Best Thermal Paste for GPU and CPU
OVERVIEW
Maintaining the temperature of the PC component is really a hectic task. All the gaming and PC enthusiasts have experienced heated processors and systems after using them for a long period.
The high-temperature processors and other components hamper the performance of your systems as well as longevity. It is essential to maintain a low temperature for processors because it utilizes the maximum potential of your systems.
To cool your components, you need to use thermal pastes. These pastes are thermally conductive compounds applied between the CPU and the cooler’s heat sinks. It prevents air gaps and fastens up the heat transfer between the CPU and the cooler.
There are various thermal pastes available in the market depending on the volume, performance, thermal conductivity, specific gravity, and price.
In this article, I have listed the best thermal paste available in the market for you. Let us now look at the thermal paste comparison with its features and advantages available in the market at your disposal.
LIST OF THE BEST THERMAL PASTE FOR GPU, CPU and COOLER
REVIEW OF BEST THERMAL PASTE
1. ARCTIC MX-5 THERMAL PASTE - BEST THERMAL PASTE FOR CPU
If you know about the product ARCTIC MX-4, then you should try their ARCTIC MX-5 too. MX-2 and MX-4 are the most popular and selling thermal paste in the market. Recently ARTIC has released the ultimate performance product, it is ARCTIC MX-5 thermal paste.
It is available in different sizes from 2 to 50 grams. Some size variants include spatula, which evenly distributes the thermal paste on the surface of the processor. It has a low viscosity which makes it more liquid than MX-4. It helps to apply eventually all over the space.
This thermal paste is made up of micro carbon particles, which helps to cool your components. You can use these thermal pastes on GPUs, CPUs, and other semiconductor components.
Many of them think about safety. But do not worry; it is safe to apply because it is not electrically capacitive or conductive. It eliminates the risk of short circuits and is 100% metal-free. This paste gives low thermal resistance when high thermal conductivity occurs.
This best CPU thermal paste is recommended even for beginners. It is affordable and helps to keep the temperatures of components down easily.
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2. COOLER MASTER HIGH PERFORMANCE - BEST THERMAL PASTE FOR LAPTOP
Are you looking for the best thermal paste at an affordable range? Then check out the Cooler Master High-Performance thermal paste. This versatile paste comes at an affordable price.
It is an excellent option for people who are just getting into building gaming computers. Not just for gaming computers, the paste is suitable for chipsets on mainboards and also VGA cards.
The Cooler Master High-Performance is a silicone-based material, which will take your cooling system to a whole new level. The ZIF socket templates enable you to apply the paste correctly in various methods.
This computer thermal paste has a durability of only a couple of years, and the container only consists of 2 grams of the paste. The Cooler Master High-Performance paste comprises thermally conductive grease-like silicone materials and is heavily filled with heat conductive metal oxides.
This combination promotes high thermal conductivity and high-temperature stability. The thermal paste produces, an even layer when you use the applicator. It has a specific gravity of 2.37 g/cm3, a thermal conductivity of 0.8 W/mC, a dielectric constant of 4.4 at 100kHz, and a dissipation factor of 0.02 at 100kHz.
Overall, the Cooler Master High-Performance thermal paste is an excellent option from a brand known for its high-quality products. The paste is reliable, effective, and comes with a meager price tag. It is a perfect thermal paste for PS4 because of its density and chemical makeup.
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3. ARCTIC MX-4 THERMAL COMPOUND - BEST ARCTIC THERMAL PASTE
Next in our list of the best thermal paste is taken up by the Arctic MX-4 thermal compound paste for coolers. The Arctic cooling brand needs no introduction in the coolant industry. It has consistently produced high-quality products and continues to live up to its reputation with the Arctic MX-4.
This paste is effective and boasts durability of up to 8 years. The MX-4 has a unique composition, as it is a carbon-based thermal paste. This paste doesn’t contain any metal components. Therefore it is non-conductive and has a high thermal conductivity.
The Arctic MX-4 comes in a tube that holds 4 grams of paste. The syringe-type construction of the tube makes it easy for you to apply the paste.
It takes no time to set and dries quickly. It can be used for multiple applications and lasts for a long time overdue. The MX-4 guarantees excellent heat dissipation from the components and enhances the stability of your system.
It has a thermal conductivity of 8.5 W/mK, a viscosity of 870 Poise, a density of 2.50 g/cm³, and a specific gravity of 2.5 g /cm³. The Arctic MX-4 gives good performances in the idle tests as well as under the load tests.
