Thermal Paste

[mastrom101]

I need thermal paste for my i5-2500k. I will not be overclocking as it is meant to be a family computer and last atleast 5 years. However, i am running the computer in performance mode in the UEFI BIOS, which will increase temperatures. I am using the stock cooler.

I have never applied thermal paste yet, so i will need several tries i think to get the CPU Fan in properly.

These are the two pastes i am looking at:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=16826&CatId=503

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=480215&CatId=503

The second is cheaper, and can be used four times. I was leaning towards this, but i really don't know much about paste.

Any advice? Will the latter be noticeably worse than the first, and will this make a difference?

Finally, the reason im getting thermal paste is because i had to reapply my CPU fan. This was after weeks of use. However, if i make a mistake in installing the CPU fan, and i remove it within a minute or so, will i still need to reapply thermal paste?

If you know of any guides on how to apply the paste, feel free to link them, that would help me a lot.

Thanks!

 

[SSri]

Neither. Arctic Silver 5

 

[mastrom101]

Neither. Arctic Silver 5

Must be from tigerdirect.ca, unless there is something extra special about the paste that will make me want to drive to a store, or paying shipping at newegg

What makes it so good?

 

[SSri]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Thermal-Compound-Roundup-September-2011/1377/5

 

[geekapproved]

I always recommend TX-3, but I can't find it anymore.

Try TX-2, I never recommend AS5 cause it takes so long to cure.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003

According to that chart, this is as good as TX-3.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835242020

 

[amuffin]

Mayo.

 

[mastrom101]

list of countless brands plus some household items and there actual (or made up) difference

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Thermal-Compound-Roundup-February-2012/1490/5

you can actually use zinc? like the white paste stuff?

@amuffin Troll?

 

[InvalidError]

you can actually use zinc? like the white paste stuff?

Zinc oxide powder suspended in silicone-based grease to form a paste does exist. I have a tube of the stuff from GC Chemical and it works reasonably well.

Graphite paste (might be sold in car shops as high-temperature "anti-squeal" grease for brake shoes) should work fairly well. That stuff is electrically conductive though, so beware of spills.

 

[amuffin]

you can actually use zinc? like the white paste stuff?

@amuffin Troll?

Actually, I'm surprised at how good mayo performs

 

[dudewitbow]

Vegemite and toothpaste is a good heat conductor(albeit you will have to constantly replace it)

 

[InvalidError]

Actually, I'm surprised at how good mayo performs

I was expecting chocolate to fare better than nothing... they should lick it up and re-set to make sure they applied it properly!