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

I'm spreading the entire CPU+chipset Die with the spatula. To be more exact I'm spreading a let's say medium thick layer (some would say it's a thick layer) of paste, because spreading a thin TFX layer is even harder (sticks to the spatula), and also the cooler contact isn't perfect, so it's a benefit.

Of course I have tried all the other methods as per Thermalright's instructions or the X pattern method but couldn't see any improvements, it was slightly worse actually. The i7-1165G7 has a small 10nm Die which makes it a bit easier for the spreading method and after like 10-15 TFX applications I have some routine on this.

The spreading method is not the reason for the great TFX performance anyways, at least not in my case. On a different note, because Dell limited the temperatures to 80 degrees with Bios 1.2.0 I cannot add any more paste to my list, the IC Diamond 24 update was my last.

 

This is my preferred method.

Start by placing three lines of paste across the cpu/gpu die.

Then, holding the spatula parallel to the die, flatten and spread the paste across the whole die in one slow and smooth continuous motion.

Don't be afraid to put more paste initially if it's hard to spread. Most of the paste will stick to the spatula and eventually leave you with a thin and evenly spread layer of paste.

 

This is similar to my spreading method (except that you are using even more paste), this one works.

 

This is a fairly new TFX review: https://albestech.com/review-pasta-termica-thermalright-tfx/#htoc-risultati-dei-test-e-performance

It's a desktop CPU test and TFX worked for them, clearly the lowest delta.

 

I have a question. My system, my Precision 3520 (specs listed in my sig) get rather toasty when either gaming or doing CPU-intensive tasks. Most of the time, it seems to hover between 75C and 80C. The GPU hovers around 65-70C. I know for the CPU, the max temp is 100C, as I understand it though, you want to keep temps 10-15C under the Tjmax. When running synthetic stress tests, Ive seen the CPU reach as high as 93C, which is obviously a bit too hot for comfort. I stopped the test immediately when I seen it hit that high. I already re-pasted the heatsink, CPU and GPU once with Arctic MX-5 and it seems to have helped a bit as it doesn't reach that kind of temp so quickly, but will still get there. Would a different paste like Conductonaut make a worthwhile difference? Or is this just down to the limits of the cooling system itself, as I have been thinking? My cooling pad helps some, but I don't want to have to have it with me wherever I go. During gaming sessions is fine, as I only do that at home or at one other place, but I do take my system with me whenever I travel anywhere, and the cooling pad takes up a good bit of space in my bag.

 

"Pump out" effect was from low contact pressure with Thermalright Odyssey 1.5mm pads on the 3090 FE Core side. Not enough pressure because the pads don't compress enough=great temps at first then with expansion/contraction of the contact area due to heat/cold changes, very slowly the core to core hotspot delta increases (11C at first, eventually up to 14-15C after two weeks). That might explain why Kryonaut Extreme's average GPU core temps went south so quickly (in just a week), although when I tested Kryonaut Extreme, HWinfo didn't monitor core hotspot temps yet, just memory junction hotspot.

I switched to Gelid Extreme 1.5mm pads and now the Core to core hotspot delta has remained identically firm since day 1, 10C to 11.7C, depending on TDP i'm using or game I'm playing, and has not changed from this range whatsoever. Problem was the low contact pressure from the less compressibility of the Thermalright pads.

 

I'm not a fan of liquid metal thermal compound and can't say much about how it performs on a notebook but sure a better paste could definitely make a worthwhile difference with these temperatures, both MX4 and MX5 are bad performer on my Dell 7506: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...and-liquid-metal.806840/page-48#post-11084441

MX series in general isn't thick enough and not suited for notebooks. However without having tested your exact device it's impossible to say how much you could gain.

