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

[Shrek]

What he meant was had he changed only the TIM on top of the IHS, the difference between all the tested TIM would be within margin of errors (1-2C).
High performance TIM only show tangible benefits when applied to bare die (as with GPU and Laptop), for CPU with IHS there are not much difference between the worst and the best TIM.

So almost any good TIM is as good as any other in terms of temperature? all the more reason to forget all these temperature measurements and look at other criterion, such as longevity.

That is where 40% diaper cream will flounder; temperature wise it is very good, but it just isn't going to last.

 

[lexluthermiester]

So almost any good TIM is as good as any other in terms of temperature?

To a degree.(pun intended)

all the more reason to forget all these temperature measurements and look at other criterion, such as longevity.

Not really. Overclocking and heavy load use is what will separate great TIM's from the rest of the pack, thus the constant effort to find formulations that perform as near to perfect as possible.

 

[Shrek]

I'd trade 2°C for longevity any day; but that's just me.

I think that is the problem with "as near to perfect as possible"; we have differing expectations of perfection.

This is the reason I keep bringing up the stupid 40% diaper cream; it emphasizes the idea that temperature performance is only part of the story.

 

[lexluthermiester]

we have differing expectations of perfection.

Exactly right! What's perfect to one person may not be the same for another...

 

[Shrek]

When someone opens up a thread about thermal grease longevity, count me in; but when things are 'within the margin of error' and we modify the application as a result, count me out.

Not trying to be rude, so I hope the moderators let my opinion stand.

And thanks to all the people here who have been willing to purchase the various greases and then take the time to test them, and I still look forward to the results from the copper based anti-seize grease.

 

[lexluthermiester]

When someone opens up a thread about thermal grease longevity, count me in; but when things are 'within the margin of error' and we modify the application as a result, count me out.

That's fair.

Not trying to be rude, so I hope the moderators let my opinion stand.

You're fine mate. Personal experiences and opinions are always welcome. Where things cross the lines of the forum rules is personal attacks and general hooliganisms.

 

[Shrek]

Now where be those copper results? what be holdin` ya up...

 

[lexluthermiester]

Now where be those copper results? what be holdin` ya up...

I'm waiting on the Noctua NT-H1.

 

[Shrek]

Interesting review
NOT FOR HIGH-END LAPTOPS!! Read to learn more! (amazon.com)
that suggests one really must wait and can't just test and run.

 

[AOne]

Exactly. Noctua NT-H1 is from the old generation of pastes with max working temp of 100 C, which is the thermal throttling limit of CPUs in the last years. That's why Noctua NT-H2 must be used, which has max working temp of 200C and works perfectly in constant load and high temps. All my laptops are perfectly fine after I switched to it two years ago. Needed to go through the forementioned pastes for a week each, to find out they're lasting not more than a week in temps above 85 C, though having perfect results the first day or two.

 

[Space Lynx]

I did not know this. Very interesting..

Maybe the issue you're having it specific to your setup. How do you apply the TIM? Are you using the system in your specs? Is there anything special you might be doing that may be causing a difference?

While true, life is so much less fun without them..


This. Mounting pressure matters and can have a measurable effect, even an effect larger than one might expect.

yes, system specs.

yeah read W1zzard tpu review of the 6800 and 6800 xt. during the disassembly part of the review he mentions don't take it apart. this is like a graphene carbon cooling method AMD is using on reference cards (and it works very very good imo) and will never need replaced. so i took his advice in that review and never opened it up. my temps have been great, i use a slightly stronger fan curve than stock, its still not very loud and im not even breaking 60 celsius in a lot of games, hot spot will still hit like 77 or so once in awhile. its a great card imo. i did add thermal pads to the backplate and vram spots. i recently put my backplate back on and did the thermal pads properly.

for this air cooler usually i do the pea size method for my tim, but for mx-5 I used the included spatula and got it even everywhere.

if my Dad wants to get me a bday gift or something, I think I am going to have him get me some nt-h2 from newegg. re-paste one last time and call it day. i haven't decided yet LOL

 

[Shrek]

Exactly. Noctua NT-H1 is from the old generation of pastes with max working temp of 100 C, which is the thermal throttling limit of CPUs in the last years. That's why Noctua NT-H2 must be used, which has max working temp of 200C and works perfectly in constant load and high temps. All my laptops are perfectly fine after I switched to it two years ago. Needed to go through the forementioned pastes for a week each, to find out they're lasting not more than a week in temps above 85 C, though having perfect results the first day or two.

