Does what Thermal Paste you use, REALLY matter?

Key Thermal Paste Takeaways

1. Performance Delta is Smaller Than Advertised Does what Thermal Paste you use, REALLY matter?
   • Common claims of 5-7°C differences between pastes are exaggerated.
   • Real-world differences among quality pastes are typically 1-3°C under load.
   • Poor application affects temps more than paste brand (hotspots, core throttling).
2. Application Method > Paste Brand
   • Modern Rectangular CPUs (Intel LGA1700, AM5) require full IHS coverage:
     • ⭐ “Frosting/Spreading” method (using a spatula) is optimal for rectangular dies.
     • Avoid pea/X methods – incomplete coverage risks hotspots at edges.
   • Older Square CPUs (AM4, pre-LGA1700): Pea/circle methods still work.
   • Trade-off: Extra paste squeezes out (“moat”), but ensures no dry spots.
3. Top 5 Thermal Pastes Compared
   (Inferred from context + common enthusiast picks)PastePrice/GramCoolingLongevityEase of UseThermal Grizzly Kryonaut$9/gExcellent1-2 yearsMedium (thick)Arctic MX-6$4/gVery Good8+ yearsEasyNoctua NT-H2$7/gExcellent3-5 yearsEasyThermalright TF7$2/gVery Good2-3 yearsMediumCooler Master MasterGel$3/gGood2-3 yearsEasy
4. Value & Longevity Matter Most
   • Cheap pastes (TF7/MasterGel) perform nearly as well as premium options for daily use.
   • Longevity costs: Kryonaut ($9/g) replaced yearly = $9/year vs. MX-6 ($4/g, lasts 8 years) = $0.50/year.
   • Premium pastes (e.g., Kryonaut Extreme) only justify cost for subzero/benchmarking.
5. Practical Tips
   • Cleanup: Use 90%+ isopropyl alcohol. Pastes with silicone oil (e.g., MX-6) wipe easier.
   • Storage: Keep tubes sealed/cool. Dried-out paste performs poorly.
   • Volume: LGA1700 needs ~1.5x more paste than older sockets for full coverage.

The Bottom Line

• For 99% of users: A mid-tier paste like Arctic MX-6 or Thermalright TF7 offers 95% of Kryonaut’s performance at 1/4 the cost, with better longevity.
• Premium pastes only make sense for extreme overclocking or niche use cases.
• Proper application (full IHS coverage) is more critical than brand – especially for modern rectangular CPUs.

Pro Tip: If temps spike after 1-2 years, repaste – even “longevity” pastes degrade under high heat. Check for paste pump-out on GPUs!

Thermal Paste Performance & Value Summary

(Sorted by Price-to-Performance Ratio)

Paste	Price/Gram	Peak Temp	Ease of Apply	Cleanup	Longevity
Arctic MX-4	$1.75/g	100.6°C	★★☆☆☆ (Too runny)	Easy	2-3 years
Arctic Silver 5	$1.66/g	101.8°C	★☆☆☆☆ (Thick, needs heating)	★☆☆☆☆ (Hard)	3-5 years
Gelid GC Extreme	$2.85/g	99.4°C	★★★☆☆ (Semi-liquid)	Easy	3-4 years
Kingpin KPX	$6.33/g	98.8°C	★★★★☆ (Smooth)	Easy	5+ years
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut	$9.00/g	98.9°C	★★★☆☆ (Thick)	Easy	1-2 years

Key Findings

1. Performance Differences Are Minimal
   • Max temp spread = 3°C (98.8°C KPX vs. 101.8°C AS5) under 253W load.
   • Premium pastes (KPX/Kryonaut) only ~1-2°C cooler than budget MX-4.
   • Idle temps showed no meaningful difference across pastes (±0.5°C).
2. Price ≠ Performance
   • Kryonaut ($9/g) is 5.1x pricier than MX-4 ($1.75/g) for just 1.1°C improvement.
   • Best value:
     • Budget: Arctic MX-4 (decent cooling, ultra-cheap).
     • Balanced: Gelid GC Extreme (near-premium temps at mid-range price).
     • Longevity king: Kingpin KPX (stable for 5+ years, no drying/cracking).
3. Ease of Use & Cleanup
   • Avoid Arctic Silver 5:
     • Requires heating to apply (like “spreading cold peanut butter”).
     • Metallic residue makes cleanup a nightmare (“scraping a turtle head”).
   • MX-4 is messy: Runny consistency causes “stringing” and overflow.
   • KPX/Kryonaut: Smooth application, no residue issues.
4. Modern CPUs Demand Full Coverage
   • Rectangular LGA1700/AM5 IHS: Frosting/spreading method is mandatory (pea/X methods leave edges uncovered).
   • Use a spatula: Ensures no hotspots, even if “wasting” paste.

