Running low in AS5 thermal compound... what cha got?

[justmehereajax]

I am building PCs again and my big tube of AS5 is almost done.

Should I buy AS5 again?
Looking for a large tube of Thermal Compound.
Where to buy? What recommendations?

 

[Marzipan]

well...AS5 is good stuff, but if you're not afraid to spend a few bucks to shave that extra few degrees, the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is best.

 

[Cptn Vortex]

Get more? https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX2967

 

[sswilson]

I haven't seen any real reason to switch from my trusty MX-4. It may not be top rated, but it's decent and super easy to work with.

 

[Cptn Vortex]

Oh yea, I always add one or two of these options when I order with dazmode :https://www.dazmode.com/shop/modding/thermal-materials/high-conductivity-h-bridge-thermal-grease/ or https://www.dazmode.com/shop/modding/thermal-materials/gelid-award-winning-gc-01/

They work fine.

 

[Marzipan]

it's expensive for how much you get, but it's affordable. where all can it be bought from other than Amazon?

 

[Bond007]

Mx4 if you want solid performance, cheap price, and easy application.

If you don’t mind a higher price there are other options that will shave a few degrees off.

 

[Izerous]

I did some tests I think it was between AS5, MX4 and NT H1 if memory serves me correctly. I recall that AS5 still came out on top by about 0.5-1'c. It is however electrically conductive and easy to screw up a computer with compared to newer pastes so in the end I did still end up using the NT H1 moving forward. Years ago i did have a dead 939? board due to paste getting into the socket because someone was clumsy.

 

[JD]

I haven't used AS5 in a really long time. Most EK blocks come with Kryonaut though, so I've been using that. Also have a bunch of NT-H1 from the Noctua heatsinks I buy as well...so I haven't really bought any thermal paste in quite a while.

MX4 would be my go-to though if I was to buy since its relatively cheap and non-conductive. I think Coolmaster had some new-ish ones out too if you can find them.

 

[Izerous]

I found where i wrote the results on the DazMode forums a while ago it was AS5 vs MX4 NT H1 wasn't part of the results so I don't recall why I have a tube of it now.

So I just took my last readings for AS5 vs MX-4 on the CPU-360...

My testing process was as follows using prime95 for loading and only showing 1 window on desktop to ensure I'm not adding inconsistent heat from GPUs
-15min @100% fan speed full load (ignore results)
-15min @100% fan speed idle (ignore results)

-15min @100% fan speed full load take measurement
-15min @100% fan speed idle take measurement

-15min @40% fan speed full load take measurement
-15min @40% fan speed idle take measurement

Temperature below = delta above ambient (or at least what I used to record ambients)
@100% Fan Speed
AS5
Idle: 2.8'c
Load: 13.8'c

MX-4
Idle: 2.8'c
Load: 14.3'c

@40% Fan Speed
AS5
Idle: 4.8'c
Load: 17.0'c

MX-4
Idle: 4.8'c
Load: 17.5'c

In short for what I did they are equivalent products at idle however under full load I was able to see upwards of 0.5'c difference in favor of good ol' capacitive AS5. However with two 6990's being in the same loop, and a radiator as big as the one I have there is always some margin of error. But running the tests multiple times I got pretty consistent results.

I later ran a test of a CPU-380 + MX4 but not CPU-380 + AS5

Ok so MX4 + CPU-380 and to be honest I ended up running prime95 for 30 minute cycles instead of 15 minutes because I simply didn't believe the temperature read outs.

100% Fan Speed
Idle: 2.1'c
Load: 9.7'c

40% Fan Speed
Idle: 4.3'c
Load: 12.8'c

I didn't break 30'c when the fans were on full and under full load.