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It might seem easy to choose the best thermal paste, but there are so many different kinds that it can take a long time. Thermal Paste, which is also called Thermal Compound or Thermal Interface Material (TIM), is one of the most important things needed to cool down PC hardware. It makes sure that your CPU or GPU cools down properly (Graphics Card).
In 2023, there are a lot of great choices for thermal paste. You can use these to replace the thermal paste in your CPU or in a GPU. Many new and different thermal compounds have come out from brands like Cooler Master, Arctic, Deepcool, and Alphacool. We did research on all of them for this guide so that we could tell you which ones are the best.
Best Thermal Paste Comparison Table
| Product Name | Manufacturer | Color | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alphacool Apex | Alphacool | Silver | 50 x 50 x 1 mm | 99 g | $12.99 |
| ProlimaTech PK-3 Nano Alumin | ProlimaTech | Silver | 85 x 85 x 1 mm | 150 g | $15.99 |
| Cooler Master CyroFuze Viole | Cooler Master | Violet | 120 x 120 x 2 | 500 g | $19.99 |
| Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut | Thermal Grizzly | Grey | 27 x 27 x 1 mm | 5 g | $9.99 |
| ARCTIC MX-4 | ARCTIC | White | 45 x 45 x 1 mm | 20 g | $7.99 |
| Arctic MX-6 | Arctic | Grey | 37 x 37 x 0.3 | 3 g | $14.99 |
| Noctua NT-H1 | Noctua | Beige | 35 x 35 x 1.4 | 4 g | $8.99 |
| IC Diamond 24 Carat | IC Diamond | Grey | 62 x 62 x 1 mm | 6 g | $39.99 |
Alphacool Apex
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 7 W/mK |
| Volume Resistivity | 3.8 x 10^13 Ω cm |
| Viscosity | 140-190 Poise |
| Temperature Range | -30 to +180 °C |
The Alphacool Apex is a new product for enthusiasts. It is known for its 17 W/mK thermal conductivity, which is very high. The Alphacool Apex is one of the best thermal pastes because it has a unique composition and is good at transferring heat.
The compound has nanoparticles in it that are meant to fill in the tiny gaps between the CPU and the heatsink. The paste is very thick and has a high viscosity. Alphacool suggests using an applicator tool for the best results. This, however, is not part of the package.
The Good
- High thermal conductivity makes it easy to get rid of heat.
- Good viscosity to make it easy to use
- Wide temperature range for versatility
The Bad
- Electrical conductivity may have problems if the volume resistivity is pretty high.
ProlimaTech PK-3 Nano Aluminum
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 11.2 W/mK |
| Volume Resistivity | 0.004 Ω-cm |
| Viscosity | 0.061 Pa-s |
| Temperature Range | -200 to +150 °C |
In our tests, PromilaTech PK-3 Nano Aluminum paste was often close to, but never beat, liquid metal compounds. It is a moderately thick thermal compound made of aluminum and zinc oxide. The paste is stable, which makes it easy to use on all surfaces and easy to clean up. You can’t really go wrong with this paste because it works well for most CPU tasks.
The Good
- High thermal conductivity means better heat transfer.
- For good electrical conductivity, resistivity should be low.
- Wide temperature range for versatility
The Bad
- A relatively low viscosity may make it harder to use.
Cooler Master CyroFuze Violet
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 11 W/mK |
| Volume Resistivity | 1.3 x 10^15 Ω cm |
| Viscosity | 140 Poise |
| Temperature Range | -50 to +150 °C |
The Cooler Master CyroFuze Violet, which came out just this year, is their best product. This high-end product from CM is a thermal paste that is purple, and the box it comes in looks very nice. Nanoparticles in the specially made mixture help with its “superior heat conductivity.” CM also says that this thermal paste won’t dry out and that its formula is resistant to corrosion and oxidation.
They also come with a tool to put them on and wipes to clean up afterward. The viscosity hasn’t been mentioned, but it’s said to be “balanced,” meaning that it’s neither too thin nor too thick. Even though this should work really well, there are other options that might work a little better in terms of heat. This makes the CM CyroFuze Violet a great premium option for most people, but not for those who are interested in pure thermals.
The Good
- High thermal conductivity makes it easy to get rid of heat.
- Good viscosity to make it easy to use
- Wide temperature range for versatility
The Bad
- High volume resistivity could make it hard for electricity to flow.
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 12.5 W/mK |
| Volume Resistivity | >10^13 Ω cm |
| Viscosity | 130-170 Pa-s |
| Temperature Range | -250 to +350 °C |
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is a thermal compound that is stable and not too thick. It is easy to work with and doesn’t drip or run. This paste is easy to use and clean up, which is why system builders like it so much.
The Good
- High thermal conductivity means better heat transfer.
- Good viscosity to make it easy to use
- Wide temperature range for versatility
The Bad
- Electrical conductivity may have problems if the volume resistivity is pretty high.
