If you’re a hardcore gamer, you’re probably familiar with the practice of overclocking your CPU. In layman’s terms, this means setting your CPU to run faster than the manufacturer intended, which results in faster computer performance.
And as computer technology improves, the amount of heat computer parts generate goes up. So if you’re overclocking your CPU, is at risk of damage due to overheating, which has led diehard gamers to a solution: Apply high-quality thermal paste to the CPU’s surface!
This also applies to console gamers who do their gaming (and overclocking) on their PS4.
Best Thermal Paste For Gamers (2019 – 2020)
This page contains some affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Last update on 2025-01-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Why Do I Need Thermal Paste?
Too often nowadays as gamers are building their own PCs, they are experiencing problems with overheating. Although your CPU comes with factory-applied thermal paste (of a lower quality than what you’ll be replacing it with) applying a high quality a third-party paste to the CPU that will be able to better handle to dissipate the extra heat your CPU is making due to overclocking.
How Do I Choose A Thermal Paste?
Picking a thermal paste is largely based on your needs, as well as your tolerance for risk vs. reward. It’s generally accepted that silver-based pastes are the superior kind in terms of performance, but can ruin motherboards if it comes into contact with the wrong pin or circuit. Other kinds of paste that are less thermally conductive, like those that are zinc oxide based, are not as effective performance wise, but you’ll have piece of mind knowing that you don’t run the risk of bricking your new motherboard every time you need to apply it.
Let’s look at the different kinds of thermal paste available on the market today!
7 Best Kinds of Thermal Paste in 2019
1. Thermal Grizzley Kryonaut Thermal Grease Paste
We strongly believe that this is the best thermal grease on the market right now. With the ability to handle CPU heat in both high and low pressure mounting environments, as well as being easier to clean up than it’s competitors, Thermal Grizzley Kryonaut Thermal Grease Paste is a top performing paste.
- EXTREME HEAT CONDUCTIVITY - With an exceptional thermal conductivity, Kryonaut is perfect for even the most demanding congurations and can be used in industrial cooling systems
- EASY APPLICATION - Featuring a specially designed syringe and spatula for spreading, Kryonaut guarantees effortless, comfortable, and precise paste distribution on your processor or graphics card
- LONG-LASTING EFFECT - Thanks to its unique and specialized structure, Kryonaut ensures long-lasting performance and does not dry out even at 80°C
- SURPRISING IMPACT - Experience a temperature drop right from the rst use, reducing device heat and enhancing operational comfort
- MARKET LEADER - Proven through extensive testing, the top choice in the market meets the highest quality standards, satisfying not only standard computer users but also passionate overclocking enthusiasts
Last update on 2025-01-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Gamers like us love using because it offers the best-around paste performance, eliminating the need to be switching between two or more pastes depending on where you need it.
Gamers also love this paste because it comes complete with a spreading tool, making the Kryonaut a great, easy-to-use option for all gamers. And since it’s not electrically conductive, damage of risk to hardware not an issue.
The downside is that its is more expensive than other brands, but if this is your first time apply thermal grease, you may want to pay a little extra for peace of mind.
2. Artic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
Although the Grizzley Kryonaut Thermal Grease Paste takes the cake this year, the Artic Silver 5 Thermal Compound has been the go-to, top-performing, silver-based thermal paste in the past.
- A convenient syringe makes this Liquid Metal very easy to apply and goes exactly where it should be: on the CPU Cooler, GPU Cooling or heat dissipation rib plates
- Thanks to long tests, Conductonaut has a very high thermal conductivity and excellent stability even with prolonged use. Due to its composition, it cannot be applied to aluminum components as it will cause corrosion.
- A popular choice for very experienced PC builders because of its extreme heat dissipation, but also because it conducts electricity!
- This thermal solution is compatible not only with computer parts or laptops, but also with consoles: PS3, 4, 5, Xbox 360, One, Series S and X; Great for dissipating heat from Macbooks
- Conductonaut Must not be used in conjunction with aluminum as it can permanently damage the surface and can be used directly on copper or silicon.
Last update on 2025-01-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Many techies swear by it, as the Artic Silver 5 Thermal Compound does not bleed, run, migrate, or separate thanks to its high silver content, making it more manageable to use and minimizing the risk of any collateral hardware damage. A word of caution, however: Because it’s silver-based, it does carry the same risks of hardware damage as the other copper and silver-based compounds on this list.
To help mitigate any risk of damage to your hardware, this paste also comes in three different shapes, allowing you to better apply the paste only where you want it. This product does not contain silicone, and a single tube can cover around 20-30 CPUs.
3. Thermal Grizzley Conductonaut Thermal Grease Paste
Another high performing thermal grease, Thermal Grizzley Conductonaut Thermal Grease Paste comes in a convenient, easy-to-use 1 gram syringe, making it easier for you to apply the paste to your CPU.
- TOP TIER THERMAL PERFORMANCE – The IC graphite pad features a thermal conductivity of 35W/m-k.
- EXTRAORDINARY DURABILITY – This thermal pad features a dry solution that contains no liquids. It will not pump or bake out like regular thermal compounds.
