Which Thermal Paste to buy and apply (Traditional and Liquid Metal)

This thread will serve as a guide for new comers to the forum and will possibly reduce the time reading through long never ending threads.

TL.DR; This will guide in choosing the best thermal paste that suits you.

Code:

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Well Known Brands:

Thermal Grizzly (aka TG)
Coollaboratory   (aka CLL)                                                                                   
Phobya
Gelid
Prolimatech
IC Diamond
Cooler Master
Noctua
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Spoiler: Best Paste commonly used by enthusiasts at NBR

Traditional:

TG Kyronaut: 12.5 W/mK
Gelid Extreme: 8.5 W/mK Reason for removal <a href="http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/which-thermal-paste-to-buy-and-apply-traditional-and-liquid-metal.806840/page-75#post-11120201">Which Thermal Paste to buy and apply (Traditional and Liquid Metal)</a>
Phobya NanoGrease Extreme: 16 W/mK [Thanks @Mr. Fox ]
Thermalright TFX: 14.3W/mK [Thanks to @Falkentyne ]
Cooler Master CryoFuze: 14 W/mK [Thanks to @Rooter1234 and @Mr. Fox ]
Cooler Master MasterGel Maker : 11 W/mK [Thanks to @bloodhawk @VICKYGAMEBOY @Rooter1234 and others]

Liquid Metal:

TG Conductonaut: 73W/mK
Coollaboratory Ultra or Pro: 68W/mK

=====================================================


List of Thermal paste must be sticky post as @Papusan said.
Post updated to include new Traditional Thermal Paste from Cooler Master.
Traditional Paste: [No specific order]

1. TG Kyronaut 12.5 W/mK
2. Phobya NanoGrease Extreme 16 W/mK { Thanks to @Mr. Fox }
   
3. Gelid Extreme 8.5 W/mK
4. ICD 7: 4.5 W/mK
5. Prolimatech PK3: 11.2 W/mK
6. Cooler Master MasterGel Maker : 11 W/mK [ Thanks @bloodhawk for confirming this]
7. Noctua NT-H1
8. Cooler Master CryoFuze: 14 W/mK

Liquid Metal Pastes:[No specific order]

1. TG Conductonaut *: 73 W/mK
2. Coollaboratory Ultra or Pro *: 68 W/mK [Thanks @Papusan ]
3. Phobya LM *: 40 W/mK [Thanks @Papusan ]

Sorry this is non exhaustive list.
* indicates important notes whilst the use of metal paste.

• Heat sink must be copper
• The surface of heatsink and cpu/gpu must be clean to provide even contact because metal paste will fill the air gap like a thin film The surface have to be completely flat, and the contact between the heatsink and the die have to be PERFECT ( minimum gap between both) { credit to @judal57 for this}
• Tape the outer die of CPU or GPU to avoid spillage due to over-application of paste
• Use spatula paint brush or similar, to even out the paste on the die and apply remaining paste on the heat sink (Thanks to @Papusan)

@Papusan @iunlock @judal57 @Mobius 1 @DeeX @rinneh
@unclewebb @Mr. Fox @MahmoudDewy
I hope this list can serve its purpose for new-comers to our forums deciding on which paste to use and why, instead of reading thousands of posts and it will save lot of headaches.
EDIT: Sorted out the discrepancies.
Updated with W/mK values as @sicily428 said.

Rooter1234's detailed thermal paste testing results here

Changelog:
- Added Rooter1234's detailed paste results as on 09 Jan 20222.

 

@Charles P. Jefferies Is there a possibility to make a "Thermal paste" sticky thread as suggested? The Op post is taken from the older
"Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut vs Grizzly Kyronaut vs Arctic Silver 5" thread. Thanks.

 

Thanks!

 

All well-known brands could be presented in a "separate section" of the OP post(Put in a spoiler). But the best one should be presented as it is now.

 

I actually use a paintbrush for oil paintings. A bit on the expensive side but can be reused unlike the cotton bud included with conductonaut. Less chance of the fiber contaminating the LM too.

 

I as well use paintbrush like what you do. You can find some very cheap as well who is much better than the cotton sticks from Grizzly. And in different softness.

 

@Papusan: Does the OP look like what you meant? Or should I modify it further.

 

Yeah, it should be put up cleaner. I'm on my phone and can't help set up suggestions for cleaner setup now. I can give you a suggestion later and then delete it afterwards with edit. But you are free to make it as you want.

 

Could you put information about safe climates for using LM? Like whether you should worry about going outside with it for an extended period of time on days when it's below freezing.

 

I've also seen one of those paint wedges (spongy texture) used, but I think I like a brush a little better.

 

You can use liquid metal when it's close to freezing, unless the laptop PCB is directly exposed to the elements. Minimum temp is 0C ambient, but temperature is never going to be identical to environment temperature if there is a case. Why would you use the laptop or even live someplace where it's below freezing?

 

Side note, a bigger problem is temp change. If you use it somewhere freezing and happen to be changing temps often (like moving indoors to outdoors and back or in and out of a freezer) then you are going to have to worry about condensation way more than your thermal compound.

