10 best thermal pastes

Well, what rating of thermal pastes will do without a well-known Russian-made product, which, although not the best thermal conductivity, is available in almost all hardware stores. GM Inform KPT-8 is the most budget-friendly thermal paste with low thermal conductivity (0.85 W / mK), but can withstand temperatures up to +180 degrees Celsius. Its use is advisable only in the case of a weak computer that serves to perform any non-resource-intensive operations (which do not require overclocking of the video card and the central processor).

If you are the owner of a full-fledged gaming station, then the use of KPT-8 can cause serious problems with heat exchange processes (with good overclocking of the filling) and an emergency shutdown of the computer after overheating.

Advantages:

• well suited for servicing low-power office computers;
• low cost;
• acceptable temperature indicators (loses properties at +180 degrees Celsius).

Flaws:

• practically "zero" heat exchange;
• viscous, sticky texture.

The American brand STEEL offers a unique combination of affordable price and very "tasty" performance with its STP-1 thermal paste from the Frost Zinc series. In syringes of 3 grams, a high-quality thermal mixture is packed based on fine zinc granules, which not only increase heat transfer between the processor and the heatsink, but also contribute to the long-term preservation of the performance of the paste. We are also pleased with the thermal conductivity of 4.9 W/mK, which is the best result in our rating in the segment up to 5 W/mK.

Customer reviews of Frost Zinc STP-1 are mostly positive.Thermal paste is praised for its excellent price/quality ratio, ease of application and no tendency to spread. Also noted is the presence in the kit of a spatula for application and napkins for degreasing the surface of a laptop CPU or GPU video card. Among the disadvantages is a small volume, i.e. one syringe is enough to repair only one element.

A large manufacturer of computer coolers and fan components simply cannot do without creating a unique thermal paste that perfectly complements its main product. In the case of DEEPCOOL Z9, such a comment looks acceptable - the developer actually produced thermal paste for the needs of his own cooling systems. Thanks to its special composition, Z9 can withstand temperatures up to +200 degrees Celsius, which makes it suitable for use in powerful assemblies. Alas, the thermal conductivity parameter is not always able to support such an impulse - 4 W / mK may be too small to ensure peak overclocking of the filling.

Advantages:

• high temperature indicator (from -60 to +200 degrees Celsius);
• attractive price;
• good level of thermal conductivity.

Flaws:

• there are some difficulties in application due to the consistency of the paste.

The South Korean company Zalman is known for its developments in the field of cooling systems. It also has a rich selection of thermal pastes in its arsenal, among which the most popular is ZM-STC8 in packages of 1.5 grams.This range of pastes features optimum viscosity for ease of application, long service life and a thermal conductivity of 8.3 W/mK. Thermal paste does not lose its properties in the temperature range from -40 to +200 degrees Celsius, i.e. can be used both for cooling systems for processors and video cards, especially in laptops. Another nice point is affordability.

As for the reviews, they are mostly positive. Of the negatives, most complaints are about the inconvenience of the syringe, stickiness and small volume. From another point of view, a volume of 1.5 grams is quite optimal, just enough for one upgrade of the computer's CPU cooling system.

The third generation thermal interface prepared by the Chinese company Gelid and featuring high heat dissipation efficiency. The thermal conductivity of the composition is 8.5 W / mK, which leads to the use of thermal paste with advanced systems, where there is an urgent need for proper heat transfer. The supply of thermal paste is made in small syringes containing 3.5 grams. Moreover, the set always contains a special spatula, which looks quite appropriate - Gelid GC-Extreme has a high viscosity, and therefore application without special equipment becomes problematic. Before applying, the manufacturer strongly recommends heating the thermal paste to 40 degrees Celsius.

Advantages:

• good heat transfer quality;
• comes with a spatula to facilitate application;
• nice price.

Flaws:

• intricate drawing.

Most manufacturers in this rating work in a fairly narrow field of cooling systems. But Thermal Grizzly, a young German company, specializes exclusively in thermal interfaces, which has achieved excellent results. Aeronaut is the "younger" paste in the manufacturer's line. Claimed thermal conductivity is “only” 8.5 W/mK, which is comparable to most competitors. The electrical conductivity is zero - we have a dielectric in front of us - which means that with inaccurate application, you do not risk shorting anything. Pleased with the declared operating temperatures: from - 150 to +200 ^OC. In ordinary life, such resistance is not required, but it is good that, for example, when delivered by air, the paste will not lose its properties.

