Current best thermal paste?

[fullinfusion]

So yesterday Gelid Extreme and Collaboratory Liquid Copper arrived......

Tested and conclusion:

Gelid Extreme - like chewing gum ..... hard to spread ..... but is overwhelming in performance. Idle temps dropped 2c
and an average drop of 5c-6c pr core in CPU stress-test. Thumbs up! (in comparison to Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra)

Liquid Copper - like butter - very easy to spread - performance like MX-4 - good paste.

But - I have cleaned all up and gone back to .... Gelid

Like bubblegum? Strange, the tube of Gelid extreme I just got had the consistency of MX-4 and was like butter to spread out with the supplied applicator. I've read that some tubes are thicker and some not but I'm glad your happy with the results.. I sure know I am

The cpu and both gpus sure enjoy the lower temps.

 

[Peter1986C]

In the winter, leave the tubes alone for a while (a day or so) to get them on room temperature just in case.

 

[Ebo]

Ive used IC7 Diamond for anumber of years now, but the tube is almost empty and ive been very happy about that paste.

As a backup I got the Polimatech PK-3, I havent used it yet and also different from AC.
I look forward to trying out the PK-3, just to see if it really is as good, as they say.

 

[Jetster]

When I tested Gelid extreme with about 6 other pastes honestly I could not tell the difference in any of them.

 

[fullinfusion]

When I tested Gelid extreme with about 6 other pastes honestly I could not tell the difference in any of them.

Have a 100% stable working environment with all the variables the same then you'll see a difference

Also I've tested different ways to apply the Gelid paste, bb size, squish, spread , spread thin and the one that comes out the best is a even thin spread.. like just enough to hide the color of the chip and no more

 

[GreiverBlade]

Have a 100% stable working environment with all the variables the same then you'll see a difference

Also I've tested different ways to apply the Gelid paste, bb size, squish, spread , spread thin and the one that comes out the best is a even thin spread.. like just enough to hide the color of the chip and no more

i have 8 tubes sitting on my desk: (no result to give, just remembering)

1. Spire BlueFrost : Spire BlueWorst (not even worth the hassle... and also 0.5g for a insane price) eh 2.5Wm/k that's a joke ... even the AS5 is above 8Wm/k
2. Phobya HeGrease Extreme: not tested, might test it once my piece for the CPU loop will be there
3. GD Brand generic copper TIM (mostly silicopper compound leaving a lot of residues) 1g quite cheap but nothing more worth than a backup past in hard times 2.0Wm/k but wayyy cheaper than the Spire BF and double quantity
4. Termalright Chillfactor leftover from a TR IFX-14, quite good but under the MX-4
5. Prolimatech PK-3 : good used for a MK-26 installation a 580, was almost as effective as the MX-4
6. Arctic (cooling) MX-4: the previous champ..
7. Gelid GC-Extreme: from far the best i tested until now, also had a chewing gum texture but oh well even room temperature is under 15° for me,( i hate warm weather so i hate room temp above 25° i have 15° and less in winter and around 20-22° in summer if i am lucky )

oh wait 7 tube and 1 satchel scythe thermal elixer (pfff elixir but nope ) not bad worth the use during a restock on MX-4

never buyed again : AS5/Ceram/Alumina, IC diamonds (no matter what type) tho i tested them (hence the "never buyed them again" : they are simply not worth it, either they are more expensive than the others and only give a better result of 1° or they are notoriously known to be "unsafe") i do not trust them if i have to say it... (and 50 to 200hrs curing time is a joke when you see the curing time of the MX-4 or the GC-Extreme)

also, from Arctic Silver website
Absolute Stability:
Arctic Silver 5 will not separate, run, migrate, or bleed.=============> wrong i remember a issue with a bleeding AS5 and ruining a GPU

which lead to the "non conductive" of the AS5
Made With 99.9% Pure Silver: Arctic Silver 5 uses three unique shapes and sizes of pure silver particles to maximize particle-to-particle contact area and thermal transfer.
High-Density:Arctic Silver 5 contains over 88% thermally conductive filler by weight. In addition to micronized silver, Arctic Silver 5 also contains sub-micron zinc oxide, aluminum oxide and boron nitride particles. These thermally-enhanced ceramic particles improve the compound's performance and long-term stability

eh? silver is non conductive?

edit: wishlist testing : Coolaboratory: any. for testing sake ...

