Best Thermal Paste

[JollyJamma]

Hi all
Looking for new thermal paste for my graphics card cooler and CPU cooler and I'm going the way of AC MX-2.
Based on this:

 

[JollyJamma]

Or the Antec Formula 5/7

 

[Silvertongue]

Are you asking for info or just keeping us informed?

 

[JollyJamma]

Asking. I'm out of Nano stuff by Coolermaster.

 

[§~Sir.ÐJ.Neo~§]

Last I read up, Antec Formula 7 wipes the floor with most of these. For damn sure alot better than AS5 :/

Indigo Extreme is that liquid metal compound that fuses to the heatsink right? Any one try it yet? Just heard its hell to get off your CPU/Heatsink?

 

[Silvertongue]

In my experience, unless your doing extreme stuff, a better indicator is ease of use... Generally I keep a tube of MX-4 for the more performance orientated stuff and a tube of Zalman STG2 for everything else. I find the consistency of the Zalman just perfect and it's cheap. I know the MX-4 isn't the top of any charts but there's only really a degree or two in it.

Another consideration when looking at these charts is that some brands will require curing time so performance will improve whereas with others the performance will degrade with time as it dries out. Not sure if there's a table out there comparing with all the factors taken into account but I mention it to back up my belief that these comparisons need to be taken with a hefty pinch of salt. I doubt the tests were truly rigorous enough to get the resolution they claim.

 

[JollyJamma]

I know that the Arctic Cooling Silver 5 takes months to cure and I agree, I value ease of use as well since I tried Coollaboratory thermal pad and Liquid pro.

Both were hard to handle. The Liquid pro fell onto my motherboard and killed that, the thermal pad took 15mins at 95 degrees to melt and form a bond to the CPU and cooler.
Both were almost impossible to remove afterwards.

 

[Juggy]

I use Antec Formula 7, pretty happy with it.

 

[JollyJamma]

Do need to find a retail store with it for a decent price. RebelTech has it for a good price but delivery almost doubles the cost.

I tried Zaps but they didn't have.

 

[Juggy]

Where are you located?

 

[JollyJamma]

in Jozi near Zoo Lake/ The Jozi Zoo. Why?

 

[Juggy]

Why don't you order from Prophecy and collect?

http://www.prophecy.co.za/antec-formula-nano-diamond-thermal-compound-p-87597.html

 

[JollyJamma]

Good idea. I do know where they are and they aren't far.
Thanks gent.

 

[§~Sir.ÐJ.Neo~§]

I'm sorry the one that says Zalman crap is worth using is wasting his tym.

Coolermaster white crap is by far the cheapest and easiest to use. Sure it would be 5-6c hotter than the best but its by FAR the easiest to use and get off.

Zalman crap just sticks to everything. hardens easy and ends up separating in the tubing :/

Coolermaster white crap for quick use and use for non thermal excellence uses.
And IMHO Antec Formula 7 is the best I've used so far. And still rocking a tube from 6 months back. Hasn't hardened or separated inside the tube.

But cant say the same for the Formula 6. that's off in 2 months, yet better than zalman stuff that's off in 3 weeks after first use...

I use Formula 7 for final apply that I know the WC Block sits for longer than 3 days, and Formula 6 if I'm busy building loop.
The only reason why I don't have a tub of Coolermaster stuff is:
One that I have not had to order TIM in a while, have half a formula 7 and 3/4's of Formula 6 left...
2ndly if you get that stuff on you MATT BLACK mobo, Your gonna cry till you wipe it off...

Also heard some rumour that LN2 clockers use the Coolermaster white stuff too, coz it doesn't crack as easily? Dr.Weez? DM?

 

[JollyJamma]

 

[§~Sir.ÐJ.Neo~§]

Prophecy.co.za - Antec Formula 7 Nano Diamond Thermal Compound - 4g

+1


Zalman = HELL NO
Coolermaster White Suff = If your not worried about temps and just wanna plank your Air cooler on your CPU.

 

[Silvertongue]

I'm sorry the one that says Zalman crap is worth using is wasting his tym.

Coolermaster white crap is by far the cheapest and easiest to use. Sure it would be 5-6c hotter than the best but its by FAR the easiest to use and get off.

Zalman crap just sticks to everything. hardens easy and ends up separating in the tubing :/

Coolermaster white crap for quick use and use for non thermal excellence uses.
And IMHO Antec Formula 7 is the best I've used so far. And still rocking a tube from 6 months back. Hasn't hardened or separated inside the tube.

But cant say the same for the Formula 6. that's off in 2 months, yet better than zalman stuff that's off in 3 weeks after first use...

I use Formula 7 for final apply that I know the WC Block sits for longer than 3 days, and Formula 6 if I'm busy building loop.
The only reason why I don't have a tub of Coolermaster stuff is:
One that I have not had to order TIM in a while, have half a formula 7 and 3/4's of Formula 6 left...
2ndly if you get that stuff on you MATT BLACK mobo, Your gonna cry till you wipe it off...

Also heard some rumour that LN2 clockers use the Coolermaster white stuff too, coz it doesn't crack as easily? Dr.Weez? DM?

Bad experience or popular opinion?

I've used both the coolermaster and zalman and couldn't tell the difference aside from the cooler master being ever so slightly more runny. I had the Zalman stuff on an AMD machine for 8 months and when I changed the heatsink, saw no noticeable signs of hardening. Got half an application left in a tube in my drawer that must be 18 months old with no signs of separation (and yes, I just pulled it out to check now).

 

[JollyJamma]

I have ordered the Antec Formula 7. Yes the review said that the 5 works just as well but I don't care.
Will let you guys know what happens but it's for my graphics card (250GTS 1gig with Zalman VF1000-LED)
I noticed that BF3 was crashing after 10 mins and tested it in Furmark. It was the fuzz on the fins and I had disabled(ie unplugged) the small fan on the heat sink and put a very quiet but slow 12cm fan under that.

I removed the old thermal paste whilst I was at it but it's old paste and I could see the need for more.
I haven't had a bad experience with the Coolermaster NanoFusion but I can't see a review on it anywhere.

 

[JollyJamma]

Ok so I just installed it and the temps are far better than they were.

I'm not sure if the CM Nano stuff was just old and useless but I applied enough to keep it happy and the temps were idling around the 60 degrees mark.
The Antec 7 stuff the temps are 38 off the bat and more stable. Not sure. Could have been a bad connection on the GPU with the nano stuff but I think the Antec is really good.
Easier to apply than others and not that much more really.

Will do a burn in and see if the temps are better afterwards.

 

[JollyJamma]

Update: It has knocked off 3 degrees after 6 days of usage. Was maxing out at 68, now 65.

 

[Oj0]

Have you been keeping an eye on accurate ambient temperatures?

 

[JollyJamma]

Vaguely. That did occur to me however it is much the same temp as before (if not a little warmer actually, Jozi has been warm of late) in my room and outside compared to before.