Thermal paste experience
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Thermal paste experience
From all my reading and people trying hard to benchmark thermal pastes it was clear that despite all the hype they do very little for cooling, which was my experience too. It seems perhaps 1 degree can be gained from the most expensive paste but that is possibly within statistical insigificance. Changing from dirty, old, reseated and re-used many times standard thermal paste to carefully applied high quality stuff did nothing for my setup. What's your experience?
I've been reading a lot on that too. The consensus I inferred was that pretty much all pastes cool equally well (from toothpaste to AS5). The consistently-reported catch was that inferior materials (e.g., toothpaste) evaporate very quickly, leaving you with no thermal interface material at all.
Having said that, I'm just using the thermal paste that came with my XP-120 heatsink, and it seems to be working OK. When/if it comes time to replenish the supply, I might splurge on a extra few bucks to see what this Arctic Silver is all about.
Having said that, I'm just using the thermal paste that came with my XP-120 heatsink, and it seems to be working OK. When/if it comes time to replenish the supply, I might splurge on a extra few bucks to see what this Arctic Silver is all about.
Agreed. Others deteriorate as they dry over time. AS stays nice and fresh for years. One P4 machine I had, had its replaced roughtly 3yrs ago (its a Skt423, boo hiss!). Still running the same temps now at a frieds house, even if the HFS is a little dustyburcakb wrote:the difference of arctic silver can be felt after a year or so. Most cheap paste turns to dust, cracks, becomes inefficient, etc. AS is apply-it-forget-it paste
Try eating a piece of cheese between samples. I believe you will find the expensive paste has more fruity undertones.Sizzle wrote:In my experience, it tastes just as bad as cheap paste.
I'm partial to Artic Silver Ceramique because it works, is non-conductive, cleans up easily, and I have enough to last the rest of my life.
I'll second the Ceramique . I have 2 of the large syringes of it. One I bought, and the other just wound up in my spare parts box somehow (probably when I was doing a build for a buddy and he left it there, I just have no idea who it was since I build so many).threevok wrote:Try eating a piece of cheese between samples. I believe you will find the expensive paste has more fruity undertones.Sizzle wrote:In my experience, it tastes just as bad as cheap paste.
I'm partial to Artic Silver Ceramique because it works, is non-conductive, cleans up easily, and I have enough to last the rest of my life.
It works, and I have enough to do about 2000 CPUs .
Does unused Artic Silver Ceramique have any tendency to deteriorate over time (i.e. is it OK to buy one of those larger syringes as a lifetime supply or simply get a small syringe and get a "fresh" small syringe when it eventually runs out?)?
Also, over what type of time span does generic thermal grease tend to turn into dust?
Also, over what type of time span does generic thermal grease tend to turn into dust?
I've had my syringe of Ceramique for nearly 2 years and the consistency is the same now as when I first got it. I just mounted a heatsink with it last week, and no difference at all.mshan wrote:Does unused Artic Silver Ceramique have any tendency to deteriorate over time (i.e. is it OK to buy one of those larger syringes as a lifetime supply or simply get a small syringe and get a "fresh" small syringe when it eventually runs out?)?
Also, over what type of time span does generic thermal grease tend to turn into dust?
So it doesn't conductive, but it can store a charge? Anyone care to explain?From Arctic Silver's Website about Arctic Silver 5 wrote:While much safer than electrically conductive silver and copper greases, Arctic Silver 5 should be kept away from electrical traces, pins, and leads. While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive and could potentially cause problems if it bridges two close-proximity electrical paths.
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Capacative, conductive, whatever. I don't know squat about electronics. All I know is, people have blown their stuff up with arctic silver, and I've read about it on these very forums.While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive
Plus, IMO, arctic silver is a PITA to work with, so there's another reason.
First I thought that the good thing about AS5 should show up after some time, but it didn't, the lowest I could get was 39 degrees. Then I started undervolting and underclocking just to check, but it didn't change very much, not even with the case open.
Then, with case placed on its side and opened, I placed a 10 cm paper cone on top of the Z7000 to act as a duct to feed the fan with cooler air from above. The temp dropped 5 degrees. Reason? Ask ATI...
Before this I really thought that an open case could simulate a HSF with a duct through the side panel....
Then, with case placed on its side and opened, I placed a 10 cm paper cone on top of the Z7000 to act as a duct to feed the fan with cooler air from above. The temp dropped 5 degrees. Reason? Ask ATI...
Before this I really thought that an open case could simulate a HSF with a duct through the side panel....