Liquid Metal Pro

[Squyrrel]

Has anyone else experienced this product become dry and hard?

I've been using this for a couple of years or so now and never experienced any problems.

however, (!) The other day I noticed mu CPU/GPU temps rising 8-10°c. Not relishing the thought of removing the waterblock, I looked at airflow around case etc, but to no avail.

On removing the waterblock, I noticed the liquid metal has dried hard to the copper with none on the CPU die.

Thoughts/experiences please, thenks....

 

[mrapoc]

Mod move this to cooling - other threads

I did look at the stuff myself but there has been other reviewers reporting this. I didnt fancy using it myself as its extremely hard to clean.

I think u may do better with some arctic mx2 paste or similiar

 

[Squyrrel]

Apologies for incorrect posting, thanks for info I also use Artic products. I got the LM for testing and have always been happy with the results, until now!

I've never had problems with cleaning while still liquid, but dried up is a 1st for me, it is almost anodised in appearance and will probably require lapping again to remove.

I just wondered if anyone else had experienced a similar problem.

 

[mrapoc]

My Arctic silver 5 (fake stuff) almost did this. Its dried up to a sludge and manked my block up. Get some arcticlean perhaps? Scouring pad?

 

[Ham]

Ive seen this before, and vowed never to use the stuff. IIRC its fused a few CPU IHS' to the Heatsinks too...

You shouldn't use it on any direct die chip though. Its conductive, get it on the resistors around the die and zzzzz dead.

 

[Bungral]

Slightly off subject but when cleaning an IHS is surgical spirit a no no?

 

[PV5150]

Slightly off subject but when cleaning an IHS is surgical spirit a no no?

Surgical spirit is just Ethanol with a small amount of methanol added to render it unfit to drink, but it is fine to use for cleaning TIM off a processor.

 

[Mr. Smith]

I've used it on cpu and gpu cores with no damage in the past... Never had any temp issues BUT it does infuse into the copper...

 

[Squyrrel]

Cheers for that. Thought it was a bit strange. Every review of this stuff seems to sing it's praises, but I haven't found a long term test review that supports the drying out.

I've emailed Coollabs to enquire about the 'defect', but no reply as yet. I'll post for info...

 

[equk]

The only thing I've heard of this stuff is bad most of the info was on XS with people saying it ate into the IHS & even ate into the heatsink. Also loads of people saying it fused the IHS to the heatsink.

Wasn't it also illegal in europe due to it being in a syringe with a hypodermic needle?

 

[Squyrrel]

Illegal in Europe would be somewhat limiting for a German Company!

Finally received a reply, not quite what I was after, no advice on how to avoid the same fate again.

Quote

thanks for your mail.

We will recommend you the following process to separate the components:

Please warm the cooler (For example by the former handling or by using a hot

air gun/hair dryer with switched off PC ) and then take the cooler carefully

off. If that should malfunction, then remove it by trying to rotate the

cooling block slightly or do a move like a lever.

We hope this answer is helpful and for more requests we are gladly at your

disposal.

Sincerely yours,

Coollaboratory Support

Unquote

So answer my question on how to avoid this please Coollabs support!

 

[equk]

Illegal in Europe would be somewhat limiting for a German Company!

idd

Seems they have revised the compound a lot since the information that was on XS when it was released. It was removed from a lot of UK and EU sites due to the needle (at that time the only way to get it in the UK was on ebay). It also was reported to be toxic and I think someone in america did some tests to see what it contained.

But looking at online shops now, they say it isn't toxic and have a big warning about not using it with Aluminium heatsinks.

Has anyone seen/used the pads? looks like a better, safer and easier way to use the compound.

After reading so many posts on various forums saying about it fusing things together and embedding itself into copper, I'm still not sure I'd trust it tho.