Thermal Interface Material Comparison

[DaSickNinja]

THERMAL GREASE SHOOTOUT
The Competitors:

Masscool Shin-Etsu x23
Arctic Silver Ceramique
Frozen CPU Copper
Coolaboratory Liquid Pro
Zalman ZM-STG1
Arctic Silver 5
Intel Stock TIM

The Setup:
Processors:
Intel Xeon 3060 @ 2.4GHz Stock Settings
Intel Core E6600 @ 2.4GHz Stock Settings
Intel Core X6800 @ 2.93GHz Stock Settings

Motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6
Intel P965 + ICH8R
BIOS F9

RAM:
OCZ Gold Series DDR2 667 @ 4-4-4-12

Cooling:
Stock Intel Boxed LGA775 Heatsink/Fan

Ambient Room Temp:
70F - 72F

Ambient Humidity:
23%

The results?
[BREAK=TEST 1: Idle vs Load Tests]
TEST 1: Idle vs Load Tests
Intel Xeon 3060 @ 2.4GHz


Intel Core E6600 @ 2.4GHz


Intel Core X6800 @ 2.93GHz


[BREAK=TEST 2: Durability of Grease after 24Hr Prime95 with 5minute cool down]
TEST 2: Durability of Grease after 24Hr Prime95 with 5minute cool down
Intel Xeon 3060 @ 2.4GHz


Intel Core E6600 @ 2.4GHz


Intel Core X6800 @ 2.93GHz


[BREAK=TEST 3: Durability of Thermal Greases During 24Hr Prime95]
TEST 3: Durability of Thermal Greases During 24Hr Prime95
On Intel Core X6800 @ 2.93GHz
Intel Stock TIM


Arctic Silver 5


Zalman ZM-STG1


Coolaboratory Liquid Pro


Frozen CPU Copper


Arctic Silver Ceramique

[BREAK=Masscool Shin-Etsu x23 Results]
Masscool Shin-Etsu x23


Masscool Shin-Etsu x23
Intel Core E6600 @ 2.4GHz


Masscool Shin-Etsu x23
Intel Xeon 3060 @ 2.4GHz

[BREAK=All Results]
All thermal interface goops:
Intel X6800 @2.93GHz



Simulated Intel TIM Tests:


Special thanks goes to Mondoman, please read his full results here.
[BREAK=The Scores]
The Scores:
:trophy:1st place: Masscool Shin-Etsu x23 :trophy:
2nd place: AS Ceramique
3rd place: Frozen CPU copper
4th place: Coolab. Liquid Pro
5th place: Zalman ZM-STG1
6th place: AS 5
7th place: Intel Stock TIM
[BREAK=Conclusion]
There you have it. DaClan's most comprehensive review to date. The type of thermal grease you use does make quite the difference, even giving temperature differences of up to 5C at best. That's quite a drop. And as can be clearly seen, the Shin-Etsu x23 (which incidentally is hard as hell to find) beats the silver based TIM's like Arctic Silver 5, and is given proper competition by the other silicon goops. Add in the effect of a proper lap, and you could experience temps of up to 7C lower.
So you see, spend a little bit more in time and money when shopping for your next overclocking build, and you could just save valuable degrees.
[BREAK=Shin Etsu Locations]
Note: Shin-Etsu can now be found
Chillblast :: Thermal Paste :: Shin-Etsu X23-7783D
Shin Etsu X23-7783D Thermal Grease (1 gm syringe)
Shin-Etsu X23-7762 Thermal Compound 1 Gram: CrazyPC Computers
Water-Cooling Shop : Shin Etsu X23-7762 0.5g
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/...36&cat=0&page=

Now isn't that helpful? (^_^)
Drop us a line.
DaSickNinja
DaClan Chief Editor

Reviewers:
3lfk1ng
DaSickNinja
rwaritsdario
Honorary: Mondoman