 

[fullinfusion]

i have 8 tubes sitting on my desk: (no result to give, just remembering)

1. Spire BlueFrost : Spire BlueWorst (not even worth the hassle... and also 0.5g for a insane price) eh 2.5Wm/k that's a joke ... even the AS5 is above 8Wm/k
2. Phobya HeGrease Extreme: not tested, might test it once my piece for the CPU loop will be there
3. GD Brand generic copper TIM (mostly silicopper compound leaving a lot of residues) 1g quite cheap but nothing more worth than a backup past in hard times 2.0Wm/k but wayyy cheaper than the Spire BF and double quantity
4. Termalright Chillfactor leftover from a TR IFX-14, quite good but under the MX-4
5. Prolimatech PK-3 : good used for a MK-26 installation a 580, was almost as effective as the MX-4
6. Arctic (cooling) MX-4: the previous champ..
7. Gelid GC-Extreme: from far the best i tested until now, also had a chewing gum texture but oh well even room temperature is under 15° for me,( i hate warm weather so i hate room temp above 25° i have 15° and less in winter and around 20-22° in summer if i am lucky )

oh wait 7 tube and 1 satchel scythe thermal elixer (pfff elixir but nope ) not bad worth the use during a restock on MX-4

never buyed again : AS5/Ceram/Alumina, IC diamonds (no matter what type) tho i tested them (hence the "never buyed them again" : they are simply not worth it, either they are more expensive than the others and only give a better result of 1° or they are notoriously known to be "unsafe") i do not trust them if i have to say it... (and 50 to 200hrs curing time is a joke when you see the curing time of the MX-4 or the GC-Extreme)

also, from Arctic Silver website
Absolute Stability:
Arctic Silver 5 will not separate, run, migrate, or bleed.=============> wrong i remember a issue with a bleeding AS5 and ruining a GPU

which lead to the "non conductive" of the AS5
Made With 99.9% Pure Silver: Arctic Silver 5 uses three unique shapes and sizes of pure silver particles to maximize particle-to-particle contact area and thermal transfer.
High-Density:Arctic Silver 5 contains over 88% thermally conductive filler by weight. In addition to micronized silver, Arctic Silver 5 also contains sub-micron zinc oxide, aluminum oxide and boron nitride particles. These thermally-enhanced ceramic particles improve the compound's performance and long-term stability

eh? silver is non conductive?

So they claim but Im pretty conservative in the past applying AS5, I used to love the paste, then came IC Diamond, it was a good one, but I think I lucked out on one batch but was no screaming hell.

Along came MX-4 and I also thought it was the best and it was, Until I got the Gelid Extreme paste. Now Im sold on it! I got the 3.5 gram tube last week and just ordered 3 more tubes today!
Ya cant have to little paste kicking around

 

[eidairaman1]

So AS5/ASC, MX2/4, GE are the top choices.

 

[GreiverBlade]

So AS5/ASC, MX2/4, GE are the top choices.

nah only MX-4/PK-3/GC Extreme (well might include MX-2) AS type are outdated and beaten by any of theses (who are mostly cheaper, for the same quantity or more quantity for a similar or lower price)

 

[fullinfusion]

nah only MX-4/PK-3/GC Extreme (well might include MX-2) AS type are outdated and beaten by any of theses (who are mostly cheaper, for the same quantity or more quantity for a similar or lower price)

Yup 100% agree

 

[fullinfusion]

I forgot to close my room window last night. I had it cracked for some fresh winter air. I'm glad I left the rig on last night as when I walked in the room temp was +2°c and the CPU was idleing at 6c and the GPU at 12c lol.. Last time that happened I froze the water loop lol

It got down to -26°c last night

 

[Aquinus]

I forgot to close my room window last night. I had it cracked for some fresh winter air. I'm glad I left the rig on last night as when I walked in the room temp was +2°c and the CPU was idleing at 6c and the GPU at 12c lol.. Last time that happened I froze the water loop lol

It got down to -26°c last night

Some ethylene glycol can fix that.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

OMG, 5 pages about what is the best thermal paste? Do I really need to read this?