This CPU thermal paste is safe to use, and as it does not contain any metallic particles, electrical conductivity would not be an issue.
There’s no doubt, Arctic MX-4 thermal paste is the best option for you.
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4. THERMAL GRIZZLY KRYONAUT THERMAL GREASE PASTE
The Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut takes up fourth place in this list. This paste is suitable for hard-core gamers, who get their systems heated up for long hours. By using this thermal paste, you can cool the PC, which produces extreme heat.
It is considered as a high-quality and reliable ceramic thermal grease that is best for overclocking systems. The Thermal Grizzly paste has no conductive power, which is ideal for all thermal pastes.
It is easy to apply and takes no time to settle down. The paste effectively lowers the temperature by up to 3 to 4 degrees Celsius in minimal time.
The paste has a thermal conductivity of 12.5 W/mK, thermal resistance of 0.0032 K/W, a viscosity of 120-170 Poise, a specific gravity of 3.7 g/cm³, and electrical conductivity of *0 pS/m. The Thermal Grizzle paste has a recommended operation temperature from -250 to 300° Celsius.
The Kryonaut thermal paste is especially for high-demanding applications and overlocking communities. It is recommended as a top product for critical cooling systems in the industrial sector as well.
This non conductive thermal paste is a bit expensive, but it does cooling efficiently. As I said before, it is solidly recommended for all hard-core gamers.
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5. CORSAIR XTM50 - BEST THERMAL COMPOUND FOR CPU
The Corsair XTM50 High-Performance thermal paste takes up the fifth spot in this list of the best thermal paste. It is one of the most complete, effective, and versatile pastes that helps you lower your PC components' temperatures.
The paste is made up of a premium zinc oxide-based compound that efficiently transfers heat from components like the CPU and GPU to lower the temperatures. It has non-conductive elements, which makes the paste safe to use. The application of the paste is pretty simple.
Due to its low viscosity, the XTM50 quickly fills in the microscopic abrasions and channels for peak thermal transfer. This paste has a high-stability liquid compound that makes it last for years without drying, cracking, or changing consistency.
A packet of XTM50 contains 5 grams of thermal paste. The paste has a thermal conductivity of 5.0 W/mK, thermal impedance of 0.009°C –in2/W, a viscosity of 2300K cPs, and a specific gravity of 2.7g/cm3.
Corsair has a huge brand name in the computer accessories industry. It manufactures high-quality keyboards and mouse, cases, custom cooling solutions, mouse-pads, power supply units, and lots more.
This paste is no different in quality that is accessible to you but with an expensive price tag. This non-conductive and non-toxic thermal paste is safe to use, effective and ensures your PC is excellent under pressure. Best pick for you!
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6. MONEYQUI HY883 - BEST THERMAL PASTE FOR OVERCLOCKING
Next up in this list of the best thermal paste is taken up by the MoneyQui HY883 thermal paste. This thermal is specially designed for overclocking and meeting the demand of the overclockers. It has a nano-particulate structure of micronized aluminum and zinc oxide.
The paste interpolates slight unevenness of the heat medium such as CPU and the heatsink. It provides great heat-transfer and thus you can exploit the capabilities of your high-performance system. This paste also works for VGA, LED, chipset, and other PC components.
This paste increases the stability and reliability of your systems. The HY883 package consists of 4 grams of thermal paste. It has a thermal conductivity of greater than 6.5 W/mK.
This thermal paste is odorless and has a low oil content. It is non-volatile, non-corrosive, non-toxic, and flame retardant. It is non-conductive and thus it is safe to use the HY883 thermal paste.
It is easy to use and it doesn’t dry even at temperatures of 80° Celsius, which maintains stable properties without curing for a long time. It is recommended for the community of overclockers who are looking for a budget-friendly thermal paste.
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7. ARCTIC SILVER 5 THERMAL PASTE
Arctic silver 5 thermal paste is recommended for all computer enthusiasts to enhance their PC performances. When the Arctic Silver 5 was first manufactured, it was considered as the best thermal paste.
The Arctic Silver 5 was formulated to get the best out of your components. It consists of 99.9% pure micronized silver and the rest of it is made up of aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, and boron nitride. Arctic Silver 5 is made for high-performance projects and acts as an optimal conduit for all your important projects.