Amazon.com: Noctua NT-H2 3.5g, Pro-Grade Thermal Compound Paste incl. 3 Cleaning Wipes (3.5g): Industrial & Scientific
"Trusted Noctua quality with excellent long-term stability: recommended storage time up to 3 years, recommended usage time on the CPU up to 5 years"

 

[Space Lynx]

Amazon.com: Noctua NT-H2 3.5g, Pro-Grade Thermal Compound Paste incl. 3 Cleaning Wipes (3.5g): Industrial & Scientific

"Trusted Noctua quality with excellent long-term stability: recommended storage time up to 3 years, recommended usage time on the CPU up to 5 years"

yeah and mx-5 is 8 years. so 2-4 celsius worse, but higher longevity. so i guess it just depends which of those is more important to you at end of the day.

5 years is long time... so eh

 

[AOne]

Would you still use this computer after 3 years? I doubt so. Besides, I assume Noctua are precise in statements and MX5 are exaggerating a bit. I don't mind repasting every year, as long as my laptop is running in mid 80C in full load. In comparison it was going way over 90 C with MX4 after just 3 days.

 

[Shrek]

Would you still use this computer after 3 years? I doubt so. Besides, I assume Noctua are precise in statements and MX5 are exaggerating a bit. I don't mind repasting every year, as long as my laptop is running in mid 80C in full load. In comparison it was going way over 90 C with MX4 after just 3 days.

My main computer (a desktop) is 11 years old and still going strong, my car is 23 years old and also still going strong although the ECM does not seem to need thermal paste.

One thing I hate opening up is laptops.

 

[AOne]

My main computer is 11 years old and still going strong, my car is 23 years old and also still going strong although the ECM does not seem to need thermal paste.

OK, but would you spare one repasting for all those years in exchange for better cooling? In most of the laptops, 3-4-5 degrees is the difference between throttling and normal work.

 

[Shrek]

OK, but would you spare one repasting for all those years in exchange for better cooling? In most of the laptops, 3-4-5 degrees is the difference between throttling and normal work.

Absolutely and that is the whole point; one repasting from stock and no more.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Amazon.com: Noctua NT-H2 3.5g, Pro-Grade Thermal Compound Paste incl. 3 Cleaning Wipes (3.5g): Industrial & Scientific
"Trusted Noctua quality with excellent long-term stability: recommended storage time up to 3 years, recommended usage time on the CPU up to 5 years"

Yeah, I think that's the one I tried to buy.

 

[toilet pepper]

I just ordered a Thermalright TFX to check if it is any better for my GPU. I have already used Kryonaut, NT-H1, Cryorig CP7 and an MX4 on it and they pretty much are all the same. Might as well try a new paste while I do my routine cleanup. (GPU is deshourded)

On the same thought, this youtube channel got a different result with MX5 being better (marginally) all round.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Interesting review
NOT FOR HIGH-END LAPTOPS!! Read to learn more! (amazon.com)
that suggests one really must wait and can't just test and run.

I'm not sure we should give that review much merit. I've never seen any TIM "dry" out and stop being functional. Many dry out and still function perfectly, by design. I greatly doubt Noctua being the company it is would overlook such a critical aspect of a product they promote front & center in their product line-up.

 

[Shrek]

The part that caught my eye is not the dry out, that is OK; it was the

"But that lasted for less than a week. The max temps under load started climbing: 78...80...82...84.. 87."

 

[lexluthermiester]

I just ordered a Thermalright TFX to check if it is any better for my GPU. I have already used Kryonaut, NT-H1, Cryorig CP7 and an MX4 on it and they pretty much are all the same. Might as well try a new paste while I do my routine cleanup. (GPU is deshourded)

On the same thought, this youtube channel got a different result with MX5 being better (marginally) all round.

I love this review. His methodology seems spot on!

The part that caught my eye is not the dry out, that is OK; it was the

"But that lasted for less than a week. The max temps under load started climbing: 78...80...82...84.. 87."

That could be a flawed/poor installation.

 

[Shrek]

Here is what I see is the problem: The manufacturers will sell us whatever it is we want; and if we want the extra degree less, regardless of long term endurance, then that is what we will get.

No wonder the PC manufacturers don't seem to use the fancy stuff.

 

[toilet pepper]

I love this review. His methodology seems spot on!


That could be a flawed/poor installation.

Yeah, been watching this guy for a while now and he has a few things that other reviewers miss.

I used a pick (I saw cool kids use em) to spread the MX4 and left it alone for a few days and it dried out. The room is around 30-34C most of the time. I tried submerging it in Alcohol for a day and it didn't dissolve. I'm guessing its just fine on top of the CPU/GPU with constant heat and wont dry out there.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Here is what I see is the problem: The manufacturers will sell us whatever it is we want; and if we want the extra degree less, regardless of long term endurance, then that is what we will get.

No wonder the PC manufacturers don't seem to use the fancy stuff.

I just don't see Noctua doing that. They have a reputation to protect and making a TIM that fails quickly would do their reputation very serious harm.