 

[GreiverBlade]

Do I really need to read this?

not really

everyone have an opinion (even if they don't matter : MX-4/GC-Extreme master past! "joke")
and the discussion is pretty entertaining ... at last for me ... i rarely have the chance to bash IC and AS on "how they are inferior to everything i tested" (joke again ... they are good but they are not alone in the performance sector and some of them don't "eat" die and heatspreader)

at last we know what's the best : 3 of them technically (well let's make it 4 if we add the MX-2 oh wait 5 with the Liquid metal from coolaboratory but since conductive : special status)

 

[VulkanBros]

As many pastes there are - as many opinions there are........well I´ll say: try a few and see what brings you the best result......

 

[FireFox]

get some CoolLab Ultra

Best choice ever, thanks to you that's what I am using today

 

[Dr_b_]

Been a die hard AS5 user, but based on these comments in this thread will try Gelid-Extreme and MX-4, got tubes of those on the way. Never had a problem with AS5 -- either with temps, or longevity of the paste application, so it isn't bad paste even if it is older.

 

[Athlonite]

Been a die hard AS5 user, but based on these comments in this thread will try Gelid-Extreme and MX-4, got tubes of those on the way. Never had a problem with AS5 -- either with temps, or longevity of the paste application, so it isn't bad paste even if it is older.

Don't bother with the Gelid stuff if crap MX-4 is good if your thinking of going from AS5 (and AS5 is what I use still )

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Don't bother with the Gelid stuff if crap MX-4 is good if your thinking of going from AS5 (and AS5 is what I use still )

Proof?

I can come up with more than 5 reviews stating how great great GC-Extreme is - The only downside is the price...Its bloody expensive

 

[Athlonite]

also, from Arctic Silver website
Absolute Stability:
Arctic Silver 5 will not separate, run, migrate, or bleed.=============> wrong i remember a issue with a bleeding AS5 and ruining a GPU

If it bled then you used way to much you only need just enough to very thinly cover the die and no more I've use AS5 on all my CPU's and GPU's and never had bleeding ever and a week of normal use was all it took to see temp drops from first use also it lasts way longer than a year where most others recommend you change it yearly

 

[GreiverBlade]

If it bled then you used way to much you only need just enough to very thinly cover the die and no more I've use AS5 on all my CPU's and GPU's and never had bleeding ever and a week of normal use was all it took to see temp drops from first use also it lasts way longer than a year where most others recommend you change it yearly

well i wouldn't have that problem i don't use AS5 (or any Arctic Silver past) since years ... well since the MX-2 introduction to be precise

Proof?

I can come up with more than 5 reviews stating how great great GC-Extreme is - The only downside is the price...Its bloody expensive

good review on it indeed ... even from TPU.

expensive well it depend where but at my retailer a 4g GC-E is cheaper than a 3.5g AS5 (lucky...)
and the 25g is not so expensive if i order it from Aquatuning in the end

 

[Athlonite]

Proof?

I can come up with more than 5 reviews stating how great great GC-Extreme is - The only downside is the price...Its bloody expensive

the last time I tried it it was like trying to spread cold tar seal on my cpu I even tried warming it up no change took it back and got my money back as it wasn't fit for purpose and bought some AS5 and haven't looked back since

 

[GreiverBlade]

the last time I tried it it was like trying to spread cold tar seal on my cpu I even tried warming it up no change took it back and got my money back as it wasn't fit for purpose and bought some AS5 and haven't looked back since

using it on my CPU GPU and vRAM no issue of the sort ... only spreaded it with the tool include on the vRAM otherwise i always got a evenly distributed spread.

 

[Athlonite]

well i wouldn't have that problem i don't use AS5 (or any Arctic Silver past) since years ... well since the MX-2 introduction to be precise


good review on it indeed ... even from TPU.

expensive well it depend where but at my retailer a 4g GC-E is cheaper than a 3.5g AS5 (lucky...)
and the 25g is not so expensive if i order it from Aquatuning in the end

but I bet you go through the GC-E quicker I can get 25 applications from 3.5g AS5 on AMD cpu's

 

[FreedomEclipse]

the last time I tried it it was like trying to spread cold tar seal on my cpu I even tried warming it up no change took it back and got my money back as it wasn't fit for purpose and bought some AS5 and haven't looked back since

you bought/tried only 'ONE' and thats your overall opinion? Ever thought about it possibly coming from a bad batch or coming to the end of its shelf life when you bought it? From what ive seen, it spreads as easy as MX-4.

But alright, If you choose to tar all Gelid pastes with the same brush because you had the one bad experience despite every review site giving it almost 10/10 if not 10/10 then thank god youre not a reviewer.