ARCTIC Identifies Bad Batch of MX-5 TIM in the Market, Offers Free Replacements

[btarunr]

For ARCTIC, it has always been a top priority to supply customers only with products of the best quality and durability. Should there ever be any doubts about products we've delivered, we stand by our responsibility to our customers.

Current findings from our permanent quality assurance tests show that certain batches of our MX-5 thermal compound contain anomalies in consistency and shelf life. The affected products show an increased separation of oil within the paste, resulting in premature hardening. This can lead to adverse effects and application difficulties.



Affected batches have already been identified and recalled from circulation so that no further affected product can enter the market. We regret that this quality defect could not be detected before delivery to distributors and customers, despite constant quality controls and diligent care during production.

Affected MX-5 thermal compounds can of course be returned without exception, and we will offer a replacement product. For this purpose, we ask you to contact us and provide proof of purchase via the form support.arctic.de/en/menu/support.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[R-T-B]

I remember the "love it or hate it" reviews on this stuff vs mx4. Maybe this was a factor in some of the bad reviews.

 

[Chane]

How do we tell if we have an affected batch? I ordered some a few months ago and it was my first time using it so I have no idea of what the consistency is supposed to be. It was pretty wet looking, but I just thought that's how MX-5 was.

 

[freeagent]

How do we tell if we have an affected batch? I ordered some a few months ago and it was my first time using it so I have no idea of what the consistency is supposed to be. It was pretty wet looking, but I just thought that's how MX-5 was.

If you push the plunger and a bunch of oily stuff comes out that means your TIM has separated and is garbage.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

If you push the plunger and a bunch of oily stuff comes out that means your TIM has separated and is garbage.

Ahhh, explains why my recent trial of it everywhere is not going well I noted but ignored that on install.

No link , ah , they're return's is in Germany, they're UK site is as useful as they're mx5 apparently.

Last coin has been had I'll look elsewhere ta.

 

[EuTech]

at the store where I work I have already picked up many units with this problem..

 

[Divide Overflow]

What lots?
Manufacture dates?
Regions / areas sold?
Too much missing information here.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

What lots?
Manufacture dates?
Regions / areas sold?
Too much missing information here.

What to do where to apply as well ,no mention in any way or direction on they're website and the warranty return section didn't include thermal paste, so arse all around really.

 

[Space Lynx]

interesting my arctic mx-5 thread here has 101k views, and I don't recall a single issue about it turning into a liquid...

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

interesting my arctic mx-5 thread here has 101k views, and I don't recall a single issue about it turning into a liquid...

Probably like me,they just mixed it back in n cracked on, it's a bad batch though , I am seeing 85/90 degrees on a 65watt(eco mode) set 3800X slightly loaded, typically it's less than that.
And the performance has varied wildly with a few BSDs on flat out so much so I'm not crunching until it's replaced.

I aged it in two weeks effectively.

 

[Space Lynx]

Probably like me,they just mixed it back in n cracked on, it's a bad batch though , I am seeing 85/90 degrees on a 65watt(eco mode) set 3800X slightly loaded, typically it's less than that.
And the performance has varied wildly with a few BSDs on flat out so much so I'm not crunching until it's replaced.

I aged it in two weeks effectively.

yeah my mx-5 was a pre-order, so i got the very first batch. it was great, i actually found it to be rather thick, so i know mine was good. my mx-4 had 1-2 celsius better temps though so i still regretted switching it out.

RIP

 

[dozenfury]

I built a new system and used MX-5 last month without issues. The compound for me was as expected and not hard or oily as described. That said, the performance wasn't any better than Noctua NT-H1 for me (I tested both), they performed within 1 degree of each other.

These types of issues with $10 items are always a pain since it's hardly worth the time and trouble to fill out a form, ship it back, and wait for a replacement. I'd have probably either directly returned it to wherever I bought it, or just tossed it and gone with something else. Kudos on them though for offering to replace ones affected by this at no charge for anyone that maybe didn't use or try it before the return period was up.

 

[Bones]

Protip:
If your paste is like clay crammed in a tube when you try to use it - Yeah, it's bad so go ahead and toss the tube.

 

[mama]

Don't know why anyone would use anything but Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut...

 

[bug]

What lots?
Manufacture dates?
Regions / areas sold?
Too much missing information here.

My unopened MX-5 box is asking the same.

 

[Bayfront Benny]

If they don't put out a lot number - I won't buy their products again

 

[bug]

If they don't put out a lot number - I won't buy their products again

You can ask support, they'll help you no hassle. But yeah, it would help if they were a little more forthcoming.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

You can ask support, they'll help you no hassle. But yeah, it would help if they were a little more forthcoming.

A link perhaps, distributed.

 

[GerKNG]

i have one from before it officially launched and one other 8 gram tube from a month ago.
both are exactly the same. awful superglue that is similar to molten chewing gum.

 

[bug]

i have one from before it officially launched and one other 8 gram tube from a month ago.
both are exactly the same. awful superglue that is similar to molten chewing gum.

And you were hoping for something that drips like water maybe?

 

[zlobby]

Kudos for the balls. Most companies would have been like 'yOu ArE uSInG It wRoNg!'

Protip:
If your paste is like clay crammed in a tube when you try to use it - Yeah, it's bad so go ahead and toss the tube.

Sometimes it hurts when you toss it. Especially if you have had paid like $20 for 1 gram.

 

[Bones]

Don't know why anyone would use anything but Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut...

Too expensive per gram vs the others and vs the results you get between these TIMs and you must remember Kryonaut is formulated for subzero use too, that why it's so expensive in the first place.

So expensive in fact, alot of guys like me that are always doing setups just can't realistically affort the expense and I get comparable results in the end with what I use....
Like this: Bones`s SuperPi - 32M score: 11min 51sec 703ms with a Phenom II X3 720 BE
If what I was using didn't work, I couldn't do this at all and I can promise you at least a few below me were using Kryonaut and yes, I was using MX2, not 4 or 5 when I did that.

As for the hardening of the TIM in the tube, all that means is it cured in the tube due to oil separation, MX goes to an almost plastic-like layer when it's fully cured with no liquidity at all to it and TBH most gray TIMs tend to do that because of the formulation.

 

[R-T-B]

Don't know why anyone would use anything but Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut...

Cost. And tons of bad batches they can't seem to get control of in resale.

The extreme variant does not have the bad batch issue, but see point 1.

 

[Space Lynx]

Don't know why anyone would use anything but Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut...

because Noctua's customer support is the industry best, and that is extremely rare in today's customer service departments.

for example, I emailed Noctua one time about how I accidently lost one of my old fan clips for a NH-D14. they shipped me a replacement fan clip FOR FREE within 36 hours all the way from Austria to United States. Absolutely ******** insane. They are the best in the industry when it comes to caring about customers and customer issues, they had every legal right to tell me they could not help me, it was not under warranty, it was a very old purchase. 99% of other companies, that is all they would have needed to just flat out tell me no.

Noctua gets my money for life. NT-H2 paste for me for life, until they make something else, and Noctua coolers for life. If gpu's are ever in stock at normal prices in 2024 or 2025, I will buy a Noctua graphics card as well since they have been pairing up lately with Asus, etc.

Noctua is love, Noctua is life, plus I love their little Owl mascot.

 

[GerKNG]

And you were hoping for something that drips like water maybe?

i hoped for a product from arctic that is not absolute shit. (even if the performance was "okay")