I have two tubes of heat sink compound one is Metal Oxide and white color the other has Silver & Copper included and is a copper color. The according to the label the thermal characteristics appear to be the same so is there any difference, advantage / disadvantage in the two types or just a personal preference.

I plan to give the inside of my computer a good clean out in the near future including removing the CPU heatsink for cleaning. Which of the thermal compounds should I use when replacing the heatsink?

What about thermal pads? Are they better than compound? The compound does tend to dry out and loose it’s efficiency, do the pads last longer?

Thanks

Since the metal oxide you are referring to is essentially the same as the 'Silver & Copper' you have described except only looking at the label (or MSDS) will tell you which metals each has in the ingredient. Thermal pads suck when compared to Thermal Grease for heat transfer but are easy to use (less mess) and will also provide electrical insulation.

What about thermal pads? Are they better than compound? The compound does tend to dry out and loose it’s efficiency, do the pads last longer?

Thermal pads have higher thermal resistance then compound and as such not as effective but easy to mount. The compound should last a few years before drying out. We replace the compound when a computer comes in for repair and testing as a matter of course. The best compound is Arctic Silver and has excellent thermal transfer properties. It is expensive though at around 300-350 Baht for a tube, though that would last most people a very long time.

The thermal compound we use at the lab for both CPUs and for our power devices (transistors, mosfets, etc) is white and a generic brand (Nipro) and works fine for our purposes. We use quite a bit due to all the power systems I design and build.

Also, use the thermal compound sparingly. More is not better in this case. A bead about the size of a grain of rice and spread with a plastic spreader (credit card works) or plastic gloves. Clean the surfaces thoroughly with alcohol and do not touch with your fingers. The oil can cause hot spots and make the thermal grease less effective.

I would always suggest the Arctic Silver brand. Seem to provide the best results.

For what it costs for the occasional application I use Arctic Silver 5, reviews say it makes -5'c difference, I have found even better.

I would always suggest the Arctic Silver brand. Seem to provide the best results.

I agree about arctic silver but would say the following.

I have buit dozens of systems and in every case the difference in temp given by soft compounds has been minimal.

The answer to heat is to get the best cooler you can and regard the grease as simply a small addition to ensure proper seating and conductivity.

If you do decide to use a thermal pad (often referred to as a silipad) then try exploring some of the fine products offered by Bergquist.

Thanks all for input.

The tubes I have are "Star" cheapies from Phantip.

I'm due for a visit to BKK next month so will have a look for the "Arctic" brand

Thanks

I'm due for a visit to BKK next month so will have a look for the "Arctic" brand

Thanks

Jedicool carries it.