Best Thermal Compound for a Desktop?

[AssassinPride]

What brand/model is the "best" if i need to change the thermal compound of my cpu? and should i change the thermal compound of my gpu too?

PS: i know you need to change it every 1~2 year for the cpu but its probably 1 year for me because i play ALOT! and for the gpu... never did it before and dont know if necessary

 

[Dicehunter]

You could have just updated the thread you already have going dude.

 

[AssassinPride]

My bad ... its because the title isnt the "same" you know that why i posted another thread... (so people can know what im asking for faster) ^^"

 

[Kushiro]

The result would have been the same, Im sure anyone willing to use their free time to help would at least want to know what exactly it is your after.

Nonetheless, I reconmend the Arctic MX-4 compound. Good performance, easy to clean as well as many other benefits.

Some other good ones I have used are:

Gelid Solutions GC Extreme
Prolimatek PK-3
Nocuta NT-H1
Arctic Silver 5

Frankly as long as its not some no name cheap TIM, your going to be fine. They arent exactly worlds apart.

 

[lyxchoklad]

I've always been partial to Noctua NT-H1 which is also non-conductive.

 

[AssassinPride]

BTW i use a Lidqui Cooling (Corsair H100) but i will change for a normal one for sometimes because i need to get a RMA for that H100 do i need to use different thermal compound for liquid and no liquid ? or the same can be alright?

 

[Kushiro]

The same will be fine, for the average user, it doesn't matter that much. As I said before, as long as you don't get a cheap no name TIM and get something like the mx-4 you will be fine.

 

[NoobCase]

Last I did the research the MX-4 was the most consistent top performer, but as Newbie is saying you can choose whatever reputable brand and you'll be fine.

 

[SuB]

If you want easy, Noctua NT-H1 (non-conductive)
If you have a none aluminium heatsink and some time and want the best, Coolaboratory Liquid Ultra is pretty much as good as it gets. (conductive, physically eats ally)

 

[Warchild]

If you want easy, Noctua NT-H1 (non-conductive)
If you have a none aluminium heatsink and some time and want the best, Coolaboratory Liquid Ultra is pretty much as good as it gets. (conductive, physically eats ally)

Yup CLP or CLU is the best in my opinion. I have been using it for years. I like this graph, especially the pastes they tried for fun

 

[God Father]

Best way to answer benchmarks says it all lol

Posts merged - Please do not post multiple times in a row

And by the way do you own some sort of satalite or a network company that you get that 1 ping and that high speed

 

[Arne Saknussemm]

I'd recommend PK1....it's a great paste and especially in circumstances where contact is not glass flat/smooth...like real world

PK3 has higher thermal conductivity...but what they dont tell you is it's an art to apply it. You need to heat it because its thick...and then wait a couple of days for it to thin out under the cooling block.

PK1 just has a great consistency from the off...

I actually made a pk1/pk3 mix ;~)

Noctua is good too.

People rate gelid...good for sub zero apparently....but I don't like it particularly...dries out...

 

[Dicehunter]

Thermal Grizzly gets my vote

 

[RandomBadger]

I heard the noctua stuff is quite good...
I've recently purchased some Thermal Grizzly Kryo but yet to test temps as my pc is currently in bits due to installing a custom loop, But il be sure to leave feed back once it's all tested etc.

 

[Kushiro]

Mx-4!

 

[Warchild]

I wonder if the "Generic" in the table above refers to TOOTHPASTE like I have seen some peoople use in tests just because.. well.. they can.

 

[Kilbane]

Noctua NT-H1, great performance and good price.

 

[Ninjahmahs]

From what I have seen in terms of load results

Thermal grizzly kryonaut paste yields the very highest results without eeking into the "liquid metal" compounds which not only are more finnicky to apply but are also largely conductive to electricity so a mistake with those compounds could end up costing an arm, or a leg, or even both.

trust me man look up thermal grizzly, saw a review from a guy who pushed his overclock to stupidly high levels using it and his set up, although he is an extreme overclocking enthusiast

 

[cooperman]

I allways used MX-4 works great, easy to apply and does not need '200 cycles' (arctic silver 5 lol) to go off or set and its real cheap to buy.

 

[NeverBackDown]

I use MX-4. Can't fault it at all as it's nonconductive and slightly better than MX-2 which is also pretty darn good.