Question Fake Arctic MX-4?

[vmarc41]

So I just ordered 4g of Arctic MX-4. I tried searching if there are fakes but I can't get any definitive answers. I noticed mine has wrong spelling in some words. Could this be fake?

Picture:

https://imgur.com/a/BCpqBUS

View: https://imgur.com/a/BCpqBUS

 

[Karadjgne]

Doubtful. MX-4 isn't as popular as it could be, not compared to AS5 or Kryonaut. And it's cheap, so what it'd take to reproduce the packaging in labor and materials isn't going to pan out. Even fake-spot says it's doubtful.

Arctic went green in 2012, since then they've been seriously attempting to cut down on carbon footprint, so most packaging is recycled/recyclable materials. The latest package is on Amazon, no cardboard.

Ppl going to the trouble of copying for a fake, wouldn't typo, it raises too many questions/doubts in buyers minds.

Is it a fake? You'll not get a definitive answer unless you contact Arctic. They'll be able to match up serial numbers, bar codes etc. It might just be very old stock.

 

[Aeacus]

I also don't think it's counterfeit product. Most likely a typo error.

To set your mind at ease, here's my Arctic MX-4 in it's retail packaging. 3rd pic is made solely to compare the writing on the back side. Oh, the small MX-4 came with my Freezer i32 CPU cooler and since it was enough, i never opened the MX-4 i bought separately.
(click on spoiler to view)

Spoiler: Arctic MX-4

Front side

Back side

Close-up

It might just be very old stock.

If OP's MX-4 is very old stock, what mine would be? Ancient from another century? 😆

 

[vmarc41]

Doubtful. MX-4 isn't as popular as it could be, not compared to AS5 or Kryonaut. And it's cheap, so what it'd take to reproduce the packaging in labor and materials isn't going to pan out. Even fake-spot says it's doubtful.

Arctic went green in 2012, since then they've been seriously attempting to cut down on carbon footprint, so most packaging is recycled/recyclable materials. The latest package is on Amazon, no cardboard.

Ppl going to the trouble of copying for a fake, wouldn't typo, it raises too many questions/doubts in buyers minds.

Is it a fake? You'll not get a definitive answer unless you contact Arctic. They'll be able to match up serial numbers, bar codes etc. It might just be very old stock.

Hmm, yeah. I'm really not sure if MX-4 is actually cheap, since most computer stuff here are overpriced. I bought this 4gram one for around $5. Is that price "realistic"?

 

[vmarc41]

Mine

I also don't think it's counterfeit product. Most likely a typo error.

To set your mind at ease, here's my Arctic MX-4 in it's retail packaging. 3rd pic is made solely to compare the writing on the back side. Oh, the small MX-4 came with my Freezer i32 CPU cooler and since it was enough, i never opened the MX-4 i bought separately.
(click on spoiler to view)

Spoiler: Arctic MX-4

Front side

Back side

Close-up

If OP's MX-4 is very old stock, what mine would be? Ancient from another century? 😆

Yours has the specs at the bottom. Mine doesn't 🤔

https://imgur.com/a/GLQkhYk

View: https://imgur.com/a/GLQkhYk

 

[Aeacus]

I bought my Arctic MX-4 in October of 2016 and it seems that Arctic Cooling has since changed the layout and color theme of MX-4 retail package (e.g mine has white base color, yours has blue base color).

Oh, i payed €8.40 (€9.49) for my MX-4.

Some Google-Fu and:

Yours looks legit to me.

 

[geofelt]

I suspect a fake.
The spelling of cueing on your package differs from the spelling of Curing on the photo of aeacus.
Who is to know if a sleazy operator put generic paste in a tube and made up some good looking packaging?

It may not matter much, since the difference in performance of all thermal compounds is really not all that great.

 

[rubix_1011]

Arctic is an international brand, and it could very well be the result of a translation error on packaging. Either way, it doesn't hurt to contact them and have them validate. They have an office in the US (East Coast, I believe). They should be able to validate the lot ID on the packaging or may even see if you can send it to them to verify authenticity.

 

[vmarc41]

I suspect a fake.
The spelling of cueing on your package differs from the spelling of Curing on the photo of aeacus.
Who is to know if a sleazy operator put generic paste in a tube and made up some good looking packaging?

Makes sense. Packaging isn't the hardest to copy, and they might have just put in some generic paste that resembles MX-4.

Arctic is an international brand, and it could very well be the result of a translation error on packaging. Either way, it doesn't hurt to contact them and have them validate. They have an office in the US (East Coast, I believe). They should be able to validate the lot ID on the packaging or may even see if you can send it to them to verify authenticity.

I'm not from US so I can't send it. I've already sent some pictures though, hopefully they can help.

 

[rubix_1011]

If you have been able to contact them and sent the info, that should be enough for their needs unless they request you to send packaging.

Either way, can you keep us updated on what transpires?