Best thermal pastes on the 2020 market? 【Complete guide】

We have chosen the best thermal pastes so that you can properly care for your processor. Do you want to know them? Find them inside.

Thermal paste is not a component, nor is it a peripheral, but it is a very important element in the installation, as in the correct maintenance of a computer. It is necessary to take special care when buying a product of this type because it may not meet the minimum quality, as it happens with many Chinese thermal pastes or at very low cost.

Below, we give you all the information about thermal pastes. Let's get started!

Index of contents

What are thermal pastes and how do they work?

It is a kind of putty that is placed on top of the processor and under the heatsink to conduct heat from the first to the second. Finally, the heatsink will pull that heat out through its fans, at which point the importance of good ventilation inside the case comes into play.

The thermal paste is usually presented in the form of a syringe and has a dense and liquid appearance in equal parts. Normally, it is a white paste or a similar color, such as very light blue or light gray.

It is important that no air passes between our heatsink and the CPU, so the thermal paste can act as a thermal insulator. So fix the heatsink securely so that no air passes between it and the processor. In addition, thermal paste can also be applied in the graphics processor.

In conclusion, it is a paste whose function is to transport the heat from the processor to the heatsink so that it expels it out. It has everything to do with putting two pieces of metal together: the heat is transferred.

Types of thermal pastes

There are different types of thermal paste that are classified by their compounds, be it silicone, graphite, carbon, liquid metal or ceramic.

Ceramic paste

As for the ceramic ceramic thermal paste, it is one of the easiest to apply and most economical. They have a color similar to white and usually mix silicone with ceramic powder. We could say that it is the most basic of all and can be a good thermal conductor in processors that are not 100% squeezed.

It is common to find them on the chip of the graphics card

Metallic thermal paste

As with the previous one, it is the result of a silicone compound and, in this case, metal. This type of pasta meets higher demands, since it conducts heat much better. On the other hand, its price increases, because it is a less common thermal paste and with better performance.

Its application in the processor may be different than ceramics. Therefore, we always recommend looking at the manufacturer's instructions.

You have to apply carefully, being conductive, if we spill more than we should and it sticks between various components, it can make a mess…

Thermal paste finished in carbon

Finally, we find a thermal paste finished in carbon, which is very common. We can say that they resemble ceramic pastes, but with the difference that carbon finishes last much longer. Its only advantage over the others is its long duration.

Heating pad

It is not a thermal paste, but it has the same function. It has been shown to have a performance very similar to metallic thermal pastes. Simply, it is a pad that is placed between the processor and heatsink, and can be made of many materials, but we always find graphite or silicone.

In fact, they can be reused in other processors without problem. At first, this technology was not worth to compete with thermal pastes, but now they work completely the same.

Why switch to a pad? Because its installation is the simplest of all, putting a pad and forgetting the rest. On the other hand, its price is somewhat more expensive than a normal thermal paste.

How to apply the thermal paste?

There are many guides on the internet that end up confusing the user, but we are going to get to the point and explain it in a simple way. First of all, calm and patience. Don't be nervous with the syringe in your hand!

Please note that thermal pastes usually come with a syringe- shaped applicator and some with a kind of shovel to spread the paste throughout the processor.

The general rule is: do not apply too much or too little, but just. If we apply too much, or we fall short, we will damage the processor as well. So the size that we will take as a reference is that of a lentil or pea. Read the manufacturer's instructions to be safe.

Before putting the paste, make sure that the processor is cold and that it has been off for a while. With everything ready, we will proceed to put thermal paste on top of the center of the processor until we have a "pea". When you have reached this size, stop pushing the syringe or applicator because we will not need more.

Now, we will mount the heatsink on top and that "pea" will spread throughout the processor. The process would have ended. Note that there are no bubbles or strange things in the processor because then it will not be well applied.

We recommend reading how to apply the thermal paste

However, metallic thermal pastes have some peculiarity. The "pea method" is not usually followed, but a thin layer is applied to the processor. Although, we repeat: follow the manufacturer's instructions to know how to apply the thermal paste.

Can we find different results between thermal pastes?

Yes, there are ceramic thermal pastes that work worse, like others that work better. Just because we are buying a ceramic, carbon or metallic paste does not mean that there are no better ones.