 

MX-5 definitely worked better than whatever was on it before, but it isn't great. From that list you provided, the TFX seemed like the right way to go. I ordered that and am going to give it a try. Im just grateful that the heatsink unit (the 3520 combines the heatsink for the CPU and GPU into one unit, uses just one fan) come out as easily as it does. The 3520 is easy to work on in general. If it can get me as much as a 5C difference, that would be wonderful.

 

You can use the pressure of the HS on every paste, no matter how thick it is as it thins out under higher temperature anyways.

 

So the consensus appears to be Thermalright TFX is the best paste for laptop cpu/gpu because its thickness compensates for imperfect heatsink contact?

 

ArazelEternal, let us know about your results.

I was searching for some new thermal paste tests, two I want to share. Kingpin KPx after 6 months lost 5 degrees here:




Blacktherm thermal paste (never heard of this) which is rated 15.2-15.8 W/mK with good results here:

 

No, any paste can do that.

The thickness just helps with longevity.

 

How are we supposed to buy Blacktherm?
It doesn't seem to be for sale anywhere outside of Russia. Not on aliexpress either.

 

Yeah, i looked on all marketplaces that i normally use and they don't sell it either.

 

I might get one sample but you are right there is nothing really, it seems to be a small company and this paste is fairly new. If I get this I will share my result.


ALSEYE T9+ Platinum Edition (13.5W/m-K) looks interesting to me: https://www.alseyecorp.com/t9platinum-edition/

And Deepcool launched two new pastes this year called Z10 and EX750: https://techbroll.com/2021/02/deepc...ste-enthusiast-grade-thermal-performance.html

They are rated relatively low rated but the older ones from Deepcool with a lower thermal rating performed quite good in most tests I could find, for example Z3 and Z5:




Deepcool Z10 6.5 W/m·K
Deepcool EX750 6.2 W/m·K
Deepcool G40/G15 5.2 W/m·K
Deepcool Z9 >4 W/m-K
Deepcool Z5 >1.46 W/m-K
Deepcool Z3 >1.134 W/m-K

 

Please PM me if you know how I can request a sample of that paste too!

 

Will add to OP if you find the paste is good or great!

 

So far, the TFX seems to be working great on my Precision 3520. Its lowered the overall temps about 10C, far more than I was expecting. Playing Forza Horizon 4 no longer gets the CPU over 75C, or the GPU over 70C which is better than the 80-85C or 75C respectively. My only gripe is it is next to impossible to spread with the included spatula. So, instead, I put about a small pea-sized amount on both dies and used the pressure of the HS to spread it out.

Its only been in use since Friday and I don't know how long the cure time on this paste is, so we will see if it stays the same or improves over the next week or so.

Oddly enough, Folding@Home on medium power where it uses both the CPU and GPU still gets CPU temps into the 90C range and GPU temps into the 80C range, whereas the AIDA64 stability test only gets them to 88C and 75C respectively. On low power, F@H only gets the CPU to 75C.

 

This is a big improvement! Another proof that the Arctic MX-4/MX-5 is not a good choice for a notebook.

I've ordered Deepcool G40, I would like to see how good Deepccol performs on a notebook. If it's good I have to look for the newly launched Z10/EX750 at some point which are higher rated. Deepcool G40 and Blacktherm compared to my best reference paste. I couldn't find a reliable ALSEYE T9+ Platinum seller, this is no option for me at the moment.

 

True that. Arctic MX-5 might work fine for a desktop system that isn't being overclocked, but it doesn't seem to do well in notebooks. Notebooks need every little bit of help they can get.

 

Guru3D Thermal Paste Roundup - Round 2 (2021)
By Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 05/13/2021 02:56 PM

It has been almost two years since we made part 1 of Thermal Paste Roundup. The community gave us good feedback and appreciated the initial article; thus, we have prepared our second round of that article. We'll add 10 more compounds bringing the total close to 30 compounds tested.

Read the review right here.

