Maranello
ChannelFlip
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-08
Butler, PA
 ·Armstrong Zoom In..
|  [Cooling] Thermal Compound Review
As I was almost out of AS2 I was faced with buying something else but if you havent noticed, thermal compound is growing in price. I looked at all the reviews i could find but didnt see much of a difference between them so i decided to buy a few tubes and test them myself.
The test was run with my 2400+ mounted on the 8K3A+. Since it reads temps directly from the cpu diode I figured it would be the best way to test..... its also the most accurate board I've ever used for reporting temps. I used my AX-7 with the Delta 68cfm 80mm fan. Each test was started with the cleaning of the cpu. I used nail polish remover first then alcohol to make sure nothing was left on the core. The same was done for the HSF.
The compounds were (in the oder I tested them)
-Artic Silver 2
-Evercool 350 Silicone
-Artic Silver 3
-Artic Alumina
-Nanotherm BlueII
-Nanotherm XTC
Just some notes about the compounds. AS2, AS3 and XTC are all silver based so they would be slightly conductive. Artic Alumina and BlueII are ceramic based and nonconductive. The Evercool is the silicone "white stuff" and non conductive.
I started the system and let the cpu sit idle for 5 minutes before recording a temp. I then started Toast and ran it for 5 minutes before recording a temp. I ran each one twice (cleaning between each) except for the BlueII. The results confused me so i checked the Nanotherm site to make sure i was applying it correctly. I was but reapplied and got the same results. BlueII was tested 3 times.
The results were:
-Compound - Idle - Load
-Artic Silver 2 - 36C - 44C
-Evercool 350 Silicone - 38C - 48C
-Artic Silver 3 - 36C - 44C
-Artic Alumina - 36C - 44C
-Nanotherm BlueII - 39C - 49C
-Nanotherm XTC - 35C - 43C
I wouldnt say any of them were clear "winners" since a 1C drop isnt anything to get excited about. I was surprised with the BlueII since the reviews I read said it was great. I knew going into this that the white silicone Evercool wouldnt be the greatest.
I would have to say your safe using any of the 4 best temps but I'll be using Artic Alumina from now on. It isnt conductive and its about half as much as AS2, AS3 or XTC which are all about $8 a tube (alumina was $4)
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Maranello
ChannelFlip
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-08
Butler, PA
·Armstrong Zoom In..
| The screen shots for each test....
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ICQ: 175512747 |
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FastEddie
iMod
join:2000-12-29
Channel Z
Host:
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| Excellent job Maranello.
Great big 
Note to self : Must buy some Artic Alumina 
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Dogwood
Premium
join:2001-01-14
Texas
clubs:  | reply to Maranello
For how long did you leave them on?
Most of these types of compounds have 2 to 4 day cure time to reach optimum thermal efficiency. |
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TOTC
I only exist to make you cry
Premium
join:2001-05-16
Van Nuys, CA
 ·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to Maranello
This is what I have.. Nice Maranello
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1/28/03-15,668 3D Marks 170Mhz |
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sjohnson
join:2001-02-28
Sioux Falls, SD |  reply to Maranello
What! No Type 44 in the mix? lol, guess I'll have to send you some
Good job bud!
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Don't confuse me with the facts... |
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paul
Granpa Paul
Premium,MVM,ExMod 2006
join:2001-07-14
clubs:
| reply to Maranello
Good research, my man!!!! Appreciate the time you took to do those tests....
On a side note, how good are the small syringes of goop that Thermalright packages with their SK7's? Going to be sending a care package to Canada, and he needs some goop.
Paul
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Maranello
ChannelFlip
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-08
Butler, PA | reply to Maranello
if its the white stuff thats what evercool is. i bought that but its the same stuff you get free with HSF's.
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paul
Granpa Paul
Premium,MVM,ExMod 2006
join:2001-07-14
clubs:
| reply to Maranello
Yeah, it's white. It's not a really small syringe like the ones Evercool packs with their hsf's, it's quite a bit bigger, looks like a generic syringe, no markings like the small Evercool syringes has.
Oh, hsf finally got here today for the p4.... wh00t!
Paul
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netddos
Life Goes On..
join:2001-08-28
Fullerton, CA | reply to Maranello
Very informative!
Thanks Maranello. |
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Skit112
join:2001-08-06
Hoboken, NJ | reply to Maranello
Nice Maranello...thanks for the work and the info. |
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CyberKnight3
Communism
Premium
join:2003-02-10
CyberSpace
| reply to paul
said by paul  :
Yeah, it's white. It's not a really small syringe like the ones Evercool packs with their hsf's, it's quite a bit bigger, looks like a generic syringe, no markings like the small Evercool syringes has.
Oh, hsf finally got here today for the p4.... wh00t!
Paul
What kinda Heatsink did you get ? |
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kat4
join:2001-01-14
Birmingham, AL | reply to Maranello
many thanks for the execllent work
MISTER MARANELLO
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common sense...isn't |
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TheDarkElf
Thehappyelf
join:2001-02-12
Mclean, VA
clubs: | reply to Maranello
Simple and to the point. that's the way i like it!  |
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Andy8
B B R Bash Bush Regularly
Premium
join:2002-01-26
::1
| reply to Maranello
Thanks!
*cough* *cough* * new FAQ/What are the differences between different Thermal Compounds?* *cough* 
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AmnChode
Premium
join:2001-03-27
San Antonio, TX
| reply to Dogwood
said by Dogwood :
For how long did you leave them on?
Most of these types of compounds have 2 to 4 day cure time to reach optimum thermal efficiency.
i was kinda curious of the same thing....if this was tested all in 1 or 2 days, those temps won't be accurate....a test like this should take a couple of weeks minimum to be able to get the correct results....
taken from Arctic Silver's site: »www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silv···ions.htm
quote:
Important Reminder:
Due to the unique shape and sizes of the silver particles in Arctic Silver 3, it will take a minimum of 72 hours, and as many as 200 hours to achieve maximum particle to particle thermal conduction and for the heatsink to CPU interface to reach maximum conductivity. (This period will be longer in a system without a fan on the heatsink.) The CPU's temperature will drop as much as 2C to 5C over this "break-in" period.
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Maranello
ChannelFlip
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-08
Butler, PA
·Armstrong Zoom In..
| reply to Maranello
I dont buy into the "your going to need days and hours" hype. IMO and from what ive seen over the years, what you get after you apply is what you will have long term. I stole the AX7 off the 1600+ machine ... the board i used usually runs my swiftech water block. the 1600+ is running with AS3 now and the 2400+ XTC..... its been about 14 hours and there is still no difference in temps then what there was when i first turned the systems on. if i ever see a temp drop its usually +/- 2C which is nothing to dance about and most likely its a change in ambient temp causing the temp flux.
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Gemologist
Premium
join:2001-11-15
USA
clubs: | reply to Maranello
Hey.. Mind if I include your review here on my website?? Let me know |
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libertate
join:2001-04-16
Olean, NY
| reply to Maranello
very good work Maranello
I definitely agree about the set-in period for AS...
I've had my AS3 on for a few months and haven't had a
temp drop from when I first applied....
(well, other than when I open a window or something ) |
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FastEddie
iMod
join:2000-12-29
Channel Z
Host:
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| reply to Andy8
said by Andy8 :
Thanks!
*cough* *cough* * new FAQ/What are the differences between different Thermal Compounds?* *cough*
*cough* *cough* see the FAQ's
8th question down
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