All Discussions > Steam Forums > Hardware and Operating Systems > Topic Details
Spy Boy Sep 13, 2021 @ 12:40pm
Choosing thermal pad
Hey

I heard that thermal pads are superior than paste. But I am struggling with choosing one for my PC. My CPU is i5 8400. I tried to Google but couldn't find the answer...
The author of this topic has marked a post as the answer to their question.
Click here to jump to that post.
Originally posted by retro_Ed:
Originally posted by NordicSpirit26:
Originally posted by Autumn_:
There IS one thermal pad that is good, Thermal grizzly Carbonaut.
It's almost as good as paste (lower end), doesn't have a life expectancy, is reusable, and shouldn't be hard to apply (easy to break if you're not careful.)

But generally, I'd say stick with paste.
Carbonaut is a decent choice though.
Okay yes people talked about it exactly. But how to choose proper grizly for my cpu?
There are many sizes but yours is for Intel 115x series.

It is 32mm x 32mm

thermal-grizzly.com/en/products/299-carbonaut-en

I am using TG Carbonaut in a multiple systems.

For your current CPU there is no real life cooling performance differences.
Both thermal paste & TGC pad works at the same level.
< >
Showing 1-15 of 93 comments
r.linder Sep 13, 2021 @ 12:49pm 
Thermal pads are a terrible replacement for paste on the CPU. Don't waste your time and money.

Just use ARCTIC MX4, it's a fantastic cheap paste.
#1
Omega Sep 13, 2021 @ 12:52pm 
That is incorrect, paste is better than pads. Paste is more suited for fulling up the small imperfections of the heatsink and heatspreader. Paste is also significantly thinner than pads, thus the heat needs to travel through less material before reaching the actual heatsink.
#2
Prof. Insanity Sep 13, 2021 @ 2:05pm 
Never heard before that Thermal pads are superior. I heard liquid metal is better than paste, but I can't recommend it since it comes with other risks.
#3
Cathulhu Sep 13, 2021 @ 2:19pm 
Wow, where did you hear that male cow excrement?
Sure, pads are easy to use, but thermal wise, paste is better if applied correctly.
#4
Spy Boy Sep 13, 2021 @ 5:24pm 
Originally posted by Escorve:
Thermal pads are a terrible replacement for paste on the CPU. Don't waste your time and money.

Just use ARCTIC MX4, it's a fantastic cheap paste.
I don't know. People I know personally told that thermal pads are good :-0
#5
Spy Boy Sep 13, 2021 @ 5:24pm 
Originally posted by Cathulhu:
Wow, where did you hear that male cow excrement?
Sure, pads are easy to use, but thermal wise, paste is better if applied correctly.
Is it difficult to change thermal paste?
#6
Spy Boy Sep 13, 2021 @ 5:25pm 
Originally posted by Prof. Insanity:
Never heard before that Thermal pads are superior. I heard liquid metal is better than paste, but I can't recommend it since it comes with other risks.
I am not expert myself. Just saying what other people are saying
#7
Spy Boy Sep 13, 2021 @ 5:26pm 
Originally posted by Omega:
That is incorrect, paste is better than pads. Paste is more suited for fulling up the small imperfections of the heatsink and heatspreader. Paste is also significantly thinner than pads, thus the heat needs to travel through less material before reaching the actual heatsink.
I have cpu cooler from Be Quiet! And I don't use overclock. But I neve changed the paste since buying cooler. It was in 2019 maybe... I guess I need to do it asap.
#8
Carlsberg Sep 13, 2021 @ 5:50pm 
Originally posted by NordicSpirit26:
I have cpu cooler from Be Quiet! And I don't use overclock. But I neve changed the paste since buying cooler. It was in 2019 maybe... I guess I need to do it asap.

Don't need to replace that after only 2 years unless as said above your having temperature issues.
#9
r.linder Sep 13, 2021 @ 7:46pm 
Originally posted by NordicSpirit26:
Originally posted by Escorve:
Thermal pads are a terrible replacement for paste on the CPU. Don't waste your time and money.

Just use ARCTIC MX4, it's a fantastic cheap paste.
I don't know. People I know personally told that thermal pads are good :-0
It's not ideal for CPUs because paste is just there to fill in gaps and improve conductivity, you don't need much, and pads are thicker.

Arctic MX4 will last 5 years on the IHS and its easy to apply. A big dot on the center or a big X is fine, but for best results, manually spread a thin layer across the IHS
#10
Fake Sep 13, 2021 @ 8:34pm 
Originally posted by NordicSpirit26:
I don't know. People I know personally told that thermal pads are good :-0
Do these people work for the Verge by any chance?
#11
Spy Boy Sep 13, 2021 @ 8:57pm 
Originally posted by Fake:
Originally posted by NordicSpirit26:
I don't know. People I know personally told that thermal pads are good :-0
Do these people work for the Verge by any chance?
No, mut be not lool
#12
Autumn_ Sep 13, 2021 @ 9:04pm 
There IS one thermal pad that is good, Thermal grizzly Carbonaut.
It's almost as good as paste (lower end), doesn't have a life expectancy, is reusable, and shouldn't be hard to apply (easy to break if you're not careful.)

But generally, I'd say stick with paste.
Carbonaut is a decent choice though.
#13
invision2212 Sep 13, 2021 @ 9:18pm 
removing thermal paste is rather easy. all you need is ISO alcohol thats better than 80%, a paper towel, and a smalll plastic scraper or tooth pick.

take off the cooler (look on youtube) now wet small sections of the paper towel with the alcohol and rub a bit off the paste off while constantly changing the part of the paper towel you are using so it doesnt smear and just repeat until its removed.

any hard residue spots that the alcohol didnt clean up can be removed with the plastic scraper or tooth pick.

look up on youtube how to apply thermal paste....i prefer the X method.

then you screw back on your CPU cooler.
#14
Soulreaver Sep 13, 2021 @ 9:37pm 
Like others already said. Thermal paste is super easy to use.

But tbh
you don't even need alcohol to get the old thermal paste off. Yes it is better. But if you don't have alcohol around it's no big deal. Just use paper tissues or toilet paper and clean it.

And the amount of thermal paste you need to apply is also very very forgiving. Big amounts and small amounts are pretty much equal in heat transfer performance. So watch a video to get an indication on how much you should apply and then just do it. If you are unsure do a bit more. It's okay.
#15
< >
Showing 1-15 of 93 comments
Per page: 1530 50

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Hardware and Operating Systems > Topic Details
Date Posted: Sep 13, 2021 @ 12:40pm
Posts: 95
Start a New Discussion

Discussions Rules and Guidelines