- UNMATCHED TEMPERATURE RANGE – Keeps your CPU safe with a temperature operating range of -200C to 400C. RoHS compliant.
- TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT – The modular solution means never again having to wonder if you’ve applied too much or too little thermal paste.
- REUSABLE – You’ll never have to worry about buying thermal paste ever again. The graphite thermal pad can be reused on multiple builds with no loss in performance.
Last update on 2025-01-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It’s recommended that you use this with the special syringe add-on , which thankfully is replaceable, making it simpler to use this paste far more accurately. The thermal resistance of this paste is 0.0021 K/W, and the Thermal Conductivity of this product is 73 W/mk.
This is considered an affordable grease for the amount you get and the price.
4. Innovation Cooling Graphite Thermal Pad
If you’re feeling gun shy about apply a paste to your CPU, or you’re just tired of the mess that comes with it, consider the Innovation Cooling Graphite Thermal Pad, which is an alternative to thermal pastes.
No products found.
With a thermal conductivity of 35 W/mk, it may not have the performance specs like the Thermal Grizzley pastes, but it still delivers high-performance while taking the guesswork out of applying paste.
And since it’s not a wet solution like thermal paste, it won’t dry or bake out while you’re overclocking. This means you can use it on multiple builds!
An if you’re a console gamer, the Innovation Cooling Graphite Thermal Pad can be used on the PS4! One downside it that because it is electrically conductive, so you need to be careful during installation.
5. Arctic MX-4 Thermal Compound Paste
This is Arctic’s non-silver based thermal paste, and it is also considered a top quality paste. While maybe not the best in performance, the Arctic MX-4 Thermal Compound Paste is one of the best values available to gamers.
- Designed for Extreme Performance
- Diamond powder included for improved thermal conductivity
- Longer lifespan over standard silicon-based compounds
- Easy to apply
Last update on 2025-01-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Lots of gamers have reservations about using metal-based pastes due to the potential for hardware damage. Thankfully, Arctic MX-4 is metal-free, and is available in 2 gram, 4 gram, and 20 gram sizes.
The ease of application comes from the fact that it’s a carbon-based compound, as opposed to copper or silver, meaning that get any on circuit board pins would not result in damage to your hardware.
Arctic MX-4 boasts a thermal conductivity of 8.5 W/mk. Generally this is the paste recommended for gamers who are frequently handling and opening up their machines. Additionally, it’s second-to-none in terms of durability.
Bonus points for being noncorrosive, non-capacitative, and non-conductive. Downsides include being difficult to remove.
6. Thermaltake TG-7 Extreme Performance Heatsink Cooling Thermal Grease
Another diamond-based product, this thermal grease is a seriously high-performance product that hardcore gamers use on a regular basis.
- Premium silver polysynthetic thermal compound
- Use between CPU's and heatsinks or water-cooling solutions
- Will not separate, run, migrate, or bleed
- Does not contain any silicone
- 3.5 gram tube will cover 20 to 30 small cpu's
Last update on 2025-01-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If your looking for a high-quality product, you’re sure to be impressed by the fact that this grease comes with diamond powder, ensuring the highest thermal conductivity. It’s also very durable, resistant to cracking and drying.
A noted con is that Thermaltake is stingy with how much grease is in its tubes, making it perhaps not the most budget-friendly option. But thanks to its longevity and reliability, you won’t have to worrying about reapplying it once it’s on your CPU.
7. Noctua NT-H1 Pro-Grade Thermal Compound Paste
When Noctua says their thermal compound is pro-grade, they mean it. Touted for its long-term stability, Noctua NT-H1 Pro-Grade Thermal Compound Paste is said to maintain maximum effectiveness for three years after application, and can be stored for up to two years once opened.
- Renowned premium-grade thermal compound for optimal heat-transfer from the CPU or GPU to the heatsink; more than 150 awards and recommendations
- Easy to apply (no need to spread before heatsink installation) and easy to clean with dry paper towel or tissue (no cleaning alcohol required)
- For air and liquid coolers (DIY/AiO), can significantly lower temperatures compared to stock pastes on AMD Ryzen and Intel Core CPUs, AMD Radeon and Nvidia GeForce GPUs, PS4/PS5, Xbox, laptops, etc.
- Trusted Noctua quality with excellent long-term stability: recommended storage time up to 3 years, recommended usage time on the CPU up to 5 years
- 3.5g pack for around 3-20 applications (depending on CPU size, e.g. ~3 applications for TR4, ~15 for AM4 or LGA1700, ~20 for LGA1200)
Last update on 2025-01-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This paste does not raise the risk of short-circuits, is not electrically conductive, and is non-corroding. An additional bonus is that it is safe for use with any kind of heatsink.
The only downsides are that the ingredients are not exactly known, only that its made up of a combination of different micro-particles, which not all gamers may be comfortable with.
This paste is also notorious for being difficult to remove and clean.
This paste is a good standby option for any gamer experienced with thermal paste who needs a high-quality, durable thermal paste that won’t need reapplication for years to come.
Summary: Top Thermal Paste Comparisons
Here’s a quick glance at our favorite thermal paste options on the market right now.
Last update on 2025-01-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API