There are ceramic thermal pastes that you can buy in China for € 1 or € 2 and that are ideal to destroy your processor. Therefore, we recommend that you go to trusted brands or models that are better known. The difference between them is very few euros, a thermal paste can cost you from € 5 to € 10-20 at home. It all depends on your needs.

You may apply the Artic MX-4, try the Cooler Master Mastergel and do better, getting the heat to dissipate better.

How do we know that pasta works?

Thanks to temperature monitoring. As our recommendation, download the HWmonitor program to control the temperatures of all the components of your computer. On the other hand, it would be nice to be able to manage the speed of the heatsink fan, in case the temperature increases.

We will know that the thermal paste is working when the processor temperatures are low and stable. This varies depending on the processor, but typically between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius in IDLE (idle) with a normal air sink.

When should you change the thermal pastes?

In the event that you have followed our recommendation, you will have monitored the temperatures and you will have noticed that these are very high. If we see that the processor is at 45 or 50 degrees Celsius in IDLE and it is cold, we must change it.

That said, we can experience another scenario: in IDLE it remains stable, but playing or working it shoots at temperatures of 80 or 90 degrees Celsius. Rest assured that, if that happens, you will experience irregularities in the performance of the game, such as sudden FPS drop, etc. In short, when we demand the processor it will not respond well.

How are thermal pastes changed?

The first thing is to turn off the computer and let it cool for an hour or an hour and a half. After doing this, we will have to perform the following steps:

• Open the normally left side cover of the computer. Disconnect the components of the motherboard because we are going to unscrew it and take it out of the PC to work better. Disconnect the heatsink and unscrew (if necessary). Be careful with this step because it is somewhat delicate, due to many heatsinks that have a somewhat complicated design. Take a piece of toilet paper and put alcohol on it, since we will use it to clean the previous thermal paste. After cleaning, we have to apply it as we have said before.Reassemble the heatsink on top and start mounting the motherboard in the box, etc. Be careful with this step because we should not move the processor too much so as not to spill the pasta.

As a tip, if you are going to change the heatsink or remove it to clean it, change the thermal paste to the processor. It does not cost you anything and it is a nuisance that you save in the future.

Best thermal pastes

Noctua NT-H2

Noctua NT-H2 3.5g, Thermal Paste incl. 3 Wipes (3.5 g)

• Superior quality thermal compound for optimal heat transfer between CPU or GPU and heatsink; Noctua's award-winning second generation NT-H1 Easy to apply (no need to extend prior to sink installation) and easy to clean with included NA-CW1 wipes Thermal, non-conductive wipes, corrosion resistant: no There is a risk of short circuits and its use is safe in all types of heatsinks. The excellent quality of Noctua combined with excellent long-term stability: up to 3 years of recommended shelf life, up to 5 years of recommended use time on the CPUPack of 3.5g for 3-20 applications (depending on CPU size, eg 3 applications for TR4, 20 for LGA1151); Includes 3 NA-CW1 cleaning wipes

12, 90 EUR Buy on Amazon

Without a doubt, the Noctua NT-H2 is one of the best thermal pastes that we can find on the market. It comes in a syringe format with 3 wipes to clean the above thermal paste. Its compound is focused for high performance, making it a thermal paste that does not conduct electricity, resists corrosion and can serve us for at least 5 years.

This same model can be found in a 10 gram format. It is one of the thermal pastes that best conduct heat, which means that our processor notices it and lowers the temperature. In the 3.5 gram format, we can carry out between 3 or 20 applications.

Its price ranges from € 12.

Arctic MX-4

Arctic MX-4 Carbon Microparticle Thermal Compound, Thermal Paste for Any CPU Fan - 4 Grams (with Tool)

• The 2019 Edition MX-4 convinces everyone with its usual and recognized quality and performance that has always distinguished it. BETTER THAN LIQUID METAL: Composed of carbon microparticles for extremely high thermal conductivity ensures dissipation of heat generated by the CPU or THERMAL COMPUTER.: The MX-4 Edition 2019 formula ensures exceptional component heat dissipation and maintains the stability necessary to push your system to its limits SAFE APPLICATION: The 2019 MX-4 Edition is metal-free and electrically non-conductive eliminating the risk of short circuits and adding protection to CPU and VGA cardsHIGH SUSTAINABILITY: Unlike the metal and silicone thermal compounds the MX-4 Edition 2019 does not compromise time: last at least 8 years

9, 99 EUR Buy on Amazon

It is a carbon based thermal paste and it is one of the best sellers. Its value for money is really good and it serves both for performance and for a PC without demands. Being finished in carbon, it gives it a durability that others do not have.

