The Official Thermal Interface Material thread

[jayjr1105]

That was Intel's first year using paste instead of solder. Probably didn't have a good formula nailed down yet.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Incomplete list of Intel Soldered/Not Soldered processors for your immediate convenience!!

Delidding ---- Soldered or Not | Warp9-systems

thought id start a thread on known soldered intel chips, with pics of the die and resistors layout to watch out for when cutting the seal, as you can see in the pic the resistors are very close to 1

warp9-systems.proboards.com

 

[KLiKzg]

A comment from @Shrek was here a moment ago that stated;
"Some people argue that the TIM is the weak point, but I beg to differ as the TIM might get one 2°C while a better CPU cooler might get one more.

So, I got me a new CPU cooler for $11 that should get me more than 2°C"
I happen to agree. No TIM can or will ever overcome the limitations of the cooling mechanism. Improve the cooler, improve the cooling. Basic cooling physics.

Well, he is correct...a good TIM, applied as instructed (in thin layer) might have the best results.

But putting a cooler with more TDP W, will get you better results. I can confirm that!
& do not go with "bigger cooler"...as bigger is not always better! & just stresses your motherboard & CPU.
As you should not go with "more expensive TIMs", as money is not measure of better W/mK...but maybe better quality?!

I did the same thing on previous systems...& got the similar results.
How much of it is 'cause of a new paste? That is also a question, but it was the same paste (back then, not so good MX-4).

 

[lexluthermiester]

Well, he is correct...a good TIM, applied as instructed (in thin layer) might have the best results.

I didn't and wouldn't disagree with that.

But putting a cooler with more TDP W, will get you better results. I can confirm that!

Of course, that's just basic physics and common sense.

 

[KLiKzg]

I didn't and wouldn't disagree with that.

Check the Shrek previous formula, few pages back...it says just that!

Of course, that's just basic physics and common sense.

It is as a putting a more gravity into the same orbit...or putting larger suction fan on a same volume of canister with same smaller hole (smaller hole being the TIM).

 

[Borc]

Database is online from Igorslab: https://www.igorslab.de/en/the-worl...expert&presets[application]=universal#results

There is no other test/database like this in the web and many more pastes will follow.

Our database is based on real laboratory values that we have painstakingly determined according to industry standards. However, many of these results contradict the manufacturers’ marketing claims and ruthlessly expose contradictions and lies, but they are all well-founded, reproducible and legally sound. These measurements not only reflect the overall performance values of the pastes, but also enable an assessment of their suitability for a specific area of application (layer thicknesses, surfaces) as well as their suitability taking into account the individual capabilities of the respective user.

 

[KLiKzg]

Database is online from Igorslab: https://www.igorslab.de/en/the-worlds-first-interactive-thermal-paste-database-real-measurement-data-material-analysis-and-objective-fact-check/?presets[skill]=expert&presets[application]=universal#results

There is no other test/database like this in the web and many more pastes will follow.

WoW, these results differ a lot, from the manufacturers. Wondering what is their explanation for marketing?

EDIT:
Also, based on these results, made some local look-up (in stores):

1. Arctic Cooling 8g, 6,70€
2. Cooler Master MasterGel Pro 7g, 7,50€
3. Corsair XTM50 5g, 10,80€
4. Corsair XTM70 5g, 18,10€
5. Noctua NT-H2: 3,5g=15€, 10g=26,60€

Need to test this out, soon!

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Very interesting with kooling monster kold-01.

Had I not already used PTM for my laptop and PC, I would have given it a try. Only thing I can try it on ATM is my 6700XT but i dont think it's worth the effort

 

[Borc]

WoW, these results differ a lot, from the manufacturers. Wondering what is their explanation for marketing?

Higher numbers could potentially boost the sales of a paste, that's the reason. Most people are not aware it's just a marketing number in most cases. However many end user vendors like Artic, Noctua, Thermal Grizzly as well as Coolermaster (for their newest ones) stopped communicating thermal conductivity values for this reason.

Why doesn’t ARCTIC communicate thermal conductivity values?​

ARCTIC made a conscious decision not to specify any values for the thermal conductivity of its thermal paste and thermal pads because many manufacturers invent, artificially inflate or embellish this value. Thermal paste has a thermal conductivity of 1 to 4 W/mK. Values outside of this range, such as 12.5 W/mK, are at odds with the truth. Many competitors quote values above 4 W/mK to suggest better performance. It often leads to false expectations and dissatisfied users. ARCTIC offers its customers innovative thermal interface materials at the best possible price-performance ratio instead of relying on manipulated performance data.

1 to 4 W/mK is a bit low nevertheless. The best ones at Igorslab can reach slightly over 5 w/mK and the likely best CPU/GPU paste in the world called TC-5960 might reach ~6 w/mK. We will see sooner or later if it can. Dow Chemical is usually accurate with their specs. They don't use marketing numbers, they don't even sell to end users.