ARCTIC MX-4
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 8.5 W/mK |
| Volume Resistivity | >1 x 10^10 Ω cm |
| Viscosity | 870 Poise |
| Temperature Range | -50 to +150 °C |
This Arctic MX-4 thermal paste is one of the cheapest pastes on the market. It is made of carbon. It is also more of a mid-range thermal paste, and because it is thick, it is not the best choice for beginners. But if you fill out the application correctly, you shouldn’t have too much trouble, even if you’re just starting out.
Because of this, this thermal paste is one of the best ones for CPUs. With a thermal conductivity of 8.5 W/mK and an 8-year lifespan once it’s installed, you can almost completely forget about it and move on with your gaming life. In fact, you might need to replace your CPU before you need to replace this.
The Good
- Good thermal conductivity to get rid of heat in an effective way
- High viscosity to make it easy to use
- Wide temperature range for versatility
The Bad
- Electrical conductivity may have problems if the volume resistivity is pretty high.
Arctic MX-6
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 5.6 W/mK |
| Volume Resistivity | >1 x 10^10 Ω cm |
| Viscosity | 875 Poise |
| Temperature Range | -50 to +150 °C |
The Arctic MX-6 is the exact same product as the popular MX-5 thermal paste. With more viscosity, it’s supposed to improve thermal performance by 20%. When it comes to PC cooling solutions, Arctic is a well-known brand. You may have heard of them while looking for thermal paste, but they make a lot of other things as well, like CPU coolers and case fans.
Before the Arctic MX-6 came out, the Arctic MX-2 and MX-4 were two of the most popular thermal pastes on the market. The Arctic MX-6 is the brand’s latest version. The MX-6 is available in sizes from 2 to 8 grams, and it comes in a packet that can be resealed so that the paste doesn’t dry out while it’s waiting to be used again, say, a year later.
The Good
- Good thermal conductivity to get rid of heat in an effective way
- High viscosity to make it easy to use
- Wide temperature range for versatility
The Bad
- Compared to other options, it has a low thermal conductivity.
Noctua NT-H1
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 8.9 W/mK |
| Volume Resistivity | >1 x 10^13 Ω cm |
| Viscosity | 2.49 Pa-s |
| Temperature Range | -50 to +110 °C |
You can get the Noctua NT-H1, which is a very reliable thermal paste, right now. It works well even when overclocked to the max. Noctua makes products for a small group of users who want high-performance cooling while making as little noise as possible. Because of this, Noctua CPU coolers have been added to our list of the best CPU coolers on the market.
Many of these coolers come with a brown tube of thermal paste made by the company called NT-H1. The Noctua NT-H1 is known as one of the best thermal pastes on the market, and it’s our second-best pick for the best thermal paste you can buy right now. It has a lot of great features that most other thermal pastes on the market don’t have.
The Good
- Good thermal conductivity to get rid of heat in an effective way
- Good viscosity to make it easy to use
- Wide temperature range for versatility
The Bad
- Compared to some other options, it has a low thermal conductivity.
IC Diamond 24 Carat
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Thermal Conductivity | 4.5 W/mK |
| Volume Resistivity | 2.0 x 10^12 Ω cm |
| Viscosity | 1400 Poise |
| Temperature Range | -45 to +180 °C |
When it came to thermal compounds, IC Diamond was the coolest for a long time. Even though it’s no longer the best in its class, the IC Diamond 24 Carat Thermal Compound is still a good choice for this rough diamond. This thermal paste isn’t like most others because it’s mostly made of diamond powder, which has a much higher thermal conductivity than many of the metals that are usually used.
In the tube, it’s 92% diamond powder, but after it’s been applied and dried properly, it’s 94% of the paste, which makes it a great choice for cooling. It’s a bit more expensive than other thermal pastes, and it’s not the best choice for parts that will need to be reapplied thermal paste often, since it can scratch the CPU.
The Good
- Good thermal conductivity to get rid of heat in an effective way
- For good electrical conductivity, you need a high volume resistivity.
- Wide temperature range for versatility
The Bad
- Compared to some other options, it has a low thermal conductivity.
- High viscosity could make it harder to use.
FAQs
Which thermal paste method is best?
On the other hand, the buttered toast method is the best choice if you don’t know how to control the volume. That’s because you can use a spreader or spatula to spread the paste evenly across the CPU and remove any extra paste.
Does high quality thermal paste make a difference?
Good thermal paste can make a big difference in how well your computer works because it lets your processor send more of its waste heat to your cooler, which keeps your processor cool. If you want to get the most out of your rig by overclocking it, you should also choose the best thermal paste.
Is Arctic mx4 the best thermal paste?
Because it works so well, the MX-4 is a great choice not only for overclockers and enthusiasts, but also for other applications that need thermal transmission. MX-4 proves without a doubt that you don’t have to pay a lot for great performance.
How often should you replace thermal paste?
How often should thermal paste be changed? Most of the time, you shouldn’t have to reapply paste more than once every few years. However, if you take your cooler off for any reason, you should replace the paste. If you notice that the temperature of your CPU is going up, you might also want to reapply thermal paste.