[EOL] Arctic MX-5 is here!!Tests incoming! Completed. Now its MX-6 testing time!

[Falkentyne]

Your results illustrate my point about MX-5, it's performing on a very similar level to TIMs 50% or more it's cost. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the 3.5g Noctua NT-H2 I just ordered for $11 on Amazon. For reference, the 8g MX-5 was $10.

Agree fully. 50g of MX-5 for $44 was one of the best bargains I've ever seen. That was equal to the 50g of Arctic Ceramique I bought for $30 like 15 years ago (I still have that tube too).

 

[Shrek]

Would it be fair to say ~1/2 g per CPU application?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Would it be fair to say ~1/2 g per CPU application?

Oh, not even that. I spread TIM's very thinly. There is no need for anything but a tiny amount.

 

[GerKNG]

Stock Paste 6900XT Nitro+ and repasted with MX-5 (identical load with the AMD driver stresstest, fans are even a bit slower and ambient temperature + Case Fan Speed was pretty much identical (20.9 and 20.8°C)

 

[Space Lynx]

Your results illustrate my point about MX-5, it's performing on a very similar level to TIMs 50% or more it's cost. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the 3.5g Noctua NT-H2 I just ordered for $11 on Amazon. For reference, the 8g MX-5 was $10.

link? i can only find the 10mg in stock on amazon otherwise I was going to buy that...

also, this looks interesting, its a new nano-diamond paste, decently priced... I may try this. I'm really not happy with MX-5 overall, I mean it's fine, but I was really hoping for a 2-3 celsius improvement over my mx-4. and I think i can get that with a paste like this. and since i lost 2 celsius with mx-5, i may get 5 celsius with a paste like this, which is no joke

Amazon.com: Antec Thermal Paste, High Performance Heatsink Paste for All CPU Coolers, High Durability and Easy to Apply - 4 Grams,Formula : Electronics

Buy Antec Thermal Paste, High Performance Heatsink Paste for All CPU Coolers, High Durability and Easy to Apply - 4 Grams,Formula: Heatsinks - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Falkentyne]

link? i can only find the 10mg in stock on amazon otherwise I was going to buy that...

also, this looks interesting, its a new nano-diamond paste, decently priced... I may try this. I'm really not happy with MX-5 overall, I mean it's fine, but I was really hoping for a 2-3 celsius improvement over my mx-4. and I think i can get that with a paste like this. and since i lost 2 celsius with mx-5, i may get 5 celsius with a paste like this, which is no joke

Amazon.com: Antec Thermal Paste, High Performance Heatsink Paste for All CPU Coolers, High Durability and Easy to Apply - 4 Grams,Formula : Electronics

Buy Antec Thermal Paste, High Performance Heatsink Paste for All CPU Coolers, High Durability and Easy to Apply - 4 Grams,Formula: Heatsinks - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

May not help but here's 50g for $45um...my link vanished?

Amazon.com: ARCTIC MX-5 (50 g) - Quality Thermal Paste for All CPU Coolers, Extremely high Thermal Conductivity, Low Thermal Resistance, Long Durability, Metal-Free, Non-Conductive, Non-capacitive: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: ARCTIC MX-5 (50 g) - Quality Thermal Paste for All CPU Coolers, Extremely high Thermal Conductivity, Low Thermal Resistance, Long Durability, Metal-Free, Non-Conductive, Non-capacitive: Computers & Accessories

www.amazon.com

 

[Shrek]

link? i can only find the 10mg in stock on amazon otherwise I was going to buy that...

Amazon.com: ARCTIC MX-5 (50 g) - Quality Thermal Paste for All CPU Coolers, Extremely high Thermal Conductivity, Low Thermal Resistance, Long Durability, Metal-Free, Non-Conductive, Non-capacitive (ACTCP00058A): Computers & Accessories

 

[Space Lynx]

Amazon.com: ARCTIC MX-5 (50 g) - Quality Thermal Paste for All CPU Coolers, Extremely high Thermal Conductivity, Low Thermal Resistance, Long Durability, Metal-Free, Non-Conductive, Non-capacitive (ACTCP00058A): Computers & Accessories

that's not the link I asked for... I asked @lexluthermiester for his link on nt-h2... cause I can't find it. I'm never buying mx-5 again...

 

[Shrek]

Sorry about that; sure you want a diamond laden paste? I would worry about scratching.

 

[Space Lynx]

Sorry about that; sure you want a diamond laden paste? I would worry about scratching.

I probably won't get it. everything is fine, and 2 celsius loss isn't a huge deal. so I may just keep everything the way it is and stop spending money, heh... but its kind of shameful of Arctic to release a paste that is worse than mx-2 and mx-4... imo anyway...