 

[Hyderz]

i think somebody mentioned not to use noctua nt-h1 thermal paste for lappy... after 7 weeks of repasting... i opened up the laptop again and the thermal paste is almost gone..
i havent got around to buy a thermal grizzly hydronaut... but i forgot i got a spare tube of arctic mx-6... hopefully it would hold up more

 

[FreedomEclipse]

i think somebody mentioned not to use noctua nt-h1 thermal paste for lappy... after 7 weeks of repasting... i opened up the laptop again and the thermal paste is almost gone..
i havent got around to buy a thermal grizzly hydronaut... but i forgot i got a spare tube of arctic mx-6... hopefully it would hold up more

Good excuse to give kooling monster kold-01 a go. Its quite a thick paste and comes top of the chart in igors tests. Pretty cheap too ok maybe not cheap cheap but id still say its decent value

 

[lexluthermiester]

i think somebody mentioned not to use noctua nt-h1 thermal paste for lappy...

That might have been me.

Good excuse to give kooling monster kold-01 a go.

Never heard of that stuff. How's it perform?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Never heard of that stuff. How's it perform?

Review

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Anyone recommend a nano-diamond thermal paste? Can't seem to find the Antec Formula 7 for sale anywhere.

JP DX1 good? Might go with that.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Anyone recommend a nano-diamond thermal paste? Can't seem to find the Antec Formula 7 for sale anywhere.

JP DX1 good? Might go with that.

Why would you go for an inferior product? Look at the chart In my previous post. There is IC Diamond. Coolermaster Cryofuze, E360 Diamond are diamond based and they are all inferior

Also given IC Diamonds history. If the manufacturers doesn't grind the diamond particles up finely enough then you run the risk of damaging your property, Maybe even writing it off completely

 

[freeagent]

He wants to get it cold though, has had good luck with the diamond dust

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Why would you go for an inferior product? Look at the chart In my previous post. There is IC Diamond. Coolermaster Cryofuze, E360 Diamond are diamond based and they are all inferior

Also given IC Diamonds history. If the manufacturers doesn't grind the diamond particles up finely enough then you run the risk of damaging your property, Maybe even writing it off completely

I've run out of IC Diamond that was given to me free. It was old and thick. About 10 tubes in less than 2 years used Yes, it takes etching off at worst. Have used it on naked die as well. But writing it off completely has never happened. And I discovered the Antec Formula 6 back in 09' or 10' and have used nano-diamond since then.
Can see it in use from the old de-lid tutorial.

The De-Lidding of Phenoms I-&-II Tutorial. - EXTREME Overclocking Forums

The De-Lidding of Phenoms I-&-II Tutorial. Essential Tutorials, Guides, & Info

forums.extremeoverclocking.com

Have always had good experiences with nano-diamond pastes. So that's why I'm asking. Seems Antec no longer produces the Formula series pastes. And seldom see reviews for nano-diamond pastes, so not sure where you get inferior from???

He wants to get it cold though, has had good luck with the diamond dust

I like chilly temps. Winter is coming soon!!

 

[lexluthermiester]

He wants to get it cold though, has had good luck with the diamond dust

We all know diamond is an excellent conductor of heat..

 

[Borc]

Good excuse to give kooling monster kold-01 a go. Its quite a thick paste and comes top of the chart in igors tests. Pretty cheap too ok maybe not cheap cheap but id still say its decent value

Kold-01 has great performance. Longevity might be not as good as TC-5550 from what Igor says but that's nitpicking on a higher level I think.

Anyone recommend a nano-diamond thermal paste? Can't seem to find the Antec Formula 7 for sale anywhere.

JP DX1 good? Might go with that.

JP DX1 wasn't good in my test. DX2 is newer, maybe this could be better. It certainly won't reach Kold-01 or Dow Corning though.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

JP DX1 wasn't good in my test. DX2 is newer, maybe this could be better. It certainly won't reach Kold-01 or Dow Corning though.

Thanks for that. I'm not trying to compare a diamond nano paste to other pastes. I'm just looking for decent Diamond nano thermal paste.

We all know diamond is an excellent conductor of heat..

Yes, this is partially (mostly) the idea. It seems to work really well, even in de-lidded applications. I also like the way it applies.

 

[KLiKzg]

Good excuse to give kooling monster kold-01 a go. Its quite a thick paste and comes top of the chart in igors tests. Pretty cheap too ok maybe not cheap cheap but id still say its decent value

View attachment 368422

View attachment 368423

Similar thing here, but these are the only ones available for shopping:

Abandoning the Thermal Grizzly altogether...

 

[Taraquin]

I've had ptm7950 on my 4070 for 7months now. No degradation and worst cas I see a 12C delta between regular and hotspottemp. This is way better than any paste I've tried.

 

[freeagent]

I took the stock TIM off of my 4070Ti and tried SYY.. it was ok.. should have left the stock TIM on lol.

I have a Heilos pad on it now, and see what @Taraquin sees.

 

[Taraquin]

I took the sock TIM off of my 4070Ti and tried SYY.. it was ok.. should have left the stock TIM on lol.

I have a Heilos pad on it now, and see what @Taraquin sees.

Stock paste on my 4070 had a delta of up to 24C after 1 month of use. Terrible.

 

[freeagent]

Stock paste on my 4070 had a delta of up to 24C after 1 month of use. Terrible.

Mine was like 14-15c I think.. with the fans on auto. I can see 9c delta if I run them at 2300

Max is like 3K.. savage little thing.