Thermal Compounds. What's the difference?

[moghlie]

Anyone have a recommendation for a thermal paste?

What is considered to be better: silicon or other types?

 

[jeremy806]

Well, the top of the line seems to be this stuff called Arctic Silver. If you just want something cheap, Radio Shack sells some stuff.

jeremy806

 

[Jank]

Radio Shack's thermal paste is silicone based - white in color and works just fine.

 

[bacillus]

the only problem with the radio shack stuff is it tends to dry up with the passage of time, especially with hot cpus like the thunderbird!
the arctic silver has a better thermal conductivity than the RS stuff but doesn't dry up & is fairly pricey!

 

[SDTom]

A non silicone based product would be preferred.
I use a product from Tech Spray, 1978-DP, that works very well.
It will not dry up or harden and has a operating temp of -40c to 200c

Tom

 

[bernse]

I use Dow 340. Works like a champ here, and its "relatively" cheap. A small toothpaste size tube can be had for around $20-30. That should last you literally forever.

 

[PG]

What do you guys think of this stuff. I just bought some because it's cheap and I was also buying a case from them.

 

[cmaMath13]

PG, Thanks for link and info! Very nice price, too.

 

[jamarno]

The best compounds conduct heat over twice as well as the others, but rarely do you need anything special unless you're overclocking because the layer of compound is so thin, meaning it doesn't offer much resistance to heat flow anyway.

Silicone grease or oil has commonly been used because it's inert to almost everything, but the only reason for the newer non-silicone compounds is to avoid contamination of circuit board cleaning equipment, something of no concern unless you're manufacturing boards.

About the only compounds I'd avoid would be the runny ones, like Dow DC4.