Thermal Paste. What to do, what to do...

[hat]

I'm getting a $35 rebate for my video card... eventually...
When I get it I am gonna get me some thermal paste. What's the best? I was thinking MX-2. Also I want paste, not liquid (like coolaboratory liquid pro). Non-conductive and non-corrosive. Non-corrosive is an abosulute must... conductive I think I can handle since I am using generic conductive paste right now on my GPU.

[ShadowFold]

Mx2 rocks :rockout:

[Kursah]

I still use both AS5 and MX-2...really I don't think it matters too much...there's the top handfull that may possibly net around 1C real-world difference at most between each. I got a lot more MX-2 for the same price as a small tube of AS5 a couple months ago...but a small tube of AS5 has lasted years and countless CPU/HS seats...can't believe I still have any left! Just go with your gut...this could easily turn into a flame about what's the best...there's a lot of choices out there, and the two I suggested are easily in the top 5 imo, and what I would personally go with. AS5 is conductive and needs time to cure...MX2 is non-conductive and needs no cure time...both are great products for what they do, but there are better out there from what I've "heard"...and I wouldn't doubt it, but in the end most of them are very similar in results, and some in compund.

:toast:

[ex_reven]

If I was to buy TIM atm Id get MX2 solely to try it since Ive only ever used AS5.
So go with something popular, but something you havnt tried yet and see if you like it.

After all, its cheap :)

[Paulieg]

MX-2 cools 1-2c better than AS5, from my experience. It has the added benefit of being non-conductive. It's not much more expensive than AS5, so why not get the added benefit?

[hat]

I'll tell my uncle to get me MX-2 from Newegg then. I have some silver paste but it's generic, not like AS5. And my CPU heatsink uses MX-1... but a whole shitload of it.

[magibeg]

You made an excellent choice. I'm using the mx-2 on mine right now and its been doing just fine. Really you can't go wrong with either one though :P

[hat]

I see a review by our very own POS PC:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

I'll have my uncle get me 2 tubes and just tell him to keep the rest (of the $35)

[Error 404]

1 word: Toothpaste. I've found that MaCleans works best, as it keeps my CPU nice and pearly white, when it isn't glowing red from heat.
:D

Lol, seriosly, good choice on the paste your getting.

[ex_reven]

1 word: Toothpaste. I've found that MaCleans works best, as it keeps my CPU nice and pearly white, when it isn't glowing red from heat.
:D

Lol, seriosly, good choice on the paste your getting.

I prefer vegemite. lol.

[Darknova]

I see a review by our very own POS PC:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

I'll have my uncle get me 2 tubes and just tell him to keep the rest (of the $35)

That's a LOT for thermal paste :|

I got 2 tubes for £8 :|

[Mussels]

MX2 cools a little better than AS5, its nonconductive, noncapacative, and easier to spread. its pretty clear as a winnar for me.

[Wile E]

You probably don't need 2 tubes tho. lol. My single tube of AS5 has lasted a year, with all of my part swapping. Just finally ran out. I ordered MX2 to replace it. Figured I'd give it a shot.

[Mussels]

You probably don't need 2 tubes tho. lol. My single tube of AS5 has lasted a year, with all of my part swapping. Just finally ran out. I ordered MX2 to replace it. Figured I'd give it a shot.

i use it on everything, mobo, video cards, as well as CPU's. i used a tube in less than 3 months, with about half of it going on cooler changes to my 8800GTX, maaassive die on that thing.

[Wile E]

i use it on everything, mobo, video cards, as well as CPU's. i used a tube in less than 3 months, with about half of it going on cooler changes to my 8800GTX, maaassive die on that thing.

I was actually speaking to hat. He doesn't swap nearly as much as many of us. But I used AS5 on everything of mine, just like you. Chiipset, gfx, cpu. I had the big tube, tho.

[Mussels]

I was actually speaking to hat. He doesn't swap nearly as much as many of us. But I used AS5 on everything of mine, just like you. Chiipset, gfx, cpu. I had the big tube, tho.

i meant in general, not aimed at you. Just saying that usage varies... especially if you grease other people as well.