It comes with 3.5 grams of thermal glue. It is dense and creates and seals between the cooling technology and your CPU. The paste slowly thickens over time and ensures your cooling systems to work efficiently and effectively.
While the manufacturers say that the paste is not conductive, but it is recommended to take extra care not to spill it on your computer’s internal components.
The aluminum oxide, boron nitride, zinc oxide solution provides lower load temperatures than you’ll get from standard compounds. The Arctic Silver 5 has a thermal conductivity that is rated at 8.7 W/mK, a specific gravity of 3.5 g/cm3, and the paste is recommended to use between temperature ranges between –50° to 130° Celsius.
This paste comes with an inexpensive price tag. The 3.5-gram syringe of the thermal paste contains enough to cover at least 15 to 25 small CPU cores, or 6 to 10 large CPU cores, or 2 to 5 heat plates. The 3.5-gram syringe will cover approximately 16 square inches. The syringe makes it easy to apply the high-density thermal paste.
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8. IC DIAMOND 24 CARAT THERMAL COMPOUND
Next, in this list of the best thermal paste is taken up by the IC Diamond 24 carat thermal compound. This paste maximizes the thermal heat transfer between the CPU core and heatsink.
The 24-carat thermal compound is made by the 3M corporation, to meet OEM specifications to give you the best combination of maximum performance along with great durability.
This thermal paste is made up of micronized diamond and diamond particle loadings at 92% by weight. The thermal compound can be applied to CPU, GPU game stations, LED lighting, and IC packaging.
Diamond has better thermal conductivity than silver, so this thermal paste makes superior heat transfer, for cooling high-performance CPUs, and is electrically non-conductive and non-capacitive. The 24-carat thermal compound has a thermal conductance of 4.5 W/mK, and thermal resistance of 0.25oC-cm2/W at 100 µ BLT.
This paste is easy to apply on the CPU and a pack of the IC Diamond 24 carat thermal compound consists of 4.8 grams of thermal paste. It is recommended that you should apply the thermal paste in the center of the CPU, where the heat is the most, about the size of a pea.
The IC Diamond 24 carat is the best thermal compound which is specially made for system integrators, overclockers, systems, and white box builders. It is designed to give systems stability, as the thermal paste requires minimal time to attain peak performance.
Due to its superior reliability this thermal compound is used in mission-critical applications for the military defense sector in Aviation and Naval electronics.
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9. NOCTUA NT-H2 THERMAL PASTE
If you are looking for a professional solution for overclockers at an affordable range, then check out the Noctua NT-H2 thermal compound paste in my list of the best thermal paste. Its predecessor, the Noctua NT-H1 thermal paste was one of the finest thermal pastes to ever be produced, the Noctua NT-H2 is no different and is a good thermal compound paste.
It is a premium-grade thermal compound that ensures optimal heat-transfer from the CPU or GPU to the heat sink, to bring out optimal performance form the systems. This paste constitutes of metal oxide micro-particles for lower thermal resistance and reduced bond-line thickness.
The NT-H2 thermal paste is non-conductive and non-corroding in nature, which makes it safe for use. The package consists of 3.5 grams of thermal compound paste, and it can be applied easily with the help of the syringe. You can also easily clean the paste with the help of the supplied NA-CW1 cleaning wipes.
This thermal paste has a shelf life of up to 3 years, and once applied it will work for 5 years. The recommended operating temperature is -50 to 200° Celsius.
The NT-H2 lives up to the hype set by its predecessor. This noctua thermal paste excels in almost every test by providing exquisite performances, and in most cases, better than its predecessor. You can use the 3.5-gram package for about 3 to 20 applications. Overall, the NT-H2 is an affordable yet professional solution for overclockers.
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10. ICE MOUNTAIN NO.1 THERMAL COMPOUND PASTE
Wigbow Ice Mountain No.1 thermal glue is one of the best budget-friendly thermal pastes. It is a high-performance compound, which is perfect for use on your CPU, GPU, and other heat-sensitive components in your system, that requires a heatsink.
It should be used in the rear side of the heatsink that doesn’t have a thermal pad. This thermal compound paste will improve the heat dispatch of your processor.
The Ice Mountain No.1 is a popular thermal paste, because it is high stability and a reliable polysynthetic thermal compound. The base of this thermal compound paste is a polysynthetic carbon, which is highly effective for heatsinking and transference.
It is easy to apply the paste using the syringe. It is non-volatile, non-corrosive, non-toxic, and flame retardant. A pack of the Ice Mountain No.1 thermal compound paste contains 4 grams of thermal paste.
