The Official Thermal Interface Material thread

[TPCEA]

MX-6 application, full IHS thin layer spread (scalpel blades). Less than 2 months old, on a CPU that never exceeds 65 Celsius gaming (73C CB). I was careful to use just pull up motion when separating the surfaces, without any wiggle:

Cooler side:

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IHS side:

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The inner part is almost dried out and very stiff at touch, and 90% of the paste ended outside on the coldplate edges. Notice the drainage channels kinda formed a maze pattern from center to outer edges.

Applied TG Kryonaut. I'll be back with the temp differences observation after some curing period.

What CPU? 65 delta or total? Did you see any pumped out?

Pulling up is what caused the channels. Try it with actual mud. I've seen it many times, first as a kid and then playing with them. It's caused by suction.

If it's been only 2 months and you're constantly monitoring temps, that doesn't sound good!

 

[Veseleil]

maybe there is some fake shit going around in a mx-6 box

No, this was ordered directly from the Arctic webshop.

What CPU? 65 delta or total? Did you see any pumped out?

It's my 5800X3D, and yes there's a pump out, less than it was last time, but still noticeable.

Pulling up is what caused the channels. Try it with actual mud. I've seen it many times, first as a kid and then playing with them. It's caused by suction.

There's a difference between channels made by pulling, and those that are almost perfectly clean and polished. First being mushy with apparent spikes.

If it's been only 2 months and you're constantly monitoring temps, that doesn't sound good!

Yep, it's getting worse as it seems to degrade by just sitting in a tube that's within a zip bag, that's within a sealed box, and finally within a locker.



I observed temps after applying Kryonaut, and giving it couple of heat/cold cycles. Max temps are a bit better than the fresh applied MX-6 were (the first application from over a year), couple of degrees less at most (~73C CB23 run), but the idle temps are much better. Although I can't really remember those, they were kinda always above 40C or close to 50C depending on the ambient, now they are around 37C. I like it so far, let's see how long will it last. The manufacturer claims 1 year of top performance while kept under 80C. But I saw many people reporting its degradation as early as 3 months, half a year, but who knows under what temps, and how good of an application in the first place. We'll see.

Also I sent an email to Gamers Nexus, asking them to investigate the MX-6 issues. I'd kindly ask others that are aware of this problem to do the same, it could help it getting in their focus.

 

[TPCEA]

There's a difference between channels made by pulling, and those that are almost perfectly clean and polished. First being mushy with apparent spikes.

I can see that some channels go to the edge, which would suggest pump-out and/or evaporation, right? Other channels go nowhere in particular. How clear they are would be impacted by viscosity/dryness, I think.

Yep, it's getting worse as it seems to degrade by just sitting in a tube that's within a zip bag, that's within a sealed box, and finally within a locker.

Well there's your mistake, plain as day! You forgot to put the locker into a black hole! LOL!

Try one of those TG grey dryer sheets instead. They last virtually forever and don't pump out.

You should try asking Aris of Hardware Busters and KitGuru, too, and Lubomir at hwcooling.net. Aris is a professional engineer who runs both HWBusters and Cybenetics Labs, and is greatly respected by Steve @GN. KitGuru is well spoken of by Steve, too, specifically Leo. Lubomir isn't as well known, so I can't say much but he's smart.

 

[Veseleil]

Try one of those TG grey dryer sheets instead. They last virtually forever and don't pump out.

I will eventually try every thermal compound TG makes, as the local shop became the main TG supplier in our country! Finally some higher quality products for our poor 3rd world enthusiasts.

You should try asking Aris of Hardware Busters and KitGuru, too, and Lubomir at hwcooling.net. Aris is a professional engineer who runs both HWBusters and Cybenetics Labs, and is greatly respected by Steve @GN. KitGuru is well spoken of by Steve, too, specifically Leo. Lubomir isn't as well known, so I can't say much but he's smart.

Thanks for the heads up, will try to contact them as well.

 

[TPCEA]

I will eventually try every thermal compound TG makes, as the local shop became the main TG supplier in our country! Finally some higher quality products for our poor 3rd world enthusiasts.

