Which Thermal Compound is better ?

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

I like IC Diamond, but boy does it smell horrible when you try to clean it off after the better part of a year

 

[Idontcare]

I actually use ceramique on all my stuff, and it does great.

Original or "2"?

I ask because I use to use the original ceramique for years when I was vapor-phase cooling. Ceramique was one of the few TIMs that would actually keep its thermal conductivity properties when cooled to -40C. TIMs like AS5 become heat barriers at those temps.

But I've never used the "2", have a huge 25g tube of it here but never had cause to put it on anything yet. Is it better than the original in a way that would make me sit up and take note? (NT-H1 over AS5 really made me sit up when I tried NT-H1)

 

[BeauCharles]

Almost any brand properly applied is going to be effective. All these claims of massive improvement from one to another is most likely the variable of seating it correctly or not. Note I did not say there is no difference in brands, its just not enough to worry about.

 

[jaqie]

Original or "2"? . . . . Is it better than the original in a way that would make me sit up and take note? (NT-H1 over AS5 really made me sit up when I tried NT-H1)

It seems marginally better. less grainy and more like fluid-cream in consistency. I have not noticed much temperature improvement over the original ceramique, but application is somewhat easier because of the new 'texture/feel' to it.

 

[jaqie]

Almost any brand properly applied is going to be effective. All these claims of massive improvement from one to another is most likely the variable of seating it correctly or not. Note I did not say there is no difference in brands, its just not enough to worry about.

This is exactly why I use the el cheapo from hong kong $1 shipped a big tube silicon grease compound on less important (to me) parts, and why I use ceramique on the parts I value more. Their secondary properties are what is important to me - for example not caking up, not being conductive if any gets onto circuits, easy to apply, price, et cetra.

 

[MrX8503]

Almost any brand properly applied is going to be effective. All these claims of massive improvement from one to another is most likely the variable of seating it correctly or not. Note I did not say there is no difference in brands, its just not enough to worry about.

It's not a huge difference, but there is a difference according to the tests.

In saying that, if I buy a quality heat sink, I just use the pre applied TIM that came with it.