[ex_reven]

i meant in general, not aimed at you. Just saying that usage varies... especially if you grease other people as well.

sounds...kinky :laugh:

[lemonadesoda]

I'm not a TIM expert. But there is thin paste (AS5, MX2?) and thick paste (MX1?). The thicker, grey paste that is "dry" is OK for UNPOLISHED surfaces (non lapped). It fills the gaps very well to improve overall contact "surface". It requires a blob and "wiggling" the cooler over the surface to spread it. Very unpredictable and unsatisfactory method IMO.

I find on lapped surfaces the thinner more oily TIM is better. It spreads thinner. Whereas the thick stuff creates an unnessary distance between the CPU and the cooler.

[Mussels]

I'm not a TIM expert. But there is thin paste (AS5, MX2?) and thick paste (MX1?). The thicker, grey paste that is "dry" is OK for UNPOLISHED surfaces (non lapped). It fills the gaps very well to improve overall contact "surface". It requires a blob and "wiggling" the cooler over the surface to spread it. Very unpredictable and unsatisfactory method IMO.

I find on lapped surfaces the thinner more oily TIM is better. It spreads thinner. Whereas the thick stuff creates an unnessary distance between the CPU and the cooler.

ASC/AS5/OCZ freeze are thick pastes, MX2 is a thin one.

[jonmcc33]

MX2 cools a little better than AS5, its nonconductive, noncapacative, and easier to spread. its pretty clear as a winnar for me.

Easier to spread? You shouldn't be spreading thermal compound anymore. Since all processors use heatspreaders now it is rather moot point to spread it yourself.

[Mussels]

Easier to spread? You shouldn't be spreading thermal compound anymore. Since all processors use heatspreaders now it is rather moot point to spread it yourself.

right. you own a G80 card? yes? no? how about lapped CPU's or ones with the IHS removed? I own all three, and spreading them myself definately matters. I also mentioned a few posts ago that i use this on motherboards as wel which do not have heatspreaders.

Please read two posts before the one i am now quoting, where lemonadesoda made the point that thicker pastes create too much of a layer and hinder cooling.

[jonmcc33]

right. you own a G80 card? yes? no? how about lapped CPU's or ones with the IHS removed? I own all three, and spreading them myself definately matters. I also mentioned a few posts ago that i use this on motherboards as wel which do not have heatspreaders.

Please read two posts before the one i am now quoting, where lemonadesoda made the point that thicker pastes create too much of a layer and hinder cooling.

Well, you're right with the GPU part. Sorry.

IHS removed? Not sure why one would do that as it doesn't help much. But that's just IMO from the temp differences I saw.

[imperialreign]

I've tried "Zalman Super Grease" or whatever the hell they call it - it's more of a liquid, nonconductive; but, I've found that it works better as a TIM with components that haven't been lapped at all.

Otherwise, AS5 is always a great stand-by; and so many different companies package it that it's easy to find a good deal on it.

I've heard diamond-based TIM is better than AS5, but is a lot thicker, nonconductive (IIRC), more expensive, and I'm not sure if there's any long term effects like material etching and marring and whatnot.

I'm curious, anyone know how well AS7 stands up?

[MadCow]

Well, you're right with the GPU part. Sorry.

IHS removed? Not sure why one would do that as it doesn't help much. But that's just IMO from the temp differences I saw.

Big difference on my old 3500+, dropped idle temps down to less than 35c with an AC Silencer as opposed to 40c with a freezer 64. I always spread it, it only takes an extra minute or two.

I seem to be the only person who would recommend Ceramique. Sure it's thick, but it works really well, is non conductive and goes for less than $3 a tube on ebay.

[Azazel]

arctic silver 5 :P

[hat]

mx-2 transfers heat better and is non conductive

[p_o_s_pc]

I see a review by our very own POS PC:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

I'll have my uncle get me 2 tubes and just tell him to keep the rest (of the $35)

thanks hat. :toast: Did my review make up ur mind?

[hat]

Naw, had mx-2 in mind before hand cause so many people here use it and claim its better than AC5. Besides I have a huge ass layer of MX1 between my CPU and the heatsink...