Thanks for the heads up, will try to contact them as well.

Don't forget SYY-157 - you'll make @freeagent happy.

Also, try Honeywell PTM7950. It does need to be burned in but it's supposed to last indefinitely because it's a phase-change TIM, IIRC.

 

[Veseleil]

Don't forget SYY-157 - you'll make @freeagent happy.

Also, try Honeywell PTM7950. It does need to be burned in but it's supposed to last indefinitely because it's a phase-change TIM, IIRC.

I would love to try them, but it's a bit hard to get those around here, as even the Aliexpress isn't shipping most of its goods to us, at least not without ridiculous fees...

 

[freeagent]

you'll make @freeagent happy.

Lol honestly it does not bother me what people run

The less people that run it means that it is my little secret

 

[Space Lynx]

is this legit Honeywell stuff? I was thinking of it giving it a go maybe. does it really cool better than regular paste?

https://www.amazon.com/PTM7950-40x80x0-2mm-JOYJOM-Conductive-Silicone/dp/B0BRJB8JNX/

 

[oiawshboiwsahnoidaws]

is this legit Honeywell stuff? I was thinking of it giving it a go maybe. does it really cool better than regular paste?

https://www.amazon.com/PTM7950-40x80x0-2mm-JOYJOM-Conductive-Silicone/dp/B0BRJB8JNX/

I like it and have tried a re-brand from thermalright called heilos and ptm7958-sp which is a paste and not a pad, just has a solvent after that dries out its the same as the pad versions
Really nice stuff as it should have better longevity than most (all?) pastes and on a desktop cpu i saw an improvement of 2-3°C compared to various regular pastes i had on hand ( which weren't well known pastes so take it with grain of salt )
But it is expensive i guess

 

[TPCEA]

I like it and have tried a re-brand from thermalright called heilos and ptm7958-sp which is a paste and not a pad, just has a solvent after that dries out its the same as the pad versions
Really nice stuff as it should have better longevity than most (all?) pastes and on a desktop cpu i saw an improvement of 2-3°C compared to various regular pastes i had on hand ( which weren't well known pastes so take it with grain of salt )
But it is expensive i guess

In the USA, the cheapest source for 7950 pads is LTT. In Europe, I think it's ModMyMods.

That's as far as I know, but Google does not show all resources - I only found out that LTT had lower prices than MMM because of an ad on LTT forum.

 

[Space Lynx]

I like it and have tried a re-brand from thermalright called heilos and ptm7958-sp which is a paste and not a pad, just has a solvent after that dries out its the same as the pad versions
Really nice stuff as it should have better longevity than most (all?) pastes and on a desktop cpu i saw an improvement of 2-3°C compared to various regular pastes i had on hand ( which weren't well known pastes so take it with grain of salt )
But it is expensive i guess

@freeagent I had no idea thermal right had affordable phase change cooling.... alright fuck it, I just ordered one for under 5 bucks. it does say in reviews people had issues with it breaking apart etc, so anyone that has experience with phase change material like this, what advice can you give me? @mama I know you have used it and @Kabouter Plop too

 

[TPCEA]

View attachment 346442

@freeagent I had no idea thermal right had affordable phase change cooling.... alright fuck it, I just ordered one for under 5 bucks. it does say in reviews people had issues with it breaking apart etc, so anyone that has experience with phase change material like this, what advice can you give me? @mama I know you have used it and @Kabouter Plop too

I've not used it yet, but I know that you should put the 7950 in the freezer for a while before applying it to make it easy to remove the plastic.

 

[wNotyarD]

View attachment 346442

@freeagent I had no idea thermal right had affordable phase change cooling.... alright fuck it, I just ordered one for under 5 bucks. it does say in reviews people had issues with it breaking apart etc, so anyone that has experience with phase change material like this, what advice can you give me? @mama I know you have used it and @Kabouter Plop too

Will you use it on the 7800X3D or on the 7900XT?

 

[Space Lynx]

I've not used it yet, but I know that you should put the 7950 in the freezer for a while before applying it to make it easy to remove the plastic.

ty for the tip, I just ordered mine, @freeagent thermalright has done it again baby! got me to spend money

damn you good sir, what have you done to me!