 

First Blacktherm test from me and also Arctic Silver 5 which I didn't test before. Blacktherm is a thick paste and spreading is more troublesome than TFX for me. I will give it another try next week but it's clearly worse than TFX - on my notebook at least. There is no throttling with bios 1.41 ultra power setting and note it's tested in tablet mode which is why the TFX temps are lower than before (more breathing room), it makes a big difference. I'm planning more tests next week with JunPus JP-DX1, Thermalright TF7, Fuze Ice Plus and Deepcool G40.


Thermalright TFX----------------------------------74.25 degrees (72/77/72/76)
Blacktherm----------------------------------------- 81.0 degrees (76/86/79/83)
Arctic Silver 5---------------------------------------90.0 degrees (83/98/85/94)


Dell Inspiron 15 7506 2-in-1 Bios 1.41 (ultra performance mode, max fan speed, tablet mode on a desk)
i7-1165G7 @2800 Mhz (Turbo Off)
10 minutes Prime95 Small FFTs
ambient temperature: 22.0-22.4 degrees

 

How did you get blacktherm so fast? That was fast.
I'm surprised by those results. 7C average Delta would put it into GD900 territory. Your core temp difference seems to point to an application problem, but the Arctic Silver 5 results...well...I can't tell if that's a convex heatsink or a concave heatsink. But that's pretty bad. A review had Blacktherm equal to regular Kryonaut on some old Geforce card and 0.5C better on a GTX 500 or 600 series card. (Conductonaut was 3C better). And they said that the paste improved over about a week (by 1C more) while PK3 (an aluminum based paste) got worse within a month or so.

Someone has to test that on a desktop CPU or video card that has better mounting pressure.

 

Via national letter post which usually requires only 1 working day (in Germany). Yes I was a bit surprised but this is what I get, actually I've tried 3 applications and in all of them the hottest core reached 86-87 degrees, will give it another try next week. Artic Silver 5 has a long curing time and might improve over time....I wasn't expecting anything good from this anyways. Realistically it will be hard to find a better traditional paste than the TFX for my device but I won't give up.

 

BTW I do not know if this is the same quality as the original MX-2 from 10 years ago but you can check it out.

https://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-MX-2-2019-Performance-Durability/dp/B07LF1R7T8/

If you don't mind throwing that into your laptop test. 65g is a lifetime supply
Or
30g: https://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-MX-2-2019-Performance-Durability/dp/B07LDRFCK5/?th=1

 

Deepcool G40 has arrived today which I just tested (first test)....this is a good paste! With a rating of 5.2 W/(m·K) it's one of the weakest on paper I have tested but it's one of the best and it's very easy to spread. The thing is Deepcool r eleased two new pastes this year with a higher rating, unfortunately I can't get it at the moment.


Thermalright TFX----------------------------------74.25 degrees (72/77/72/76)
Deepcool G40--------------------------------------76.25 degrees (72/80/73/78)
Blacktherm----------------------------------------- 81.0 degrees (76/86/79/83)
Arctic Silver 5---------------------------------------90.0 degrees (83/98/85/94)


Dell Inspiron 15 7506 2-in-1 Bios 1.41 (ultra performance mode, max fan speed, tablet mode on a desk)
i7-1165G7 @2800 Mhz (Turbo Off)
10 minutes Prime95 Small FFTs
ambient temperature: 22.0-22.4 degrees

 

IC diamond has 3.2W/mK but it is still one of the best paste and works with uneven heatsinks with thermal performance lasting many years.

 

Correction: 4.5 W/m-K

I wasn't aware of this but IC Diamond was always a special case. Deepcool G40 is nothing like this, it's not as thick and won't scratch the die/heatspreader. More comparable to Noctua NT-HT2 I would say. About my Blacktherm by the way, it's way too dry and can't work no chance. I wonder if it's "faulty" or as expected, I need a second tube to really know.

 

Haha.. Even I forgot its W/mK I knew it was very low almost close to thermal pads.

