Thermal Paste Testing
Gauntlet of TIMs
Objective
The objective of this thermal paste evaluation was to assess and compare the performance of eight different thermal pastes under controlled testing conditions. The primary focus was to analyze their thermal conductivity, heat dissipation capabilities, and overall effectiveness in final performance available via thermal headroom. By conducting a series of systematic tests, we aimed to provide valuable insights and data-driven recommendations to aid in the selection of the most suitable thermal paste for improving the thermal performance for overall peak performance. This report outlines the testing methodology, presents the detailed results, and draws conclusive observations to assist enthusiasts, and system builders in making informed decisions when choosing thermal pastes for their specific applications.
Thermal Pastes
The following thermal pastes were selected to be tested:
- Arctic MX5
- Cooler Master Cryofuze Violet (Special thanks to Cooler Master India for providing the Cooler Master Cryofuze Violet sample for the testing done)
- Cooler Master Cryofuze
- Atomdots C14 Sub-Zero Overclocking
- Cooler Master Mastergel Pro
- Cooler Master Mastergel Maker
- PTM7950 (Phase Changing Thermal Interface Material)
- Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme
Testing Setup
Hardware
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (with per-core PBO curve, +200 MHz boost override)
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix X570-E v1
- CPU Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 AIO
- RAM: G.Skill Trident Z Neo 128 GB (4 x 32 GB) 3600 MT/s CL18 (Overclocked to 3600 MT/s CL16)
- SSD (Boot): Crucial MX500 1TB 2.5”
- Case: Phanteks Metallicgear Neoqube v1 (modified with replacing front panels with mesh filters to provide direct fresh air to AIO.
Software
- Clean Windows 10 on latest updates and patches (no OEM softwares (except ASUS fan control which is separate from Armory Crate), no gaming launchers, no 3rd party AVs)
- Cinebench R23
- prime95
- hwinfo for logging
We tried to keep the testing free of any unnecessary variables, including but not limited to ambient temperature, background tasks, CPU and Memory OCs. The testing was carried out under the room temperature of 20°C. The internet was disconnected from the machine to avoid any type of background interferences. A thermal probe was also installed inside the case to track case’s internal temperatures which can help to avoid variance occurred due to internal and external testing changes.
Methodology
For testing, following parameters were logged for a) 10-min idle after Windows login b) 10-min loop run of Cinebench R23 c) 30-min run of prime95’s Small FFTs tests:
- CPU Temperature (Tctl/Tdie) ▲
- CPU Package Power (in Watts)
- CPU Frequency (in MHz)
ALL TEMPERATURES IN THE REPORT WILL BE DIFFERENCE (▲) B/W THE TEST TEMPERATURE AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (20°C)
Cinebench R23
The following data points were logged for Cinebench R23 results:
- Score on first run (best run, from cooler idle temps)
- Score on last run
- Average CPU Temperatures ▲ throughout the test
- Peak CPU temperature ▲ throughout the test
- Peak CPU Package Power
- Average CPU Multicore boost frequency behavior
Prime95 Small FFTs
The following data points were logged for Prime95’s small FFTs test:
- Avg. Temperature ▲ throughout the test
- Peak CPU temperature ▲ throughout the test
Arctic MX5
Price: N/A
Qty.: 0.8g
Idle 10 minutes
- Average Temperatures ▲ : 23.2
Cinebench R23
- Score on First Run : 29101
- Score on Last Run : 28182
- Avg. CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 66.14
- Peak CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 68.30
- Peak CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 237.60
- Average CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 4389
- Number of passes completed : 22
Prime95 Small FFTs
- Peak CPU temperature ▲ : 64.00
- Avg. CPU temperature ▲ : 61.32
- Avg CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 3963
- Avg. CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 211.60
Cooler Master Cryofuze Violet
Price: INR 340 (as seen on Amazon)
Qty.: 2g
Idle 10 minutes
- Average Temperatures ▲ : 20.28
Cinebench R23
- Score on First Run : 29503
- Score on Last Run : 28995
- Avg. CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 63.07
- Peak CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 65.10
- Peak CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 238.5
- Average CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 4412
- The CCD0 throttled at 16th pass (86.5° C) and the same CCD peaked at 88.30°
- Number of passes completed : 22
Prime95 Small FFTs
- Peak CPU temperature ▲ : 60.50
- Avg. CPU temperature ▲ : 58.75
- Avg CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 3989
- Avg. CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 210.6
Cooler Master Cryofuze
Price: INR 566 (as seen on Amazon)
Qty.: 2g
Idle 10 minutes
- Average Temperatures ▲ : 17.84
Cinebench R23
- Score on First Run : 29477
- Score on Last Run : 29243
