The 5 Best Thermal Pastes
Although its importance often goes underappreciated, thermal paste is an absolutely essential part of a computer. Without it, you could fry your CPU within minutes or even seconds. A properly-applied, quality thermal paste dissipates thermal energy by connecting the processor to the heat sink and eliminating heat-trapping air bubbles. This unassuming little compound protects our computers from catastrophic failure, so its important to buy the right one. That's why we've done the work for you and found the best of the best. Here, we've narrowed down the list to five of our favorites, with options ranging from the inexpensive to the super-conductive.
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Thermal Grease
Thermal Grizzly keepin' it cool
While there are many great contenders out there, the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Thermal Grease takes the crown for its extreme conductivity and longevity. It’s a favorite among the overclocking community, so that should give you an idea of its power. The thermal conductivity of this compound is 12.5 W/mK, which is almost double what standard pastes offer. Although the tube contains only one gram of grease, you’ll get three or four applications out of it. You might not even have to apply it more than once, as the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut lasts several years. Even better, there’s no drying process, so once it’s been applied, your computer is good to go. Whether you’re an extreme gamer itching to overclock your machine or you’re just looking to improve the performance of your CPU, this thermal paste from Thermal Grizzly is your best bet for keeping it cool.
Pros
- Easy to spread
- Includes applicator spatula
- Extreme thermal conductivity
Cons
- Small amount per tube
ARCTIC MX-4 Thermal Compound Paste
Like the North Pole in a tube
Winning extra points for being easy to use, the Arctic MX-4 is one of the best thermal pastes on the market today. The consistency is easy to spread and satisfying smooth. Plus, the formula is free of metals, so you don’t need to worry about accidental contact with electrical pins. Even if you’re already familiar with the application of thermal pastes, the MX-4 is still a great choice. With a thermal conductivity of 8.5 W/mK, it can handle the heat output of most processors. The best part of all? The paste is composed of carbon micro-particles instead of traditional metals, so it won’t degrade with time. In fact, its rated to last up to eight years, so it might just be the last thermal paste you’ll ever have to buy.
Pros
- 4 grams of paste
- Eco-friendly packaging
Cons
- Not ideal for frequent overclocking
Thermalright Silver King Liquid Metal Thermal Paste
You had us at 'liquid metal'
If Thermalright’s Silver King Liquid Metal Thermal Paste were a real king, it would probably be laughing at the lowly thermal conductivity ratings of its competitors. This thermal paste sports a whopping 79 W/mK of thermal conductivity. Unless you’re a physicist or engineer, that number probably doesn’t mean a lot to you. To put it into perspective, the Silver King Thermal Paste is five times more thermally conductive than the next most conductive paste on our list. With such efficient heat dissipation, you’ll notice an immediate boost in the performance of your CPU. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility and the Silver King is no exception. Because this paste contains an electrically conductive metal, we only recommend this paste to experienced users that have done their research.
Pros
- Long shelf life
- Includes cleaning kit
- Non-toxic
Cons
- Hard to spread
- Can’t be used with aluminum heatsinks
Easycargo Thermal Paste Kit
Easycargo is easy on the wallet
Sometimes, basic is better. Although it may not be the fanciest option on our list, this thermal paste from Easycargo will do its job and save you a couple bucks along the way. Due to its low price, it’s a popular choice for refurbishing gaming consoles and computers. The paste spreads easily and the kit includes a nifty spatula for an even application. The 6.5 W/mK thermal conductivity rating is good enough for most rigs, though overclocking your gaming computer isn’t recommended. That being said, the one gram of paste is enough for several applications. Little more than the cost of a cheeseburger, it’s a great price for your basic thermal paste.
Pros
- Great value
- Non-toxic and safe
Cons
- Poor quality cap
- Only one ounce of paste
HY-880-10pcs Thermal Compound for All Coolers, 10 grams
When ten is better than one
Though it lacks a catchy product name, this thermal paste compensates for its shortcomings with high quality and ample quantity. Maybe you’ve got multiple CPUs that need pasting, or maybe you just want to stock up. Whatever the reason, this is a great option for those that need a lot of grease. Even better, each gram of paste comes in its own syringe, so you can start fresh each time you’re ready to apply. Depending on the size of your processor, you can get anywhere from 10 to 40 applications of quality thermal paste. There are other bulk-buy options out there, but with a relatively high thermal conductivity of 5.15 W/mK, this 10-pack gives you the most bang for your buck.
Pros
- Responsive customer service
- Accessory kit included
Cons
- Not recommended for overclocking
Frequently Asked Questions
What is overclocking and what does it have to do with thermal paste?
Overclocking is like breaking your computer processor’s speed limit. Computer manufacturers set a limit to the number of operations that a CPU can perform per second. This is called the clock rate and it’s intended to prevent overheating. Users looking for a faster performance can override the manufacturer’s clock rate and set a new, higher clock rate. This is called overclocking and is a common practice among the PC gaming community. An overclocked processor can get really fast and really hot.
Because they are composed of semiconductors, processors lose efficiency as the temperature rises. When processors are tasked with a lot of operations, they begin to heat up. This is where thermal paste comes into play. A hot processor is an inefficient one, so every computer has a cooling system to keep their CPU in balance. Thermal pastes form a medium through which the heat energy emanating from the processor can escape. Heat is drawn through the thermal paste and passes to the heat sink, where it can then be fanned into the air and away from the computer.
What is thermal conductivity?
Thermal conductivity is a measurement of a material’s ability to conduct heat energy. In the same way that copper is a good electrical conductor because it attracts electricity, a good thermal conductor will attract heat energy. Measured in watts per meter-kelvin, or W/mK, the thermal conductivity of a thermal paste tells you how effective it is in drawing heat from the processor. Most stock pastes that come already-applied are around 5 W/mK. When shopping for thermal pastes, it doesn’t hurt to play it safe and get a compound with a high thermal conductivity.
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