from one another. The biggest factor in determining how good it will work is your application of the paste. There is variation even within two pastes from the same batch even if applied in the exact same manner and every other variable controlled, so most comparisons will give slightly different results, hence the confusion. I usually just look at a few groups of comparisons and see which tend to be the common ones in each, then search out whichever is on sale and gives me the most value ie. Number of applications per cost.

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
     
    sgogeta4, Jun 10, 2012
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  9. __-_-_-__

    __-_-_-__ God

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    the best thermal coumpond is helium II
     
    __-_-_-__, Jun 10, 2012
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  10. GrassCube

    GrassCube Notebook Geek

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    Tnx a lot guys!

    This is the only one that's non conductive and non capacitive?
     
    GrassCube, Jun 12, 2012
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  11. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    ^^^ No, MX-4 and IC Diamond 7/24 also qualify. I'm sure there are many others, but I don't have specific information about them.
     
    The Revelator, Jun 12, 2012
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  12. Greywolf22

    Greywolf22 Notebook Deity

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    OCZ Freeze is also non-conductive and non-capacitive.
     
    Greywolf22, Jun 12, 2012
    #12