 

[tabascosauz]

Do you live in USA? If I could find someone to split the cost of kryonaut extreme with me, i wouldn't mind using that paste, there is enough paste there for two people. and cheap shipping with a 1-2 dollar tiny envelope. im not dropping 30 on it though LOL

Sorry lol, I live in Canada.

Not too interested in Kryo Extreme, was looking at Kryonaut but the ones sold by Amazon are only back in stock sometime in June. Even if "fulfilled by Amazon", I'm not going with third party sellers on this one, knowing Kryonaut's spotty past. Same with KPX, Amazon sellers are really dodgy and if I buy directly from Vince, the shipping fees cost more than the 3g tube itself, not willing to go that for something that's not LM.

I've been thinking though, I've still got a tube or two of new NT-H1. Looking back, temps are slightly but consistently higher (~2C) on MX-4 compared to NT-H1 on just about every paste job I've done - 3770, 1230v2, 4790K, 3700X, 280X (especially). Maybe worth a shot breaking out the ol Noctua and seeing if there's a difference first. I've only been exclusively using MX-4 recently because most of my NT-H1 is from like 2015 and there's a lot of MX-4 in that big tube.

 

[Space Lynx]

Sorry lol, I live in Canada.

Not too interested in Kryo Extreme, was looking at Kryonaut but the ones sold by Amazon are only back in stock sometime in June. Even if "fulfilled by Amazon", I'm not going with third party sellers on this one, knowing Kryonaut's spotty past. Same with KPX, Amazon sellers are really dodgy and if I buy directly from Vince, the shipping fees cost more than the 3g tube itself, not willing to go that for something that's not LM.

I've been thinking though, I've still got a tube or two of new NT-H1. Looking back, temps are slightly but consistently higher (~2C) on MX-4 compared to NT-H1 on just about every paste job I've done - 3770, 1230v2, 4790K, 3700X, 280X (especially). Maybe worth a shot breaking out the ol Noctua and seeing if there's a difference first. I've only been exclusively using MX-4 recently because most of my NT-H1 is from like 2015 and there's a lot of MX-4 in that big tube.

Nt-H1 and retire. Save your money imo. Nt-H1 is fine. I'm actually not going to mess with it. 2 celsius is no big deal, so I'm just leaving it way it is.

 

[Shrek]

I probably won't get it. everything is fine, and 2 celsius loss isn't a huge deal. so I may just keep everything the way it is and stop spending money, heh... but its kind of shameful of Arctic to release a paste that is worse than mx-2 and mx-4... imo anyway...

How do you know it is worse? there is much more to thermal paste than just temperature drop; I consider how it ages even more important.

 

[mtcn77]

How do you know it is worse? there is much more to thermal paste than just temperature drop; I consider how it ages even more important.

That is right, it should not be curing/caking/evaporating.

 

[Shrek]

And I still haven't completely understood the pump out effect. I could imagine a grease with high surface tension, so it would find its way back in and surfactants may play a role.

 

[mtcn77]

And I still haven't completely understood the pump out effect. I could imagine a grease with high surface tension, so it would find its way back in and surfactants may play a role.

It is one of those fundamentals similar to watchmakers having to work with less temperature sensitive metals. Particle solubility is what keeps the viscosity up, you cannot make paste out of insoluble material - a.k.a there has to be a compromise to the performance.

 

[Shrek]

There is always Indium...

 

[Solid State Soul ( SSS )]

So far the MX5 from what i'v seen is nothing more than what the MX4 offers, what was the point of this ?

The only difference is its weird baby power blue color

 

[Shrek]

Perhaps longevity... something few if any reviews cover.

 

[GerKNG]

So far the MX5 from what i'v seen is nothing more than what the MX4 offers, what was the point of this ?

The only difference is its weird baby power blue color

well..

MX4 on a 450W GPU deteriorates into silicone soup after 6 hours of load.
MX5 not. (i have MX5 since over 4 weeks on my GPU and the temps are identical to day one)

 

[Solid State Soul ( SSS )]

MX4 on a 450W GPU deteriorates into silicone soup after 6 hours of load.

Lamo what GPU is that

 

[GerKNG]

Lamo what GPU is that

a 3080 FTW3 Ultra for example.
the 3090 goes to 500W+ (same for the strix OC)

another reason why i stick to RDNA 2 btw.
my nitro + pulls undervolted 260W and beats my 3080 at 400W

 

[Shrek]

That is right, it should not be curing/caking/evaporating.

And yet, would not curing solve the pump out effect?

 

[freeagent]

I have never experienced the pump out effect.

 

[Shrek]

I imagine these guys know what they are talking about (~2000 cycles); but I would like to understand more

Der8auer Deep-Dives on Thermal Paste: Misconceptions, Curing, & More | LTX 2019 - YouTube

Well worth watching; there is a lot in this video including dry paste.