Thermal Paste

[Martin87]

Hey guys

What's the best thermal paste for sale on scans website? Also what the paste like that comes with the scythe mine?

[Giraffe]

This gets good reports and is easy to apply (the instructions are on the manufacturer's site):

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=388704

Cut about 3C from my CPU. Might be limited for extreme overclocking.

Peter.

[Madafwo]

Arctic Silver 5 and Arctic MX-1, both get superb results and MX-1 is non-conductive. MX-1 is dirt cheap for a large amount as well.

[Mithrandir]

AC MX-1 for sure.

[slypie]

Artic Silver is the mutt's nuts for paste. The only problem is if you get it on your hands which I always do it's bloody impossible to get the stuff off...

[Oobie-]

What be the diff between the AC mx-1 and the AC 5?

Apart from price

[Mithrandir]

What be the diff between the AC mx-1 and the AC 5?

Apart from price

AC 5 is actually Arctic Silver 5 and AC MX-1 is Arctic Cooling MX-1.
Two different companies, MX-1 is quite a few years old [7-8 yrs I think] but it works well. It's the stuff that you'll find pre-applied on Arctic Cooling products (after market graphic card coolers and HSFs, etc)
I was initially disappointed with the result of the MX-1 when I switched over from the AS5, but after a week or so the temps on the MX-1 dropped.
Apparently it takes around 200 hours or so for the compound to set in.

Arctic Silver 5 is good stuff as well I used it on the thermaltake K8 cooler (before using an AC 64pro with the preapplied MX-1)


Im actually in the process of building another PC from my spares and I bought some MX-1 a few weeks back. I'll see how it fares on the Thermaltake K8 HSF.

[DataMatrix]

I use ArctiClean Thermal Paste Remover and Surface Purifier to remove thermals then Arctic Silver 5 on everything that has a heatsink

[Craig321]

I'd say Arctic Silver 5

[crazychambers]

Nother thumbs up for AS5!

[[GSV]Myocardial]

This is a review link within XS forums: Super Thermal Paste Test: 36 brands tested!

I'd take the above as a rough guide as each installation can change the temps that you get upon application.

[Zak33]

This is a review link within XS forums: Super Thermal Paste Test: 36 brands tested!

I'd take the above as a rough guide as each installation can change the temps that you get upon application.

how right you are...the thickness is critical...or rather, thinness.

I'm intrigued by the Zalman brush on one....intrugued.

[Giraffe]

how right you are...the thickness is critical...or rather, thinness.

I'm intrigued by the Zalman brush on one....intrugued.

It's quite thin (and does need a good shaking), so v. easy to get sufficiently little. I've been putting it on both surfaces but thinly, then slightly twisting back and forth a couple of times.
The ideal amount fills in the voids and puts nothing between the metal surface.
Two 'perfectly' flat surfaces clamped together have about 10% contact.

Peter.

[redddraggon]

I use mx-1, found it to be very good.

[prits_88]

so does anyone actually kno the difference in terms of the ingredients of AS5 and MX-1.
Like does MX-1 have bits of silver in it as well?

[[GSV]Myocardial]

This is the blurb off the Arctic Cooling site for MX1 found Here

No metal particles

Since the MX-1 does not contain any metal particles, there are no problems regarding electrical conductivity and capacitance. In contrast to silver and copper compounds, contact to electrical traces, pins, and leads cannot result in any damage.

Durability

The compound hardens within a period of 200 hours and reaches thereafter its optimum performance. Because of the hardened compound, no evaporation or bleeding is possible. In contrast to metal or silicon pastes, this compound does not show decreasing performance over time, does not need to be reapplied and has a durability of at least 8 years.

And from a review site Here

We should mention preinstalled thermal interface — highly efficient thermal compound MX-1 (composition of aluminum nitride and oxide) that offers improved thermal characteristics.