It comes with the usual applicator, but includes a shovel to improve the application on the CPU. Artic assures that it can last us up to 8 years, something that seems excessive, but that can be real for an office computer.

It has a price that does not reach € 10, standing at 7 or 8 euros normally.

Cooler Master MasterGel Maker Nano Diamond Particles

Cooler Master MasterGel Maker - Heat Paste 'Ultra High Performance, Nano Diamond Particles, 4ml' MGZ-NDSG-N15M-R1

• Improves heat transfer from the base chipset or cooler heat pipes Alcohol based cleaner and scraper 4 ml volume 11 W / mK thermal conductivity Helps prevent short circuits and provides protection and performance for long term use

11.99 EUR Buy on Amazon

The famous brand of heatsinks and boxes also has its own thermal paste and is not bad at all. MasterGel is a paste that has a really good thermal conductivity (11 W / m · K) and is focused on high demands. It uses a composite of nano diamond particles and we find it in a 4g format.

In addition to coming with an applicator, we will also have a wipe with which we can properly clean the previous paste. It is perfect if you are going to stress the processor.

It has a really competitive price that is usually around € 6.

Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut

MoneyQiu Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut 12.5W / m · K 1g Thermal Paste / Thermal Paste / Thermal Paste; Thermal Grease Thermal Paste 'High thermal conductivity, Electrically non-conductive

• The accessories, finger cover and cleaning wipe and cleaning cloth are not inside the Thermal Grizzly original packaging, the accessories are free from our company for better usage experience for all customers. Don't rely on someone else's rumor or slander for genuine edition of our product due to our additional free accessories.Extreme Thermal Conductivity 12.5 W / mk; water-cooled Designed with extremely demanding applications Popular choice for overclockers and gamersGreat performance; Composed of carbon microparticles, it achieves great thermal conductivity; Ensures cpu or gpu heat dissipates quickly and efficiently, even in overclocking Safe application; As it does not contain metallic particles, electrical conductivity is not a problem; guarantees that contact with any electrical part does not cause damage Warranty and service: Our products are covered by the warranty. If you have questions, please contact us in time. We will reply to your questions promptly within 12 hours

Buy on Amazon

This brand may not be known by many, but do not worry because it is one of the best thermal pastes we can find. Its compound is carbon and of high quality, without having to pay a high price for it. It is true that it costs more than a normal ceramic paste, but we get surprising temperatures.

It is one of the thermal pastes that have the best conductivity, making them drop by up to 3 degrees less than a standard ceramic paste. Its disadvantage is the amount we perceive, which is 1 gram. With the purchase of a Kryonaut, we have an applicator pad and wipes to clean the processor.

Its price does not reach € 10.

Innovation Cooling LLC IC - Pad 40 x 40

Innovation Cooling LLC IC - Graphite Thermal Pad 40 X 40

• Outstanding durability and stability. Top level thermal performance: 35 W / mk. Wide temperature range: Operating range: -200 C to +400 C. Solid modular state: 100% pure graphite does not contain liquids so it is not can be dried, pumped or baked as a heat paste. Reusable: The pad can be reused multiple times without loss of performance.

11, 55 EUR Buy on Amazon

Finally, we do not show you a thermal paste, but we do show this pad that is giving a lot to talk about. It is made of graphite and comes in two sizes: 30 x 30 and 40 x 40. Its thermal conductivity is really high and it is capable of operating between -200 and +400 degrees. Furthermore, it is reusable.

We mention it because we save the wipes and the applicators: remove heatsink, put on and go. Being resistant to these temperatures, it will not dry or melt. The 30 x 30 one has a price of around € 8; that of 40 x 40 is around € 12.

Now you can say that you know what a thermal paste is, how it is used, when to replace it and how many types exist. If you have doubts, share them below so that we can help you. We love reading you!