Question Conductonaut liquid metal paste - worth trying?

[k@rt]

Hi. I need to re-apply my thermal paste and was considering trying Conductonaut liquid metal for the first time. However I've read a LOT of conflicting opinions on it. I am NOT intending to delid my processor and apply it directly to the silicon, just applying it between the IHS and the cooler.

My main reason for considering it is it gets VERY hot where I live in the summer, often hitting 40 Celsius and if it can improve cooling a good deal over paste then it seems maybe worth thinking about (seen it can perform up to 5 degrees cooler).

I just hoped anyone who has experience using it could tell me whether they think it's worth it or not really.

I did see someone say for best results to apply it then reapply it a month or two later (to allow it to react with the copper then apply clean again) but then after than it could be good for years without changing. I know it will tarnish copper although it doesn't seem to actually damage it.

Any advice from personal experience would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[faalin]

Do not do it. there will be a chemical reaction between the IHS, liquid metal, and cooler plate.

I delided my 8700k and there are steps to be taken to seal the top of the chip and the IHS so if the liquid does move it does not short anything out. Having liquid metal between the IHS and cooler it could move and drip onto another part and short something out.

 

[Phaaze88]

My main reason for considering it is it gets VERY hot where I live in the summer, often hitting 40 Celsius and if it can improve cooling a good deal over paste then it seems maybe worth thinking about (seen it can perform up to 5 degrees cooler).

Then instead look towards how you can improve room and case ambient. Directly on die is the most effective use of LM.
Even if you choose to ignore this and do the LM anyway:
-temperatures of a particular device will never be lower than whichever of the 2 ambients is the main air source.
-the maximums are also affected by ambient.
Liquid metal application by itself won't amount to much if the room/case is stuffy.


Install, or turn on air conditioning.
If air conditioning is not possible, then apply lower power limits on the gpu and utilize fps caps.
The energy used by your PC is released into your room, raising room and case ambient in one big cycle. The steps above help to mitigate that.

 

[k@rt]

Do not do it. there will be a chemical reaction between the IHS, liquid metal, and cooler plate.

I delided my 8700k and there are steps to be taken to seal the top of the chip and the IHS so if the liquid does move it does not short anything out. Having liquid metal between the IHS and cooler it could move and drip onto another part and short something out.

I am aware that it reacts with copper, however according to this video it looks more "damaged" than it actually is causing many people to freak out and it can be cleaned up pretty effectively.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7ChaNf9N-w


It seems shorting is maybe something to be more concerned about. Having watched a couple of videos however it seems to apply quite well and so long as one is careful not to squirt it on the motherboard and it certainly looks like it's not susceptible to running or dripping once applied, but maybe it does more than it looks.

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[hotaru.hino]

There are several more or less free ways to help with cooling performance without sacrificing much actual performance.

• Adjust your fan curves
• Keep your case open (and blow a box fan or something onto it)
• Undervolt or power limit your parts

Also whether or not you see the same temperature drop depends on what your cooling set up is in the first place.

 

[k@rt]

Then instead look towards how you can improve room and case ambient. Directly on die is the most effective use of LM.
Even if you choose to ignore this and do the LM anyway:
-temperatures of a particular device will never be lower than whichever of the 2 ambients is the main air source.
-the maximums are also affected by ambient.
Liquid metal application by itself won't amount to much if the room/case is stuffy.


Install, or turn on air conditioning.
If air conditioning is not possible, then apply lower power limits on the gpu and utilize fps caps.
The energy used by your PC is released into your room, raising room and case ambient in one big cycle. The steps above help to mitigate that.

Okay, this is useful info... thank you. I get your point about air temp being more of an issue, sadly there isn't much I can do to resolve that problem. I don't measure it exactly but the ambient air temp in the house must often be in the 35-37 degree range - I see why LM isn't going to be a magic cure for that. My PC has never literally overheated, and I always pick the best ventilated cases I can, but obviously reducing temp as much as possible helps prolong the life of components. Thanks very much for the feedback.

 

[k@rt]

There are several more or less free ways to help with cooling performance without sacrificing much actual performance.

• Adjust your fan curves
• Keep your case open (and blow a box fan or something onto it)
• Undervolt or power limit your parts

Also whether or not you see the same temperature drop depends on what your cooling set up is in the first place.

"Keep your case open (and blow a box fan or something onto it)"

I have tried this but have seen it can be discouraged because it messes up the airflow.

Sadly although my system was quite expensive at the time I had to save money by getting a cheaper case which means I can't control the intake fan speed at all. I am planning to get a better case soon (NZXT H7 Flow) which should hopefully give me better cooling from the case itself.

 

[hotaru.hino]

I have tried this but have seen it can be discouraged because it messes up the airflow.

The whole point of case fans when the case is closed is to replace the air in the case. By opening the case, replacing the air in the case no longer is a problem since the heat sink fans are now sucking air more or less from the open.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I just hoped anyone who has experience using it could tell me whether they think it's worth it or not really.

Watch some videos about fixing liquid metal damage.
I think you'll loose interest in it pretty fast.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=krisfix+germany+liquid+metal+damage