- Avg. CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 61.19
- Peak CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 63.30
- Peak CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 239.6
- Average CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 4421
- Number of passes completed : 23
Prime95 Small FFTs
- Peak CPU temperature ▲ : 59.40
- Avg. CPU temperature ▲ : 57.16
- Avg CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 4016
- Avg. CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 212.2
Atomdots C14 Sub-zero Overclocking Kit
Price: INR 538 (as seen on Amazon)
Qty.: 4g
Idle 10 minutes
- Average Temperatures ▲ : 18.26
Cinebench R23
- Score on First Run : 29545
- Score on Last Run : 29235
- Avg. CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 62.29
- Peak CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 64.30
- Peak CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 239.3
- Average CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 4413
- CCD0 throttled at pass 14 (85.3° C) and later peaked to 87.0° C at pass 21
- Number of passes completed : 23
Prime95 Small FFTs
- Peak CPU temperature ▲ : 60.30
- Avg. CPU temperature ▲ : 57.61
- Avg CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 3990
- Avg. CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 210.2
Cooler Master Mastergel Pro
Price: INR 599 (as seen on Amazon)
Qty.: 4g
Idle 10 minutes
- Average Temperatures ▲ : 17.49
Cinebench R23
- Score on First Run : 29442
- Score on Last Run : 29243
- Avg. CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 60.68
- Peak CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 62.4
- Peak CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 239.8
- Average CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 4416
- Number of passes completed : 23
Prime95 Small FFTs
- Peak CPU temperature ▲ : 59.00
- Avg. CPU temperature ▲ : 56.79
- Avg CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 3980
- Avg. CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 210.50
Cooler Master Mastergel Maker
Price: INR 750 (as seen on EliteHubs)
Qty.: 4g
Idle 10 minutes
- Average Temperatures ▲ : 16.58
Cinebench R23
- Score on First Run : 29722
- Score on Last Run : 29181
- Avg. CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 63.18
- Peak CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 64.60
- Peak CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 239.8
- Average CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 4399
- Number of passes completed : 23
- CCD0 throttled at Pass 8 (85.50° C) and later peaked to 87.8° C
Prime95 Small FFTs
- Peak CPU temperature ▲ : 59.40
- Avg. CPU temperature ▲ : 56.71
- Avg CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 3990
- Avg. CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 211.60
PTM7950 (Phase Changing Thermal Interface Material)
Price: INR 1700 (as seen on EBuy7 (Imported))
Size: 80mm x 80mm
Idle 10 minutes
- Average Temperatures ▲ : 18.46
Cinebench R23
- Score on First Run : 29251
- Score on Last Run : 28998
- Avg. CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 66.80
- Peak CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 68
- Peak CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 237.5
- Average CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 4371
- Number of passes completed : 22
- CCD0 throttled and later peaked to 90.3° C
Prime95 Small FFTs
- Peak CPU temperature ▲ : 61.40
- Avg. CPU temperature ▲ : 59.07
- Avg CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 3964
- Avg. CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 210.20
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme
Price: INR 1700 (as seen on MDComputers)
Qty.: 2g
Idle 10 minutes
- Average Temperatures ▲ : 17.48
Cinebench R23
- Score on First Run : 29606
- Score on Last Run : 29237
- Avg. CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 59.70
- Peak CPU (Tctl/Tdie) ▲ : 61.60
- Peak CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 240.30
- Average CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 4425
- Number of passes completed : 23
- CCD0 throttled at pass 16th (85.8° C)
Prime95 Small FFTs
- Peak CPU temperature ▲ : 58.30
- Avg. CPU temperature ▲ : 55.48
- Avg CPU Multicore Frequency (in MHz) : 3999
- Avg. CPU Package Power (in Watts) : 211.70
Conclusion
- Best performing thermal interface material : Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme
- Runner up performer : Cooler Master Mastergel Pro
- Best value for money : Cooler Master Cryofuze and Atomdots C14
Mayank Malik
ISC2 CC | CRTP | Incident Response | Synack Red Team Member | Threat and Malware Analyst | Security Researcher
I am a tech-savvy person, Red Team Enthusiast, and like to wander around to learn new stuff. Malware Analysis, Cryptography, Networking, and System Administration are some of my forte. One of the Founding Members of CTF Team, Abs0lut3Pwn4g3. Apart from the mentioned skills, I’m good at communication skills and am a goal-driven person. Yellow belt holder at pwn.college in pursuit of learning and achieving Blue Belt.