 

Added FUZEIce Plus, Thermalright TF7, JunPus DX1, Halnziye HY-A9, Halnziye HY-883. I need to double check but FuzeIce Plus seems to be a competent paste. Deepcool G40 average was wrong, corrected now.


Thermalright TFX-------------------------------74.25 degrees (72/77/72/76)
FUZEIce Plus------------------------------------75.0 degrees (71/80/73/76)
Deepcool G40-----------------------------------75.75 degrees (72/80/73/78)
Thermalright TF7-------------------------------76.0 degrees (73/81/73/77)
JunPus DX1-------------------------------------77.0 degrees (74/82/74/78)
Blacktherm---------------------------------------81.0 degrees (76/86/79/83)
Halnziye HY-A9----------------------------------81.25 degrees (78/86/78/83)
Halnziye HY-883--------------------------------89.5 degrees (85/96/85/92)
Arctic Silver 5-----------------------------------90.0 degrees (83/98/85/94)


Dell Inspiron 15 7506 2-in-1 Bios 1.41 (ultra performance mode, max fan speed, tablet mode on a desk)
i7-1165G7 @2800 Mhz (Turbo Off)
10 minutes Prime95 Small FFTs
ambient temperature: 22.0-22.4 degrees

 

TF7 is a paste? Oh, amazingly it is a paste.
I was thinking about TF8.

Does the Iceberg FuzeIce have the same appearance or thickness as TFX?
Was only curious because the "specific gravity" seems to be the same.

And the color....um...

https://www.amazon.com/Iceberg-Thermal-Heatsink-Compound-Performance/dp/B08Z7SD2ZB/

 

FuzeIce Plus seems to be the same paste as Blackice Plus, just with a name change according to one of their press releases.
Can't seem to find any feedback on it though.

 

TFX is a lot thicker and dryer in ambient temperature, in contrast Iceberg FUZEIce is easy to spread with the spatula. Viscosity in operating chip temperature might be similar though, all of the better working pastes are definitely not watery when I immediately remove the paste from the warm chip after a prime95 run. Actually the consistency and colour of Deepcool G40 and FUZEIce Plus looks very similar, both of them are manufactured in China by the way. Deepcool G40, EX750 and FUZEIce Plus have the same specific gravity, not only TFX.

 

Thank you.
I wonder if they are from the same factory...

In an earlier post, didn't you say that ZF-EX and TFX were the same? Or did someone say that they spread differently?
I've seen two syringes of 6.2g TFX where one was definitely more dry than the other, with the wetter one definitely easier to spread (But still wanted to stick to the spatula; the dry one would barely even stick to the GPU/CPU right out of the tube!), but in the end, they performed the same once actually applied fully. Same with two different syringes of ZF-EX.

 

They could come from the same factory or they could simply use a Deepcool paste with a different branding. I don't know what earlier post do you mean, I haven't tested ZF-EX. You might refer to some youtube test where ZF-EX performed slightly better than the TFX. Both are the same from what we know, so not interested in ZF-EX. There are a few interesting pastes for me which are hard to get at the moment like Kingpin KPx, Deepcool Z10, Deepcool EX750 and also a new Blacktherm tube.

 

Does someone know something about this paste called SYY-157? It's high rated 15.7 W/mK.

 

Added Arctic MX-5 for reference. I knew this paste is bad for me.


Thermalright TFX-------------------------------74.25 degrees (72/77/72/76)
FUZEIce Plus------------------------------------75.0 degrees (71/80/73/76)
Deepcool G40-----------------------------------75.75 degrees (72/80/73/78)
Thermalright TF7-------------------------------76.0 degrees (73/81/73/77)
JunPus DX1-------------------------------------77.0 degrees (74/82/74/78)
Blacktherm---------------------------------------81.0 degrees (76/86/79/83)
Halnziye HY-A9----------------------------------81.25 degrees (78/86/78/83)
Arctic MX-5---------------------------------------84.5 degrees (80/91/81/86)
Halnziye HY-883--------------------------------89.5 degrees (85/96/85/92)
Arctic Silver 5-----------------------------------90.0 degrees (83/98/85/94)