[Azazel]

mx-2 transfers heat better and is non conductive

well....mines special



yeah i didn't know that when i bought my as5's. doesn't rally do all that difference...imo...

[hat]

I like it for the non-conductivity. AND it cools better than AC5... = win.

[CrackerJack]

i got mx-2 a couple weeks ago, Great Stuff, Easy Spread a good temp drops. Knock off 5c on CPU and 8c on GPU.

[Azazel]

how many degrees does it cool by....less than 1...or is it about 1-2 degrease.



EDIT: WOW by that mush. i may have to change my heat grease.

[CrackerJack]

with the mx-2 and the cooler i have, i
idle core 1: 22c and core 2 24c
load core 1: 31c and core 2 34c

[p_o_s_pc]

i didn't see any drop in GPU temps but i also did a voltmod and added another fan to the HSF at the same time so idk how much it helped.

[Azazel]

what was it with AC5

[p_o_s_pc]

what was it with AC5

if u were talk'n to me i wasn't use'n AS5 i had stock nvidia crap.

[Azazel]

i was talken to cracker. but thx :)

i find it hard to believe that less than a mm of grease can make that mush difference :p

[CrackerJack]

what was it with AC5

with the same clock speeds. Like i said it was 5-7 degrees higher with AC5. GPU stock speeds idle 52c, but with overclock i can't remember cause i set the fan faster. I think maybe 54c (no volt change.) But no i sit at 45c idle (ambiet is 42c) with oc.

Plus i'm not using the Xigmatek Fan, I'm using a Thermaltake Fan.

Look at my Rig below to see.

[Azazel]

i find it hard that it will make that mush difference...
i need to test it myself

[CrackerJack]

i find it hard that it will make that mush difference...
i need to test it myself

Well thing to is that i cover the whole cpu with thermal compond. Ano now i just put a rice size grain in the center. Less you use the cooler too.

Here you go
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=750912&postcount=40
This is with my zalman cooler.

[Azazel]

3c on the cpu and 2c on the gpu thats more believable

you said 5,8 at first

[hat]

I would get it for its nonconductive properties really. It manages to transfer heat better = double win. Thats how I look at it.

[Azazel]

http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=608112

so this it before i buy..(well when i get my card back)

[CrackerJack]

3c on the cpu and 2c on the gpu thats more believable

you said 5,8 at first

Yeah 5,8. But the first temps i gave was with my cooler i've got now. From my old zalman with AC5 to my new cooler with mx-2 there's actually a 8-10c degree drop.

[hat]

yup

[Azazel]

yeah bat thats cos of the cooler no the thermal paste.

@hat thx

[hat]

thx button pl0x?

[Azazel]

lol...greedy...

[hat]

hehe
http://www.geargeek.net/images/moar-cat.jpg

[itsover65]

I just purchased two tubes of tuniq TX-2. Does anyone know how well it performs in relation to MX-2?

[Mussels]

I just purchased two tubes of tuniq TX-2. Does anyone know how well it performs in relation to MX-2?

slightly worse. I've also heard its a little watery, making spreading harder - fuzzy on that point.

[itsover65]

slightly worse. I've also heard its a little watery, making spreading harder - fuzzy on that point.
Damn, I knew I shoulda spent the few extra $ on MX-2.:banghead:

[Mussels]

Damn, I knew I shoulda spent the few extra $ on MX-2.:banghead:

it may not match MX2, but its toing to whup generic pastes :P

[itsover65]

Hmm, according to tweaktown, the tuniq TX-2 actually outperformed the MX-2 (although very slightly ). Makes me feel better about my purchase at least :D.

http://img.techpowerup.org/080502/oczf_graph.gif

[Mussels]

Hmm, according to tweaktown, the tuniq TX-2 actually outperformed the MX-2 (although very slightly ). Makes me feel better about my purchase at least :D.

http://img.techpowerup.org/080502/oczf_graph.gif

well there ya go. enjoy!

(application and the heatsink can vary, tighter fits prefer thinner pastes and such... i really have no idea what grease is best for your setup)