Best and Worst TIM you've worked with?

[silkstone]

Question as title.

I've been overclocking computers for 25+ years now since the days of the 486 where everything was jumper based and in that time have used TIM from a large number of different companies.

The best for me have been OCZ freeze and MX-4 as they were so easy to work with. The ocz freeze literally just needed a grain of rice and it would spread easily and evenly and give great temps.

The hardest I've worked with is Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut. That stuff is like modelling clay and just refuses to stick to anything without using copious amounts (which defeats the purpose).
CLU is really hard to work with as the tolerance for too much vs. too little is so small, but the results when you get it right are worth it.

 

[INSTG8R]

Agree on MX-4 is easy to use and Kryonaut is a PITA. MX-4 has been my go to for a few years now.

 

[hat]

MX-2 and later MX-4 were good for me. I've never used AS5, but I did have a tube of generic silver paste I used for a while until I got MX-2. I remember having terrible results trying to spread it on my 8500GT years ago, and I had much better results on the blob/squish method. I still have a lot of IC Diamond left over from that debacle here years ago, and it works well enough for applications I don't care to get the best temps on and probably won't remove very often.

 

[Mussels]

MX-4 is my go-to as well for most things, its easy to apply and gives top tier results

Liquid metals a total bitch to apply, but gives good temp gains

 

[R-T-B]

I actually have a huge tube of MX-2 I use on bulk jobs, and it's pretty decent too.

Other than that for standard work, MX-4. If I really care (personal build or something) I generally go liquid metal where possible, with careful shielding of components that could short.

As for application, no idea. I stopped trying after my arm started a war with the thermal paste (long story). My brother now does my applications.

 

[Jetster]

From my experience you can take the worst and the best, its only about 5c difference between them

I've always like AS 5 and NT-H1, and don't like Super Zm-ST1 came with some Zalman cooler

I use to have a big tube of generic paste. Like a tooth paste size someone gave me. I think I tossed it

ZALMAN - ZM-STG1

www.zalman.com

 

[oobymach]

MX-4 and NT-H1 for ease of use and and thin spreading. Ordered a tube of Thermalright TFX to try, supposed to be better than Kryonaut with the same horrible pita spreading.

 

[Space Lynx]

Agree on MX-4 is easy to use and Kryonaut is a PITA. MX-4 has been my go to for a few years now.

yep, MX-4 is all I use, just used it on my new PC too.

I actually have a huge tube of MX-2 I use on bulk jobs, and it's pretty decent too.

Other than that for standard work, MX-4. If I really care (personal build or something) I generally go liquid metal where possible, with careful shielding of components that could short.

As for application, no idea. I stopped trying after my arm started a war with the thermal paste (long story). My brother now does my applications.

my arm has started shaking a little too, not sure if its just part of getting older or what. doctor told me she can't figure it out. so much for modern science and $2,000 medical bills doing nothing.

 

[Melvis]

Worst would of been some white intel Thermal paste I used once, it was shit!

Best stuff I have used is the same stuff I use today and its Duratech Thermal paste (25-30% Silver content) Even after over 10yrs the thermal paste is still soft and good on some of my old PC's (skt 939), love the stuff.

 

[candle_86]

I use the same stuff Dell does and it works, order it on Amazon, worst was the old white paste that came in a plastic pouch

 

[PHaS3]

For me, MX-4 is best, like others have said. When I can get I get extra 20g tubes of it to keep, it's not the easiest paste to get in RSA. The worst I've had the displeasure of using is Unick paste. Separates itself into oil and is just generally awful.

http://www.mantech.co.za/datasheets/products/UNICK.pdf <- that's the stuff :|

 

[adulaamin]

Best would be Tuniq TX-4 and worst would be IC Diamond.

 

[Bones]

I already see a consensus for MX4 being the best overall and I have to agree, it's good stuff. I normally use AS5 Ceramique for two reasons.

1: It's really cheap and works well for the $$.
2: See reason #1.

I've got a few tubes of the stuff and I guess once I'm finally done with those I may or may not change.
I do use MX4 too, just not as often and even got the so-called 2019 edition of it with carbon mixed in. It does work well and spreads great too.

 

[silkstone]

I already see a consensus for MX4 being the best overall and I have to agree, it's good stuff. I normally use AS5 Ceramique for two reasons.

1: It's really cheap and works well for the $$.
2: See reason #1.

I've got a few tubes of the stuff and I guess once I'm finally done with those I may or may not change.
I do use MX4 too, just not as often and even got the so-called 2019 edition of it with carbon mixed in. It does work well and spreads great too.

First time I used mx4 I was a little surprised by how thin it was compared to other pastes I've used, but over time I've grown to love it.

It's so easy to apply an even thin layer and pretty much all application. methods work equally well.

 

[Bones]

It does apply really well, I've yet to have any issues whenever I use it.
I too like the stuff, once I finally go through all the tubes of Ceramique I've got I may change over to it exclusively.

 

[Sybaris_Caesar]

Worst Tim I've worked with is the one at our local hardware buy/sell shop around the corner.

I haven't met any better Tim yet.

 

[Space Lynx]

I already see a consensus for MX4 being the best overall and I have to agree, it's good stuff. I normally use AS5 Ceramique for two reasons.

1: It's really cheap and works well for the $$.
2: See reason #1.

I've got a few tubes of the stuff and I guess once I'm finally done with those I may or may not change.
I do use MX4 too, just not as often and even got the so-called 2019 edition of it with carbon mixed in. It does work well and spreads great too.

I only stopped using AS5 just cause don't want to ever risk frying my stuff. I got my 20 gram MX-4 tube for $15 on sale one day, probably will last me a long long time. I really don't buy into the whole this stuff expires idea... I mean I will squirt some out in a few years, then use the stuff behind that just to be safe, but yeah.

 

[Bones]

I only stopped using AS5 just cause don't want to ever risk frying my stuff. I got my 20 gram MX-4 tube for $15 on sale one day, probably will last me a long long time. I really don't buy into the whole this stuff expires idea... I mean I will squirt some out in a few years, then use the stuff behind that just to be safe, but yeah.

You did notice I said Ceramique, not the regular AS5 right?
Ceramique isn't conductive at all.

 

[Jetster]

There is no AS5 Ceramique
It's Arctic Silver Ceramique

 

[silentbogo]

I think the best one is MX4, but since I buy it in 20ml syringes, I don't really have a chance to test newer alternatives.
The worst one is no-doubt our local favorite mixture of crayons and vaseline called КПТ-8. The original stuff was relatively good 10-15 years ago, but now it varies in consistency from dried-up toothpaste to colloidal mixture of baby powder and stray dog saliva. Thermal conductivity is as bad as my assumptions about ingredients.

 

[infrared]

I used to have a large tube of Arctic ceramique that I used for years on non critical stuff, and AS5/MX4 for overclocking. These days I use either Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut or Liquid metal depending on use case.

 

[freeagent]

I really like TF8, and I strongly dislike icd7.

 

[Mr.Scott]

I strongly dislike icd7.

Agreed. Horrible to work with. Application or clean up.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Worst is Cooler Master NANO FUSION. I tried some years ago and that stuff dried out like toothpaste within two weeks.

Best is MX-2, 3, 4 and NT-H1/H2. Just so easy to apply.

PK-3 gets some good temps but it comes out more like icing rather than a wet turd like those mentioned above.

 

[Sithaer]

Best and what I use for years now is MX 4,easy to apply and also good pricing imo.

Worst was some random overpriced conductive 'silver' paste I had to buy in a small local-ish PC store cause of an emergency CPU cooler replacing.

Ever since that I'm keeping a 4g tube of MX around just in case.