Dell Inspiron 15 7506 2-in-1 Bios 1.41 (ultra performance mode, max fan speed, tablet mode on a desk)
i7-1165G7 @2800 Mhz (Turbo Off)
10 minutes Prime95 Small FFTs
ambient temperature: 22.0-22.4 degrees

 

Maybe I'll buy it next month ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079DQS77Q/ )and try it even though I have a sneaky feeling it's going to be the same as Subzero (Phobya Nanogrease Extreme).
"maybe."

Then maybe I'll waste even more money and see just how bad these are.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LGA6BQ
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GZG04U

Because why not.

 

Yes that's the risk, I believe many of the unknown paste brands on amazon are rebranded from a bigger manufacturer. The SYY paste is a paste from Shenzhen Tensan Co,.Ltd, it seems to be a genuine manufacturer with own manufacturing capability.

 

I ordered some. Should arrive tomorrow.

Not ordering the jet lube copper stuff until next month (if ever).

 

So I tested the 8g of SYY paste.
The 8g package comes in two 4g syringes.

The fingerprint mash test seems to show it to be very similar to TFX. The color sheen and reflection was virtually 100% identical to TFX. It felt 100% like TFX once I gave it the finger mash spread and how it stuck to my fingers like a paint. However the viscosity wasn't.

Spreading it was very interesting. It was thick, very similar to Coolermaster Gel Maker Nano I think, but being less syrupy "sticky" (Gel Maker Nano is extremely sticky if you apply it on a finger then touch it with another finger), it was not runny at all. The "finger" touch to finger test seemed like it was identical to TFX without being quite as thick. It was not as overly thick as TFX, but nowhere near as runny as MX-5. It had most of TFX's wetting ability (hard to explain, it's when you wipe a small amount of TFX on your fingers, wipe it then then touch it with another finger, it feels like the TFX forms a "bond" with the first finger, right? The SYY paste seems to have the exact same characteristics), while being much easier to spread. I think I would put it "between" Kryonaut Extreme and TFX in overall viscosity. But appearance wise it was indistinguishable from TFX. So it seems to be TFX but with a different formula to make it easier to apply, but with all of the qualities of TFX/ZF-EX.

Performance wise it seems identical to TFX, but I only tested it on a MXM GTX 1070 (230W TDP), under extremely bad ambients (like 31C).

I guess I would call it a TFX that doesn't stick to the spatula so much. Some still sticks of course, just not most of it. Long term testing will need to be done for durability.

But at 8 grams for $12, this might turn out to be a massive winner, considering 6.2 grams of Thermalright TFX is $40 from Amazon, $26 from Aliexpress, and 8 grams (4 packs) of Thermagic ZF-EX is about $32 from aliexpress

8 grams for $12 from Amazon completely destroys 8 grams for $32.

Might buy some more of this stuff.

I might email them and ask them if they also are the supplier for TFX or ZF-EX because it feels extremely similar besides the much easier spreading (while still being thick!)

 

This sounds really good, I will give it a try in two months when I have holiday. It's on my waiting list with some others. In the meantime I ordered some other pastes which I will try out this weekend.

 

Just got 1g CM nano for 12$. Otherwise it will shoot upto 30$. TGKE is more expensive and very limited in India.

 

Just ran SYY on my i9 9900k (delidded with LM and resealed with IHS like a year and a half ago).

Exact same temps as TFX. Literally to the same degree. Just a lot easier to spread.
Ordered another 16 grams since unlike TFX and ZF-EX (aliexpress) the price is extremely good.

They're also going to be releasing a product that is easier to apply (that is what they said in email).

It will be called SYY-166 or SYY-158. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing. SYY 157 is already the perfect balance between thickness and spreadability (though someone still has to test whether it being less thick but the same thermal properties as TFX is good for laptops or not).

