Best TIM-Thermal Interface Material???

I've yet to see a video or screenshots or even a post about the application of Indigo Xtreme on something they weren't specifically built for.

Perhaps my google skills are failing " "Indigo Xtreme" laptop application" was the best thing I could think of.

Perhaps desktop counterparts can reap the benefits of the a succesful application directly to the die; if the plate that Intel and AMD are now putting over their desktop cpus is removed and applied in the same way; that we're gonna have to figure out how to do with our lappys.

Also does any1 know what the proper name of that plate is?

MORE INFO:
Indigo Xtreme is a Piece of metal that you buy in a SPECIAL clean package that has no dirt or fibers in it or on its surface, as immediately after opening it's designed to be melted at its boiling point 90C and it immediately cools down and hardens because of its incredible TIM ability going to work after it melts into place and remains in its proper location as long as you keep your cpu < 90C.

The package is not made to fit on any lappy processor die.

 

Those are cut specifically for the shape of the heat spreader (the term you were trying to think of) and are not suitable for the exposed die low pressure notebook environments.

Use arctic silver MX-4.

 

Waste of money.

Once you start talking about top-end TIMs and thermal pastes, they are all about the same. The quality of the application technique has the most impact when you are moving from stock TIM to high-end TIM. But once you're talking about comparing high-end TIM vs high-end TIM, the material becomes irrelevant.

Yes, you can run benchmarks and tests to show that one thermal paste cools 2C better than another thermal paste. And that 2C may make all the difference in the world if you're a professional competitive overclocker. But for a laptop intended for field use, that 2C difference is irrelevant. You will not get any benefit on thermals, battery life, overclockability, or performance.

 

Exactly as kent stated. The difference in performance falls within the margin of error and thus is not as important as technique.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

Thermal Compound Roundup - February 2012 | Hardware Secrets

 

Yep. The top-end thermal pastes in that comparison cool the CPU to the point that the CPU temp is only 33C - 36C hotter than the ambient room temperature.

That is a 3C difference between different thermal pastes. Using sgogeta's language, that 3C difference is "within the margin of error".

 

Exactly....and just as others have alluded to on this thread, application of paste is a huge factor, so its more important to look at pastes that do really well when you don't have the optimal contact between heatsink and cpu/gpu die. From this perspective, your choice of paste does matter. For example, the tried and tested AS5 does well, but only when there is optimal spread and contact between heatsink and die. Where as something like Prolimatech does excellent with moderate contact

Click on moderate contact for what you may experience on a laptop:

2011 Thermal Compound Roundup – Results Compilation | Skinnee Labs

I've been using Prolimatech PK-1 to excellent results. My CPU cores hover between 71c-73c after 20 mins of prime95 on load (look at my how to install CPU guide in sig for a pic)

Also, my AMD 6990m runs at 67c on furmark burn-in test. it jumps up to 72c, then the fans kick in and it just stays at 67c

 

Going high-end TIM's is like buying high-end DAC's. The price you pay for lower temperatures diminishes. Therefore anything that is "advertised better than" ICD7, PK-1, MX-4 and AS-5 are only that much better for way more of your money. The concept of diminishing returns is apparent in TIM's. What SlickDude80 mentioned is the biggest importance: you need to apply them right to get the best results. Even if your TIM is the best of the best, a bad application will still make it ineffective and a waste.

Some pastes like MX-4 or PK-1 are preferred over others like AS5 or ICD7 is because they make it easier to apply, less apparent CPU or GPU die damages and also less risk to conductivity to motherboard components, hence they are preferred by most around here. However when you step to the TIM the OP mentioned, that is just overkill and unnecessary.

So in conclusion, the key to TIM is how you apply it and get TIM that isn't overpriced, but TIM that can really help make the ease of application easier and more effective. Under proper application, the difference of lower temperatures of various TIM's only vary by like 1-3C, so buying the very best until optimal application conditions would net like negligible 1C lower. Not worth it.

 

Excellent point Star Forge. Ease of use is another important factor. For example, IC Diamond was a royal pain to work with, plus it scratches your CPU/GPU die.

Another factor is also safety...certain pastes are electrically capacitive. This includes AS5. Pastes that are electrically capacitive aren't as bad as being electrically conductive, but can still lead to system instability. This is the only reason why I won't go with AS5

 

As someone who has used a lot pastes, I find MX-4 has given me the most consistent results while being the easiest to apply.

 

Yeah going to have to concur with the MX-4 coming from AS5. MX-4 is non-conductive, doesn't need a lot of it to work well, easy to apply and doesn't damage any dies in the process.

 

Gelid GC-Extreme went on like butter for me, and came with a nifty spreader tool. Tuniq TX-4 was also pretty good. Haven't tried out MX-4 (though I used MX-3 back in the day), since I have another tube of Gelid standing by.

And I just realized Star Forge goes to Davis. What dorms did yo ustay in freshman year?

 

If I get MX-4, should I also get something like this? Amazon.com: ArctiClean 60ml Kit (includes 30ml ArctiClean 1 and 30ml ArctiClean 2): Electronics

 

I'm probly gonna try arctic silver MX-4, as I'm having horrible pains correctly applying ICD7

However; I'm still wandering why I haven't seen any posts where some1 with a giant pair of big brass balls has melted a lil bit of indigo extreme to just cover the lappy cpu die.

I'd just cut a lil piece off and melt it with a heat lamp before I secured the heatsink since it melts at only 90C, but if you mess up and it drips over to the resistors or other ics you will be up a creek with out a paddle.

Also ofc after installation if it ever went over 90C you would also be in trouble.

As I said my google searches can't find a post of any1 doing this as of 2/15/2012.

Someone please make a youtube video!!

it's only like 12$ for a kit of Indigo Xtreme

 

But good gaming lappy=$1200-6000

 

Cuarto, Thoreau. It is my senior year right now so I need to cracking on a interim job for next year as I apply for grad school!

I had ArctiClean but I found that regular 70% rubbing alcohol is just as good at cleaning for way less. Make sure you use clean cotton swabs or cotton balls with the cleaning solution though.

 

That would be nice to see.

I don't think it would do much on a notebook, just because the die is already so polished and so are the heatsinks.

 

I think I literally need big brass balls to experiment on that on my lappy

 

Don't waste your cash on that...go down to the local drug store and get 99% isopropyl alcohol. isopropyl works great because it evaporates and does not leave a residue. I bought a 500ml bottle for $3 at the local drugstore (and that is expensive lol), so forget this 30ml stuff. Articlean is just rubbing alcohol with a tint of fresh orange frangrance

 

70% or 99%?

 

Anything above 70% is fine. The higher percentage, the faster it evaporates.

 

Been using Artic 5, along with copper mods. That reduces significant temp

 

Damn. Same here, back in the day.

I almost got put into Tercero, which was still being worked on at the time. And they still had epic cow smell.

 

If you tell me you stayed in 308, then that would be super creepy... Also, I work in Tercero a bit so yeah I got to used to that.

 

I forgot the number. I remember I was on the first floor, in the left corner.

 

I use MX-4, dropped my temps by a few degrees.