Thermal Paste Specification Comparison

Yongkit

Supremacy Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2015
Messages
5,819
Reaction score
2,447

firesong

Supremacy Member
Deluxe Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2001
Messages
8,647
Reaction score
4,656
Rather than start a new thread, thought to post in here. Am planning to replace the paste in a few laptops (about 5 for now) but don't want to bother to repaste it every few months (weeks?!) due to the reported "pump out effect". Some of the laptops are about 5y old, but I figure a bit more IPA should do the trick to clean the die and heatsink.

Am fairly new to thermal pastes, and read that the MX4 and Noctua H1 both suffer from "Pump out". Was thinking of getting the H2 since it is reportedly thicker, but have also seen some Reddit claims of it suffering from pump out too, while others seem to be happier with it for long-term use. Would anyone have any first hand experience?

What's a decently performing "set and forget" paste, good for about 3 y hopefully. Doing it for a few laptops and their owners don't really like regular "maintenance" - I'm okay for mine, but my folkls are not so happy, and two of them don't live with me so I don't want the hassle of reapplication every few months. I initially wanted the Noctua NT-H2, but thought to get opinion from experts first. Also appreciate if it's not ridiculously expensive - partly why I was looking at the NT-H2 on Amazon where a 3.5g tube is cheap enough. Or should I be looking at the cheaper ones like the GD900 and other China pastes on Shopee/Lazada? Would appreciate good strong recommendations.

Intention is to get better temperatures so I don't run into throttling so much, and to replace the old compound for some of the older laptops.
 
Last edited:

kimsix

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2009
Messages
19,375
Reaction score
9,374
I using syy157 from amazon, it is thicker than thermal grizzly but not that hard to apply. :o

i buyed 10g for $35 iirc, it comes in 2 x5g syringe.

now cheapest price 6g from $24
 

watzup_ken

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2003
Messages
25,672
Reaction score
2,123
Rather than start a new thread, thought to post in here. Am planning to replace the paste in a few laptops (about 5 for now) but don't want to bother to repaste it every few months (weeks?!) due to the reported "pump out effect". Some of the laptops are about 5y old, but I figure a bit more IPA should do the trick to clean the die and heatsink.

Am fairly new to thermal pastes, and read that the MX4 and Noctua H1 both suffer from "Pump out". Was thinking of getting the H2 since it is reportedly thicker, but have also seen some Reddit claims of it suffering from pump out too, while others seem to be happier with it for long-term use. Would anyone have any first hand experience?

What's a decently performing "set and forget" paste, good for about 3 y hopefully. Doing it for a few laptops and their owners don't really like regular "maintenance" - I'm okay for mine, but my folkls are not so happy, and two of them don't live with me so I don't want the hassle of reapplication every few months. I initially wanted the Noctua NT-H2, but thought to get opinion from experts first. Also appreciate if it's not ridiculously expensive - partly why I was looking at the NT-H2 on Amazon where a 3.5g tube is cheap enough. Or should I be looking at the cheaper ones like the GD900 and other China pastes on Shopee/Lazada? Would appreciate good strong recommendations.

Intention is to get better temperatures so I don't run into throttling so much, and to replace the old compound for some of the older laptops.
This GD900 as I read before performs like the Noctua H1, and if so, I think the performance is very good for the little amount of money that it cost. Having said that, I won't recommend more "runny" thermal compound with laptops as you have mentioned. So for "cheaper" alternatives, you should consider SYY157 (which unfortunately is getting more expensive). TFX tends to be very expensive, so it may not fit you requirements. But I do feel that if you want to apply and forget, I feel you can't go wrong with SYY157 and TFX. At least for the former, I've use it on a NUC for almost a year and see no degrade in thermals.
 

firesong

Supremacy Member
Deluxe Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2001
Messages
8,647
Reaction score
4,656
This GD900 as I read before performs like the Noctua H1, and if so, I think the performance is very good for the little amount of money that it cost. Having said that, I won't recommend more "runny" thermal compound with laptops as you have mentioned. So for "cheaper" alternatives, you should consider SYY157 (which unfortunately is getting more expensive). TFX tends to be very expensive, so it may not fit you requirements. But I do feel that if you want to apply and forget, I feel you can't go wrong with SYY157 and TFX. At least for the former, I've use it on a NUC for almost a year and see no degrade in thermals.
Thanks. Looked these 2 up and they seem decent.

Given that they are thicker thermal pastes, I presume I have to soak them in warm water for a bit to "soften" them before applying?
 

Lastwishes

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
724
Reaction score
209
Rather than start a new thread, thought to post in here. Am planning to replace the paste in a few laptops (about 5 for now) but don't want to bother to repaste it every few months (weeks?!) due to the reported "pump out effect". Some of the laptops are about 5y old, but I figure a bit more IPA should do the trick to clean the die and heatsink.