Will you use it on the 7800X3D or on the 7900XT?

oh 7800x3d 100% the 7900 XT is brand new and runs ice cold. I don't want to mess that up until my initial tests start to show rises in temperatures, probably will take a year two, but I have a reminder set to run the same GPU tests every 8 months or so. if temps ever go above 5 Celsius over my original tests at same ambient, I will consider putting this on GPU too.

 

[freeagent]

amn you good sir, what have you done to me!

You should try one of their newer AIOs

 

[oiawshboiwsahnoidaws]

@Space Lynx I put the pad in the freezer but it still was a pain to get it off the plastic screen without breaking it
That said don't worry about it, even if the pad breaks up it will not affect performance
What paste are you using currently? I'd be interested if you see an improvement

 

[Space Lynx]

@Space Lynx I put the pad in the freezer but it still was a pain to get it off the plastic screen without breaking it
That said don't worry about it, even if the pad breaks up it will not affect performance
What paste are you using currently? I'd be interested if you see an improvement

mx-6 and its always worked good for me since it came out.

 

[wNotyarD]

Speaking of pads and 7900's and whatnot, I'm seriously considering repasting my Pulse 7900XTX even if it's still only 6 months in. Hotspot bordering 100C is a bit too high for my taste, same for a near 30C core-hotspot delta.
Heilos being one of the options I'm looking at, does anyone know what size would I need for the core? Also, thinking of switching the thermal pads for putty, any recommendations?

 

[adilazimdegilx]

Speaking of pads and 7900's and whatnot, I'm seriously considering repasting my Pulse 7900XTX even if it's still only 6 months in. Hotspot bordering 100C is a bit too high for my taste, same for a near 30C core-hotspot delta.
Heilos being one of the options I'm looking at, does anyone know what size would I need for the core? Also, thinking of switching the thermal pads for putty, any recommendations?

25x25mm for 7900XT/XTX

 

[mama]

25x25mm for 7900XT/XTX

Yep. For 7950 I used 80x80x0.2mm sheet and cut to size.

 

[TPCEA]

oh 7800x3d 100% the 7900 XT is brand new and runs ice cold. I don't want to mess that up until my initial tests start to show rises in temperatures, probably will take a year two, but I have a reminder set to run the same GPU tests every 8 months or so. if temps ever go above 5 Celsius over my original tests at same ambient, I will consider putting this on GPU too.

Why every 8 months, may I ask?

Speaking of pads and 7900's and whatnot, I'm seriously considering repasting my Pulse 7900XTX even if it's still only 6 months in. Hotspot bordering 100C is a bit too high for my taste, same for a near 30C core-hotspot delta.
Heilos being one of the options I'm looking at, does anyone know what size would I need for the core? Also, thinking of switching the thermal pads for putty, any recommendations?

Have you considering putting an air duct in to make sure the GPU isn't getting choked by poor airflow?

 

[Space Lynx]

Why every 8 months, may I ask?

no particular reason to be honest with you

I just figure these things take time to change, cause my last rig was about 8 months with a 5600x3d and temps were same entire time and good.

 

[TPCEA]

no particular reason to be honest with you

I just figure these things take time to change, cause my last rig was about 8 months with a 5600x3d and temps were same entire time and good.

That really depends on the TIM and your usage.

PTM7950 won't do very well until you burn it in according to instructions I've seen, and then it rules.

 

[physicsjunky]

What do you think has the best cooling performance between these three TIMs?

1. PTM7950
2. CARBONAUT
3. KRYOSHEET

I am looking for an end solution for my 7900 XTX air cooler as the hotspot temp has gotten worse. I have already been recommended PTM7950 in the past but I still want to push the card to its limits without it going beyond 95C.

While playing War Thunder max settings, shadows at minimum my card used to do 2800mhz at about 90C, now it does about 2500mhz at 110C.

 

[Shrek]

What do you think has the best cooling performance between these three TIMs?

Performance?

• Best temperatures?
• Longest lasting?