 

This is the exact sort of stuff that's good to know. I don't have a LM metal laptop right now, but I would consider one in the future. Around 30 days of the year where I live, it gets below freezing, and all it says on packages is something along the lines of safe temperatures for use being 0-100, which is so vague as to barely be useful.

 

Should this also include instructions on removing old paste such as using rubbing alcohol and a lint free cloth?

 

When you have that kind of cold temps, you can use traditional paste instead of LM. OEM happy and user also happy. OEM can't complain the cause of laptop/PC failing was due to LM.

 

Liquid metal will become brittle and lose its liquidity if the temperature drops below recommended minimum temp Who is 8-10C degrees. The Liquid metal will lose functionality. The temp wil raise... It will be a mess. Next level. It will expand during solidifying and the heatsink will be lifted away from Die (see Liquid metal will expand and break the bottle). More air will come in. The drying will increase faster. Liquid metal ain't for hardware temp under 8C!!

 

Thermal Compound

Thermal conductivity (W/mk) is really important for choosing thermal compounds
Here some useful values:
-Phanteks TH-NDC ???W/mk
-Noctua NT-H1 ???W/mk
-IC Diamond 7 4.5W/mk
-Artic mx2 5.6 W/mK
-be quiet DC 1 7.5W/mk
-Artic mx4 8.5W/mK
-Gelid Solutions GC-Extreme 8.5 W/mK
-Dimastech HTX-EE 8.6 W/mK
-Artic silver 5 9W/mK
-Cooler Master Extreme Fusion X1 9.5W/mK
-Prolimatech PK-2 10.2W/mK
-Cooler Master MasterGel Maker Nano 11W/mK
-Prolimatech PK-3 11.2W/mK
-Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut 12.5 W/mK
-Phobya Nano Grease Extreme 16W/mk


Liquid Metal

Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra 38.4W/mk
Phobya Liquid Metal 40W/mk
Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut 73 W/mK
Coollaboratory Liquid Pro 82W/mk

 

Thanks, I thought users don't care about W/mK. ICD with lowest thermal conductivity performs on par with Gelid. I will update it later.

 

here more infos
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermal-paste-performance-benchmark,3616.html







do you know the thermal conductivity of noctua NT-H1?

 

Maybe 7-8 W/mK. These are delta temps. They're doing a torture test. I don't believe the GPU temps graph are delta T. If it was 66+22=88C on GPU @Papusan is it correct? I'm thinking they used CPU sensor values instead of delta T values.

 

These test (CPU), they are putting all the pastes on the IHS which is still fine but isn't really where Metal shines (meh shines). Where the Metal spanks non-metal TIMs is with direct die applications - basically delidded CPUs. That graph would look very different if they tested under those conditions.

 

@sicily428: Arctic and Arctic Silver paste are good for desktop with high mount pressure whereas for laptop they perform horribly. @judal57 can confirm this. I was repasting every 2 weeks because the paste degrades faster. I was acting like a nagware every time for @judal57 and he recommended me CM Maker Gel Nano, so far so good. After 3-4 months the paste performance is pretty good.
@TBoneSan: I thought their testing methods were based on Delta T which is basically CPU temp minus ambient temps, so naturally I was confused with their graphs. And yes, delidding makes quite a difference of 5-10C. I saw derau8er doing it( on YT actually!)

 

You find all info yoo need here. Click the spoiler.

Spoiler: Thermal paste specifications

Thermal paste specifications for several brands
Not much numbers for Noctua Nt-H1, but I can see some operate with 3.9 W / mK for Noctua NT-H1. This is probably quite correct. Since this thermal paste has pretty low viscosity numbers vs. the best. And always have yielded mediocre results for laptops.

If you gathered up part One in Tomshardware's Thermal Paste Comparison... You would find their test procedure. Read page 7: Test Cycles, Test Duration and Settings


Read also one of my older post regarding thermal paste.

 

Changelog:
-Added Phobya NanoGrease Extreme after suggested by @Mr. Fox

 

@Papusan: See this new thermal paste round-up. Use MS edge because Toms HW doesn't render correctly on FF.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thermal-paste-comparison,5108.html
I'm happy for CM maker gel nano, at least my investment didn't go to a waste. Thanks to @judal57 for suggesting this.

 

I don't see the big meaning/value with results from test procedures used here as we use totally different cooling for laptops. Have already said exactly the same for thermal paste results from special test bench before as well. People still forget the cooling used for different laptops varies heavily (are a lot worse than desktops better cooling and from test bench). From the TRIPOD mess to nice modded Clevo heatsink for the socket beast. @Mr. Fox @Phoenix @TBoneSan @Ashtrix @hmscott +++ all I haven't mentioned here, but not forgotten.

 

I think it is interesting to see the bar graphs with all of the stuff they tested. That being said, once you find the best thermal paste there is no reason to entertain the idea of using inferior products. Nothing matches the effectiveness or durability of liquid metal unless the heat sink fit is so sloppy it cannot be used.