The Wigbow Ice Mountain No.1 thermal compound paste 4-gram thermal grease paste compound silicone is used for computer CPU heat sinks and chipsets. The thermal paste is high-temperature resistant and fire resistant.
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11. SILVER KING LIQUID METAL COMPOUND
Rounding off this list of the best thermal paste is the Silver King liquid metal compound paste. The Silver King is the first thermal compound that consists of 100% liquid metal alloy. Using this liquid metal thermal paste, you need to have clean heatsinks and spread surfaces.
To clean the heatsinks, you can simply use isopropyl alcohol. If the surface is too smooth, the liquid metal might run off the surface of the heatsink. The Silver King is liquid at room temperature, like mercury, but is non-toxic and has a high moistening ability for several materials, other than from aluminum.
The Silver King liquid metal compound paste is recommended for you if you are looking for a top performance product with the best heat dissipation. The liquid metal paste is electrically conductive and thus you must be very careful while using the paste.
The Silver King contains no non-metallic additives, like silicone, oxides. It also does not contain any solid particles. The liquid compound paste has a thermal conductivity of 79 W/mK and specific gravity (25° Celsius ) of 6.77. The usable temperature range of this compound paste is from -3° Celsius to 140° Celsius.
This liquid metal thermal paste surpasses the best high-performance heat conducting pastes easily. The electrically conductive liquid metal is for experienced users, beginners can learn to use it on youtube, or use non-electrical conductive thermal paste instead. This compound shouldn’t be used with aluminum heatsinks. This product is for overclockers and gaming players.
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FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING THERMAL PASTE
Although it is a relatively inexpensive item, it is necessary to evaluate it before making your choice. Below you will find some of the purchasing criteria to consider when choosing your thermal paste.
Materials
There are different types of thermal paste, depending on the materials they are made from. These materials will significantly influence other characteristics of the thermal grease, such as its price. But not only that. The material will also influence its duration and conductivity.
For example, metal-based thermal pastes have a higher degree of thermal conductivity. This is a notable feature. However, they also conduct electricity, which is not so good in terms of safety.
On the other hand, those made with ceramics do not conduct electricity but are less durable. You must assess which of these aspects is most important to you.
DURATION
This aspect will influence how often you should replace the thermal paste. Typically, a thermal paste can be used for 3 to 5 years. Even so, some experts recommend replacing it once a year. This decision will be up to you, according to what you find most convenient.
conDUCTIVITY
As we've already explained, the function of thermal paste is to transfer the heat generated on the processor or video card to the cooler. Therefore, the greater its conducting capacity, the better.
Copper-based thermal pastes are best in conductive the heat. Aluminum is also highly conductive, though not as highly conductive as copper.
Liquid thermal grease also have a high capacity to transmit heat to the cooler. However, they are more difficult to apply. This type of heat sink paste is recommended for more experienced users. The danger of this thermal paste is that if it is applied incorrectly, some components of your computer could be damaged.
CAPACITY
This aspect is related to the surface on which you want to apply the thermal paste. Some brands sell between 1 and 45 grams. You should evaluate the amount of thermal compound you are going to use. If too much is left, it can lose its effectiveness over time and won't be useful when you want to use it again. Generally, a small amount is more than enough.
SPATULA
Some models include a spatula to evenly distribute the thermal paste on the surface of the processor. Some people choose to apply it with the syringe and distribute it with the pressure of the cooler. So the thermal paste is distributed alone. However, other people prefer to hand it out manually.
In that case, a thermal paste that includes a spatula is the best option for you. After applying the thermal paste, spread it out to create a thin, even layer. Then you can place the cooler on top. Just don't forget that first of all, it's important to clean surfaces thoroughly with alcohol and cotton.
CONCLUSION
This was my list of the best thermal pastes. I hope this list will help you choose amongst the best thermal paste in the market at your disposal.
Also, share your views about this article in the comment section 🙂
FAQ
1. Is it possible to use thermal paste in laptops?
Sure! However, it is a more delicate manipulation than on a stationary computer component. You have to disassemble all the components carefully and need to apply the thermal paste.
2. How to recognize bad thermal paste?
If you find that the consistency of your thermal paste is strange, the greasy and conductive compounds have separated. For example, or that it is too liquid or has lumps - do not apply it.
It is either a manufacturing defect or out of date; in either case, it causes potential danger to your material.
