[SOLVED] Best paste for delidded 4770k?

[HWOC]

I'm planning to de-lid my 4770k with the vice method, tried a few old trial CPUs to ensure that I have the method down. Which paste is the best for this purpose? Is it the Coollaboratory Liquid Extreme? Would there be much difference between that and the Noctua NT-H1 that I already have available? The Liquid Extreme is cheap, so money is not the issue, just wondering is it worth ordering (and waiting for) it? Would the Noctua be a better long-term solution? I've read that the liquid metal loses performance after a year/years.

 

[Hellfire13]

Noctua NT-H1 is pretty good quality but paste isn't for delidding. Use liquid metal.

 

[TJ Hooker]

From what I've read, if you're going to go through the trouble of delidding you may as well go all the way and use liquid metal to get the most benefit. I think thermal grizzly conductonaut is the current go-to, but Coolaboratory should be good too. I delidded and used CL Ultra, I want to say roughly year ago? No issues so far.

 

[CompuTronix]

HWOC,

On behalf of Tom's Moderator Team, welcome aboard!

Delidding requires that you use only liquid metal TIM between the Die and IHS. Paste (pTIM) will gradually but rapidly fail in as little as a few weeks to a few months, while Core temperatures steadily increase, requiring periodic deliddings and reapplications.

Due to thermal cycling, a process known as “pump-out” will expel pTIM from between the Die and IHS, whereas liquid metal is very resistant to pump-out and will last several years, far outpacing any pTIM products. While Intel's pTIM is formulated to resist pump-out, it still degrades over time, losing its thermal bond with the Die.

The most recommended liquid metal TIM is Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut. For comparison, here’s a short list of TIM in order of thermal conductivity:

Indium - 81.8 W/mk (Used in processors with sTIM "soldered" IHS)

Liquid Metal TIM (Die to IHS)
Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut - 73.0 W/mk
CoolLaboratory Liquid Extreme - 41.0 W/mk
CoolLaboratory Liquid Ultra - 38.4 W/mk
CoolLaboratory Liquid Pro - 32.6 W/mk

Paste TIM (Cooler to IHS)
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut - 12.5 W/mk
Arctic Silver 5 - 9.0 W/mk
Arctic Cooling MX4 - 8.5 W/mk
Gelid Solutions GC-Extreme - 8.5 W/mk

It's disappointing to note that Noctua does not provide thermal conductivity specifications for NT-H1 or NT-H2.

When relidding, use extreme care as you place the IHS onto the Die. Any lateral movements will smear the liquid metal, which will compromise thermal results. Moreover, as you move the CPU retention lever into the latched position, the retention frame moves with it. If the IHS is not sealed, the frame movement can cause the IHS to move, smearing the liquid metal and compromising an otherwise perfect delidding job. Therefore, always use a sealant, patience and attention to detail, allowing ample time for the sealant to completely cure.

Once again, welcome aboard!

CT

 

[HWOC]

Thank you for your responses everyone. Thank you CompuTronix especially for your all-encompassing answer, I need to print and laminate that one. 🙂 Now I'm starting to think that maybe I should try the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut first as a paste between the ISH and the cooler before delidding and run some tests. Currently I have NT-H1 applied, would be interesting to note the differences between those two before delidding.

 

[HWOC]

I'm presuming that Kryonaut paste would be the best paste for GPUs as well, so I might as well apply that on my GTX 1060 too.

 

[Gam3r01]

Kryonaut would work well for the GPU too, whether or not it would benefit from a repaste is a different discussion though.

 

[HWOC]

Kryonaut would work well for the GPU too, whether or not it would benefit from a repaste is a different discussion though.

Hehe, a performance/cooling enthusiast leaves no stone unturned, no matter how futile the endeavor might be.

In fact, I wouldn't sleep very well at all, knowing that my GPU wouldn't have the best available thermal paste applied. :-/

 

[Hellfire13]

That is supposed to be after the delid ofcourse. Nobody uses paste in delidding. The Noctua is not too far away from Kryonaut in terms of normal paste...

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBS57bwa_To

 

[CompuTronix]

HWOC,

There's less than a 2°C difference between between Kryonaut and NT-H1 when used on a CPU, so don't expect a day and night improvement. However, when used on a GPU, Kryonaut is over 5°C better than NT-H1, which is certainly more impressive.

Thermal Paste Round-up: 85 Products Tested

Also, there are "Stickies" at the top of our Forums, which are information resources that are permanently "stuck" in place so they're always available for everyone's benefit. There's one at the top of the CPU's Forum you might want to read: Intel Temperature Guide

CT

 

[HWOC]

If it was only 1 deg difference, I'd still do it. For the love of the game! 🙂

 

[Gam3r01]

In that case go ahead and go for it, most people expect drastic results from repasting, but if you know what to expect going in then thats a different story.