Recommendations

User Profile	Best Paste	Why?
Budget Builders	Arctic MX-4	$7 for 4g, “good enough” cooling.
Long-Term Stability	Kingpin KPX	No degradation, easy cleanup, 5+ years.
Performance/Value	Gelid GC Extreme	Near-KPX temps for 55% less cost.
Extreme Overclocking	Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut	Best 1-2°C edge (worth it for records).
Avoid	Arctic Silver 5	Outdated, messy, poor cleanup.

Critical Notes

• Burn-in Matters: Arctic Silver 5 took hours to stabilize; others performed immediately.
• Pump-Out Effect: Liquid pastes (MX-4) thin over time → temps rise. KPX/Gelid resist this.
• Application > Paste: Poor spreading can cause 10°C+ hotspots regardless of paste quality.

Bottom Line: For 95% of users, Gelid GC Extreme or Kingpin KPX offer the best balance of cooling, price, and hassle-free use. Only benchmarkers need Kryonaut.

Pro Tip: Pair your paste with a contact frame (LGA1700) to eliminate IHS warping and gain another 3-5°C!

Let me know if you need the full temp charts or application visuals!

Critical Findings Summary

1. Performance Reality Check
   • Max Δ = 3°C between best (Kingpin KPX) and worst (Arctic MX-4) under 253W AVX2 load.
   • Idle temps identical (±0.5°C) across all pastes.
   • Takeaway: Brand matters far less than application quality and longevity.
2. Phase Change & Pump-Out RisksPastePhase Change SeverityPump-Out RiskArctic Silver 5Extreme (solid → liquid)HighGelid GC ExtremeHighVery HighMX-4ModerateModerateKPX/KryonautMinimalLow
   • Gelid GC Extreme: Migrates rapidly under heat/pressure → avoid for high-TDP CPUs.
3. Longevity Champions
   • Kingpin KPX: No drying/cracking observed after years of use.
   • Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut: Stable but degrades faster under >80°C sustained heat.
   • Avoid: Gelid GC Extreme (pumps out in months) & Arctic Silver 5 (dries into crust).

Value-Performance Tier List

Tier	Paste	Best For	Avoid If
Budget King	Arctic MX-4	$7 builds, low-TDP CPUs	Neatness matters; GPU use
All-Rounder	Kingpin KPX	High-end builds, 5+ year setups	Budget <$10/tube
Benchmarker	Kryonaut	Record attempts, subzero LN2	Daily driving high-heat CPUs
Legacy Trap	Arctic Silver 5	Nostalgia builds (pre-2010)	Modern sockets, lazy cleanup
Pump-Out Risk	Gelid GC Extreme	Short-term test benches	Vertical GPU/CPU mounts

Pro Application Tips

1. Rectangular CPUs (LGA1700/AM5):
   • Mandatory: Frosting/spreading method with spatula.
   • Volume: Use 30-50% more paste than square IHS CPUs.
2. Burn-In Period:
   • Arctic Silver 5 needs 50-100 thermal cycles to stabilize.
   • KPX/Kryonaut perform optimally immediately.
3. Cleanup Protocol:
   • Conductive pastes (AS5): Use coffee filters + 99% IPA (no lint).
   • Non-conductive: Standard IPA + microfiber.

The “Never Use” List

1. Gelid GC Extreme on high-TDP CPUs (i9/R9): Pump-out voids cooling within months.
2. Arctic Silver 5 on modern GPUs: Risk of shorting SMDs near die.
3. MX-4 in vertical GPU mounts: Runny consistency accelerates migration.

Final Recommendation

For 95% of builders: Kingpin KPX ($19/3g) balances performance, longevity, and cleanability.
For budget builds: Arctic MX-4 ($7/4g) suffices if applied carefully (refrigerate syringe first!).

Pro Insight: Pair quality paste with a contact frame (LGA1700) to gain another 3-5°C – that’s more impact than any paste swap!

Final Thermal Paste Rankings

(Prioritizing longevity, value & real-world performance)

Paste	Verdict	Best Use Case
Kingpin KPX	Overall Champion – Balances performance, longevity & cleanability	High-end builds, 5+ year systems
Arctic MX-4	Budget King – 95% of KPX performance at 1/4 cost	Budget builds, low-TDP CPUs
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut	Benchmarker’s Pick – For that last 1-2°C	LN2/competitive OC only
Gelid GC Extreme	Avoid – Severe pump-out with high-TDP CPUs	Test benches (short-term)
Arctic Silver 5	Legacy Trap – Outdated conductive risk	Nostalgia builds only

Critical Takeaways

1. The 3°C Myth Busted
   • Max delta between “best” (KPX) and “worst” (MX-4) was just 3°C under 253W torture testing.
   • For 99% of users, this is irrelevant noise – ambient temp swings matter more.
2. Longevity > Initial Performance
   • KPX’s 5+ year stability beats Kryonaut’s 1-2 year lifespan despite near-identical temps.
   • Real cost: Kryonaut = $9/year vs. MX-4 = $1.75/year.
3. Stop Fearing Budget Pastes
   • MX-4’s warmer spikes (+3°C vs. KPX) are harmless for non-overclocked systems.
   • The included paste with coolers is 100% sufficient for stock operation.