What I find interesting is in the desktop environment it often makes little difference what paste is used--give or take 1°C to 3°C--because the quality of fit and the better coolers are of very high quality. Even crappy thermal paste does fairly well under the right conditions. But, laptops are a totally different story. There are many wildcards to contend with and inconsistent production quality control makes it even worse. You can have two identical laptops and one might run fairly cool and the other is a horrible nightmare because of sloppy manufacturing and half-assed engineering, and ridiculously low contact pressure.

 

Exactly Fox, but laptop owners tend to trust everything who comes from test roundup done on desktops and specially created test bench!! No in Hell Liquid metal only make 1-2 or 3 degrees difference vs. best conventional thermal paste used on laptops worse cpu cooling. Not even if you won the heatsink lottery. Aka a very good and even laptop Cpu heatsink from the factory.

 

Maybe more people will start paying attention and stop listening to friends on Facebook. It seems like laptop owners are sometimes the most hard-headed and least likely to pay attention to people that know more than they do.

Here is an easier to look at version with all three CPU temperature graphs from the tom'sHARDWARE article side-by-side. But, as previously stated, these results are not totally reliable for laptop owners because of wide variations in design, poor engineering and inconsistent production quality. It gives us a nice look at the best-case scenario. With laptops we are dealing with worst-case scenarios most of the time.

 

@Papusan: So, comparing low mount pressure on desktop isn't a direct comparison to BGA HSF?
I remember my old desktop that was performing its peak performance even with pentium CPU and radeon 5750 which OC'ed like a beast. I can definitely relate some pastes like MX4, AS 5, AS Ceramique 2 ( which I used earlier) performed the best when CPU HSF had higher pressure during full load. At the same, those paste performed worse on BGA with insufficient pressure.
LM was simply unbeatable and invincible.
And @Papusan I got the point about these test mehods. I often forget about these in excitement. I always look at low HSF pressure performance which is the best comparison of how the paste behaves on a BGA HSF.

 

Even low pressure desktop cooling is a way better than trashy laptop cooling. See the results above. Aka high pressure vs low pressure... see. The Difference between Coolaboratory Liquid Ultra vs. Grizzly Kryonaut conventional paste. Compare both results. Can you See a big difference?

 

They need to do a round of these tests with laptops. But the problem would be which laptop to use for testing because depending on the laptop the results are going to vary a lot like crazy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yeah, they could even use two identical laptops, purchased from the same place on the same day, and the results would most likely have some variance.

 

Will they manage equal Perfekt fit aka screw down between every new paste tested? Maybe on TRIPOD? LOL

 

With near perfect contact, LM simply blows every paste out of the water.

 

Omg you are right hahaah, even with the same laptop, if you screw one side too much the results will vary.

 

Actually iunlock showed that Kyronaut was not that far from LM after fixing the AW issue.

 

Yeah, I know. You said "Perfect contact" should mean 1.8c degrees max difference. Same as this test roundup. But, Forget it!!

 

IS LM that tempting? Once you go LM, you never look back!

 

Have never looked back, bruh. Even with only 1.0-1.5c degrees difference better, I would use Liquid metal!! Maybe bruh @Falkentyne and @Phoenix could shime in as well.

 

Fixed it for you bruh. Shime -> Chime.

 

Damn my friend, I'm on vacation and use my 4.0" BGA toy!! Not a easy task with old eyes and big finger Hope you understand the half

 

For the record, I rarely use my phone, I carry my laptop most of the times. I am partially blind as well, using a prescription lenses. haha.
Does your BGA support auto rotate feature, it is far easier to use in Landscape mode. I use Edge though.

 

Still, 4.0" is damn difficult in landscape Maybe new +5.0" BGA after my vacation But Trash is trash, bruh. I really hate it. I mean the size and BGA!!

 

Mighty @Papusan
I'll definitely use LM when I can. It just requires careful planning and preparation. The results are worth it, but you MUST learn how to swim before you drown!

 

Haha 4'' bga. I will admit i am impressed at the iphone socs that Apple is making. Kicking ass performance wise. Intel and Qualcomm cannot catch up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I really hate using a phone for web surfing. Other than partial color-blindness, I have excellent vision and it still sucks. I find it very annoying using such a small screen and touch is my least favorite form of input. Not only is the slimy screen disgusting, but using a tiny touch keyboard is a joke. And, I absolutely despise Tapatalk. Being nagged senseless by this forum to install Tapatalk makes me hate using a phone (and Tapatalk) even more. Mobile versions of most web sites also suck.

 

@Papusan: I still use a 4.7" Lumia and a Nokia of course and still hasn't thought of upgrading.

 

Intel could scratc their Hk/HQ BGA series chips from laptops and rather tune them for the phone industry Would be a much better option for all. Just use normal processors in everything who smell computers.

 

I feel your pain. While screen estate of my phablet is good enough for browsing (6.44" FHD with smallest fonts), and allows to use desktop site versions instead of mobile - touch-typing is still a pain, even with decent keyboard layout (5-row Hacker's keyboard) I make too many mistakes. \=