Am fairly new to thermal pastes, and read that the MX4 and Noctua H1 both suffer from "Pump out". Was thinking of getting the H2 since it is reportedly thicker, but have also seen some Reddit claims of it suffering from pump out too, while others seem to be happier with it for long-term use. Would anyone have any first hand experience?

What's a decently performing "set and forget" paste, good for about 3 y hopefully. Doing it for a few laptops and their owners don't really like regular "maintenance" - I'm okay for mine, but my folkls are not so happy, and two of them don't live with me so I don't want the hassle of reapplication every few months. I initially wanted the Noctua NT-H2, but thought to get opinion from experts first. Also appreciate if it's not ridiculously expensive - partly why I was looking at the NT-H2 on Amazon where a 3.5g tube is cheap enough. Or should I be looking at the cheaper ones like the GD900 and other China pastes on Shopee/Lazada? Would appreciate good strong recommendations.

Intention is to get better temperatures so I don't run into throttling so much, and to replace the old compound for some of the older laptops.
Laptops - TFX, SYY-157, Gelid GC Extreme (never tried this one myself, but I think it's supposed to be very similar to TFX in terms of viscosity). For apply and forget, I'd just shell out for TFX; I've been using this on my 3080, for over a year with no deterioration at all.

Intro some good thermal pad pls.
For repadding GPU vrms, or for something else? I'm using Gelid Extreme for the 3080 which works great. Gelid Ultimates have a higher w/mk rating, but they're firmer (meaning that if your measurements are off, using Ultimates may cause contact issues).
 

firesong

Supremacy Member
Deluxe Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2001
Messages
8,647
Reaction score
4,656
Laptops - TFX, SYY-157, Gelid GC Extreme (never tried this one myself, but I think it's supposed to be very similar to TFX in terms of viscosity). For apply and forget, I'd just shell out for TFX; I've been using this on my 3080, for over a year with no deterioration at all.
Thanks! Just saw this, but I had already ordered the SYY-157 earlier. From what I see, it should be decent enough 6g for $24ish is pretty decent, about the same price as the Noctua H2 3.5g I was looking at last night and almost bought but decided to seek advice from you experts here! :)

Also, comparing both, I may need 2 x 2g tubes for 5 laptops, so the 3g SYY makes a bit more economical sense.
 

Lastwishes

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
724
Reaction score
209
Thanks! Just saw this, but I had already ordered the SYY-157 earlier. From what I see, it should be decent enough 6g for $24ish is pretty decent, about the same price as the Noctua H2 3.5g I was looking at last night and almost bought but decided to seek advice from you experts here! :)

Also, comparing both, I may need 2 x 2g tubes for 5 laptops, so the 3g SYY makes a bit more economical sense.
I think you'll be good with the SYY-157. It's very similar to TFX, and slightly easier to apply.
 

watzup_ken

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2003
Messages
25,672
Reaction score
2,123
Thanks. Looked these 2 up and they seem decent.

Given that they are thicker thermal pastes, I presume I have to soak them in warm water for a bit to "soften" them before applying?
SYY is easier to apply than TFX, but I was able to apply both without heating it. The flipside of not preheating it before applying are, (1) you probably waste more paste, and, (2) the compound may not be soft enough to fill the gaps especially when mounting pressure is not as good on laptops. That's my opinion on the flipside.
 

watzup_ken

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2003
Messages
25,672
Reaction score
2,123
Intro some good thermal pad pls.
I generally choose Thermalright Odyssey. They have a newer Odyssey II now, though I have yet to test it. The reason for selecting it are because the thermal conductivity is one of the better ones, and, they tend not to dry up. Texture wise, it is like a grey plasticine.
 

firesong

Supremacy Member
Deluxe Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2001
Messages
8,647
Reaction score
4,656
SYY is easier to apply than TFX, but I was able to apply both without heating it. The flipside of not preheating it before applying are, (1) you probably waste more paste, and, (2) the compound may not be soft enough to fill the gaps especially when mounting pressure is not as good on laptops. That's my opinion on the flipside.
Thanks!

So I presume, if I don't preheat, I do the cross and spread using the spatula? I'm okay with a bit of wastage (it just means more mess to clean up, I suppose. Nothing too different from the OEM pasted mess imo). Or should I just cross and push the heatsink down?
 

watzup_ken

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2003
Messages
25,672
Reaction score
2,123
Thanks!

So I presume, if I don't preheat, I do the cross and spread using the spatula? I'm okay with a bit of wastage (it just means more mess to clean up, I suppose. Nothing too different from the OEM pasted mess imo). Or should I just cross and push the heatsink down?
I normally squeeze the thermal compound in a line at one edge and spread it over to the other end. This works very well for thick paste for me. Because the bare die is usually quite small, so it is not difficult to spread.
 
Important Forum Advisory Note
This forum is moderated by volunteer moderators who will react only to members' feedback on posts. Moderators are not employees or representatives of HWZ Forums. Forum members and moderators are responsible for their own posts. Please refer to our Community Guidelines and Standards and Terms and Conditions for more information.
Top