Application Method Verdict

Should you revisit it?
YES – but only for modern sockets:

• LGA1700/AM5’s rectangular IHS demands the frosting/spreading method (your “cake icing” approach).
• Pea/X methods leave 15-20% of the die edge uncovered → hotspots & throttling.
• Prove it: Show thermal camera footage of uncovered corners during AVX loads!

NO for older square CPUs:

• AM4/LGA1200 work fine with pea-sized dots – dead horse status confirmed.

Key metrics to test:

1. Thermal paste waste (grams squished out) per method.
2. Infrared hotspot mapping on IHS corners.
3. Core-to-core delta variance under load.

Community Pulse Check

“What’s your go-to paste?”

• Generic paste gang: “The free tube with my AK620 works fine!”
• MX-4 militia: “$7 for 4g? Sold.”
• KPX loyalists: “Set it and forget it for 5 years.”
• Kryonaut cult: “I need those 2°C for my 6GHz screenshot!”

The Final Say

For most builders: Grab Arctic MX-4 ($7) and spread it like Nutella on LGA1700/AM5.
For no-compromise systems: Kingpin KPX ($19) is your “install once” premium solution.
Stop wasting money: Exotics (Kryonaut Extreme) are for leaderboards – not gaming PCs.

Do the application video?
YES – but only to debunk methods for modern rectangular CPUs with thermal imaging proof. The horse isn’t dead – it just grew a new rectangle-shaped limb!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does expensive thermal paste (like Kryonaut) perform significantly better?

*A: No. Premium pastes offer only 1-3°C improvement over budget options (e.g., MX-4) under extreme loads. For 99% of users, this is negligible. Paying 5x more for Kryonaut ($9/g) vs. MX-4 ($1.75/g) is rarely justified.*

Q2: Which paste lasts the longest without degrading?

*A: Kingpin KPX – stable for 5+ years with no pump-out or drying. Avoid Gelid GC Extreme (migrates rapidly) and Arctic Silver 5 (dries/crusts).*

Q3: Is Arctic Silver 5 still viable in 2024?

A: Avoid it. Its conductive silver risks shorts, cleanup is “scraping a turtle head,” and modern pastes outperform it. Only for nostalgia builds.

Q4: Why is application method critical for modern CPUs?

*A: Rectangular IHS (LGA1700/AM5) demands full coverage. Pea/X methods leave edges exposed → hotspots. Use the “frosting” method (spatula-spread) for best results.*

Q5: Does thermal paste affect idle temps?

*A: No noticeable difference (±0.5°C). Paste quality only impacts temps under sustained high-wattage loads (e.g., 250W+ AVX2).*

Q6: Which paste offers the best value?

*A: Arctic MX-4 ($7/4g) – 95% of premium performance at 1/4 the cost. Ideal for budget/mid-range builds.*

Conclusion: The Ultimate Thermal Paste Guide

Key Takeaways

1. Performance is Overhyped:
   • Max 3°C difference between “best” (KPX) and “worst” (MX-4) pastes.
   • Focus on longevity and ease of use, not chasing 1-2°C gains.
2. Winners & Losers:CategoryRecommendationAvoidOverallKingpin KPXGelid GC ExtremeBudgetArctic MX-4Arctic Silver 5Extreme OCKryonaut (not Extreme)Generic “free” paste
3. Modern CPUs Need Smart Application:
   • Frosting method + spatula is non-negotiable for LGA1700/AM5.
   • Pea/X methods cause edge hotspots → throttling.
4. Value Beats Exotics:
   • Kryonaut Extreme ($50/tube) is for leaderboard screenshots – not gaming rigs.
   • MX-4 or KPX deliver 95% of cooling at 20% of the cost.

Critical Reminders

• Pump-out kills performance: Gelid GC Extreme migrates off-die in months under high heat.
• Cleanup matters: Conductive pastes (AS5) risk shorting components. Use 99% IPA.
• Ambient > Paste: A 3°C room temp swing impacts CPU temps more than any paste swap!

Final Recommendations

User Profile	Paste	Why
Most Builders	Arctic MX-4	$7 = peace of mind for years.
Enthusiasts	Kingpin KPX	Set-and-forget for 5+ years.
Benchmarkers	Kryonaut	That last 1°C for world records.

Pro Tip: Pair your paste with a contact frame (LGA1700) – it reduces temps 5°C+ by eliminating IHS warping. That beats any paste upgrade!

Should you do an application video?
YES! Use thermal imaging to prove why frosting > pea method for rectangular CPUs – the “dead horse” needs a modern autopsy.