In practice, the Aeronaut performed well. In tests, the processor temperature is even lower than that of the rating leader. Let it be 0.2-0.3 degrees. The advantages also include the ease of application - the thermal paste is quite liquid, and the kit includes a convenient spatula for even distribution. Of the minuses - the cost per 1 gram: for good performance, you will have to pay 15-20%.

Advantages:

• Excellent performance
• Dielectric
• Easy to apply

Flaws:

• The cost is above average.

Swiss-made thermal grease, very popular in the domestic Russian retail market. The use of Arctic Cooling MX-4 is very often addressed by service companies and private workshops, since the composition corresponds to a high level of quality. Its main advantage lies in its impeccable consistency - moderately liquid for easy application and moderately viscous for fixing on the treated surface.

As for the operational properties, there is a good combination of thermal conductivity and temperature maximum. The value of the first component of Arctic Cooling MX-4 is 8.5 W / mK, which allows the use of thermal paste in powerful computers and laptops. The loss of the useful properties of the composition begins when the mark of +160 degrees Celsius is reached - not the maximum, but if there is a proper cooling system, it will not come to this.

Advantages:

• good thermal conductivity does not prevent overclocking of the processor;
• several packaging options are available (for 4 and 20 grams of thermal paste);
• excellent consistency.

Flaws:

• high price.

Thermal paste from a Taiwanese brand aimed at professional PC builders. The declared thermal conductivity is 11.2 W / mK. In tests, the Nano Aluminum series does not reach the category leader, but it is noticeably ahead of the closest pursuers, like Arctic Cooling MX-4. In general, thermal paste can be safely used in top-end gaming or work systems with powerful video cards that are constantly working under high load. It is easy to apply the paste - the viscosity is medium, the "stickiness" is excellent, it is very easy to spread over the surface.

Thermal paste belongs to the highest class, and therefore the cost corresponds. For 1.5 grams, you will have to pay about 700-800 rubles. But it is difficult to call this a problem due to the high performance and the availability of alternative packages with a capacity of 5 and 30 grams at an affordable price.We also note that for professional assemblers and service centers there is an opportunity to immediately buy a 150-gram jar for about 8 thousand rubles.

Advantages:

• good performance;
• convenient to apply;
• There are packages from 1 to 150 grams.

Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut paste is a mid-level thermal interface. At least that's what the manufacturer thinks. Technical characteristics make it possible to attribute the product to the top segment. The declared thermal conductivity is 11.8 W / mK. The operating temperature range is also amazing: -200...+350 ^OC. Operational parameters do not cause any complaints. At idle, temperatures are fully comparable to the more “powerful” Kryonaut, and under stress, they are only half a degree higher. Thus, the thermal interface is perfect for overclockers with productive hardware.

The viscosity is slightly higher than that of Aeronaut, however, there should be no problems with applying to the desired surface - the fluidity is sufficient, and the spatula for smearing is in place. The only downside is the cost. But products of this level cannot be cheap, and the price / quality ratio is excellent.

Advantages:

• characteristics sufficient even for overclocked hardware;
• convenient application.

Flaws:

• price.

Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme is one of the best thermal pastes for overclockers, used in the cooling systems of the most demanding computers and laptops.In terms of technical characteristics, thermal paste should be given credit - the manufacturers managed to squeeze the maximum possible out of the composition. The operating temperature range varies from -250 to +350 degrees Celsius, so you don’t have to worry about the loss of properties. In terms of heat transfer, everything is also excellent: this parameter is 14.2 W / mK. Manufacturers foresaw the occurrence of problems with application, so they equipped the syringe with two applicators included in the kit. As a result, even taking into account the high cost, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is one of the best thermal pastes produced at the moment.

Advantages:

• excellent consistency;
• the presence of applicators for ease of application;
• good heat dissipation.

Flaws:

• rather high price for a package of 2g.