Also I'm not sure if the company name on Amazon is correct or not.
Because on the package another company is listed (also a shenzhen company).



I suggest one of you guys try it out too?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079DQS77Q/

 

Nuomi Chemical and Shenzhen Tensan are both located in the same city, I wonder if there is a connection. Also located in this city: ALSEYE and Halnziye

SYY-166/SYY-158 would imply it gets a higher thermal conductivity rating than the current, it could mean there are some enhancements.

 

I am not sure but it's good stuff. But they said their new paste will be easier to apply. I hope that doesn't mean they turn it into MX-5 level of easiness

And considering it isn't from the slow boat, and the price per gram is so cheap, it's literally MX-5 value for the dollar, I ordered 16 more grams of it. That's how impressed I am with it. TFX while being easier to spread than TFX while still preserving TFX's overall qualities (exact same performance as TFX, but its viscosity is between TFX and Kryonaut Extreme). One of you guys will have to test it on your convex tripod laptops @Papusan

On my MXM 1070 @ 230W it's 100% identical to TFX, except twice as easy to spread, and as above, identical on my 9900k (test system only).
My ES 10900k is on standby in case I need more cores on Z590 (Unreal Engine 5 demo anyone?) and no point in removing the TFX on my 11900k since there's no difference besides viscosity.

 

You'lll need test the longeivity. Good results a short time isn't something you want. We have more than enough high performance thermal paste that show good results the first month before it turn into trash. At least it will be a disaster for laptops with disgusting cooling.

 

@Falkentyne
Thanks for the link, I ordered an 8G tube to try, where are you finding 16G (or are you just buying 2)? They also have a 15% off coupon. Worth a shot for sure, although I still have a couple of tubes of TFX that I still need to use, can't have too much thermal paste IMHO.

 

I bought two packs.

 

Added upHere PH-5, G-MOTIONS GM-850, Be Quiet DC1, Wipaste C2, Cryorig CP5, Maxtor CTG8. Ambient temperature was up to 1 degree higher today especially towards the end of my testing (Cryorig CP5 and Maxtor CTG8 have the biggest disadvantage), I will double check the best pastes at some later point anyways. Surprisingly well did G-MOTIONS GM-850 considering how watery this paste is. I ordered SYY-157 btw.



Thermalright TFX-------------------------------74.25 degrees (72/77/72/76)
FUZEIce Plus------------------------------------75.0 degrees (71/80/73/76)
G-MOTIONS GM-850--------------------------75.5 degrees (71/81/73/77)
Deepcool G40-----------------------------------75.75 degrees (72/80/73/78)
Thermalright TF7-------------------------------76.0 degrees (73/81/73/77)
Maxtor CTG8------------------------------------76.25 degrees (73/81/74/77)
Cryorig CP5--------------------------------------76.5 degrees (72/81/74/79)
JunPus DX1--------------------------------------77.0 degrees (74/82/74/78)
Be Quiet DC1------------------------------------77.5 degrees (73/82/75/80)
Blacktherm----------------------------------------81.0 degrees (76/86/79/83)
upHere PH-5-------------------------------------81.25 degrees (76/87/79/83)
Halnziye HY-A9----------------------------------81.25 degrees (78/86/78/83)
Wipaste C2---------------------------------------82.5 degrees (76/88/79/87)
Arctic MX-5---------------------------------------84.5 degrees (80/91/81/86)
Halnziye HY-883--------------------------------89.5 degrees (85/96/85/92)
Arctic Silver 5------------------------------------90.0 degrees (83/98/85/94)


Dell Inspiron 15 7506 2-in-1 Bios 1.41 (ultra performance mode, max fan speed, tablet mode on a desk)
i7-1165G7 @2800 Mhz (Turbo Off)
10 minutes Prime95 Small FFTs
ambient temperature: 22.0-23.4 degrees