Startech Metal Oxide Thermal CPU Paste Compound for Heatsinks

Pros: Seems to be the same as AS-5 to me: I don't see the difference.

Cons: Price has gone up. Small tube.

Other Thoughts: Always, I prefer to put aside the CPU mfr. supplied heatsink and use aftermarket. For the most part, better older heatsinks, even from the AGP days, work fine for me. The heat problems are better or the same.

I use a thin layer of thermal compound. I can even see the proc die beneath. Idle temps are in the 30s or even lower. A thick or medium application just is no good. I hate to put it like this--it's somewhat of an art--I put on a very small dab and spread it carefully and evenly over the die. If the application is thick, remove it and redo it--I use bulk acetone and denatured alcohol and a q-tip with a proc, or for a HS soak a clean used t-shirt with the chemicals. Try to get the application as thin as possible.

It helps greatly to "lap" your heatsinks (if not smooth) with an electric hand sander (say a palm sander) and increasingly fine sandpaper.

I have never had the problem of a runny consistency with this--it's similar to AS-5. As for shorting out, AS-5 would do the same, right (silver)? At this price, though, why not go with AS or a worthy competitor? (Forget silicone and the idiot globs that come with heatsinks.) It will make you feel better. Some new and interesting products from AS and competitors may soon supersede AS-5. Really, though, I don't note any difference in performance between this and AS-5--it's in the application.

Have a good amount of preferred thermal compound available if you need to have it shipped. It's a good investment, and boxy stores and any others left are increasingly stupid concerning this (it's a low-profit item for them and it takes space)...it's easy to forget thermal compound when you need to make a new sys or to upgrade your proc.

Pros: Seems to be the same as AS-5 to me: I don't see the difference.

Cons: Price has gone up. Small tube.

Other Thoughts: Always, I prefer to put aside the CPU mfr. supplied heatsink and use aftermarket. For the most part, better older heatsinks, even from the AGP days, work fine for me. The heat problems are better or the same.

I use a thin layer of thermal compound. I can even see the proc die beneath. Idle temps are in the 30s or even lower. A thick or medium application just is no good. I hate to put it like this--it's somewhat of an art--I put on a very small dab and spread it carefully and evenly over the die. If the application is thick, remove it and redo it--I use bulk acetone and denatured alcohol and a q-tip with a proc, or for a HS soak a clean used t-shirt with the chemicals. Try to get the application as thin as possible.

It helps greatly to "lap" your heatsinks (if not smooth) with an electric hand sander (say a palm sander) and increasingly fine sandpaper.

I have never had the problem of a runny consistency with this--it's similar to AS-5. As for shorting out, AS-5 would do the same, right (silver)? At this price, though, why not go with AS or a worthy competitor? (Forget silicone and the idiot globs that come with heatsinks.) It will make you feel better. Some new and interesting products from AS and competitors may soon supersede AS-5. Really, though, I don't note any difference in performance between this and AS-5--it's in the application.

Have a good amount of preferred thermal compound available if you need to have it shipped. It's a good investment, and boxy stores and any others left are increasingly stupid concerning this (it's a low-profit item for them and it takes space)...it's easy to forget thermal compound when you need to make a new sys or to upgrade your proc.

Pros: Seems to be the same as AS-5 to me: I don't see the difference.

Cons: Price has gone up. Small tube.

Other Thoughts: Always, I prefer to put aside the CPU mfr. supplied heatsink and use aftermarket. For the most part, better older heatsinks, even from the AGP days, work fine for me. The heat problems are better or the same.

I use a thin layer of thermal compound. I can even see the proc die beneath. Idle temps are in the 30s or even lower. A thick or medium application just is no good. I hate to put it like this--it's somewhat of an art--I put on a very small dab and spread it carefully and evenly over the die. If the application is thick, remove it and redo it--I use bulk acetone and denatured alcohol and a q-tip with a proc, or for a HS soak a clean used t-shirt with the chemicals. Try to get the application as thin as possible.

It helps greatly to "lap" your heatsinks (if not smooth) with an electric hand sander (say a palm sander) and increasingly fine sandpaper.

I have never had the problem of a runny consistency with this--it's similar to AS-5. As for shorting out, AS-5 would do the same, right (silver)? At this price, though, why not go with AS or a worthy competitor? (Forget silicone and the idiot globs that come with heatsinks.) It will make you feel better. Some new and interesting products from AS and competitors may soon supersede AS-5. Really, though, I don't note any difference in performance between this and AS-5--it's in the application.

Have a good amount of preferred thermal compound available if you need to have it shipped. It's a good investment, and boxy stores and any others left are increasingly stupid concerning this (it's a low-profit item for them and it takes space)...it's easy to forget thermal compound when you need to make a new sys or to upgrade your proc.

Pros: Not a bad cost compared to other brands. I have used this paste in the past for other builds too. Heat sink has always released from CPU with ease for me.

Cons: Paste Viscosity is thin so don't over apply.

Other Thoughts: I have only used this paste on PC's where I'm not over clocking and it works just fine. When I build a higher end PC I always upgrade to higher end paste so I'm not sure how this paste works in that application.

Pros: easy apply syringe style tube, multiple applications, low price

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: 1 tube lasts a LONG while. I applied paste on 6 different chips with just on tube. Very cool running systems now. Along with 4 computers, I replaced my garbage ps3 paste with this when I fixed my ylod and it worked fantastic. For such a low price, this is (in my opinion) some of the best stuff out there. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Pros: OOH! shiny and sparkly! Fills the gaps and looks pretty until you put the heatsink on.

Cons: What a runny mess. I put a small bit on the cpu, and it started spreading by itself and ran off the edge of the die. Thinking that it was just runny at the beginning of the tube, I squeezed more out, but the consistency was just that... ...consistent. Horrible stuff. Like the guy above said, peanut butter would perform the same, but unlike this stuff, peanut butter would at least stick to the cpu.

Other Thoughts: I bought some of this stuff locally because I was in a pinch. The guy behind the counter said that "this is the stuff we use on our high-end stuff!" I was seriously skeptical, but I was in a pinch and said what the heck and got it. I know now to go with my instincts and not to trust them again.

Pros: -High amount of metal content theoretically giving it high thermal conductivity
-Strange consistency, really light, makes for easier spreading I guess. Doesn't cling to CPU when you remove the heatsink as much as other TIM

Cons: -Doesn't actually work that great
-Higher metal content means your more at risk of short circuiting something
-For the money you can get alot better stuff

Other Thoughts: Gets the job done for normal (non-overclocked) CPU uses. Works about as well as the white silicon stuff. I just use it for old Celerons so I don't have to waste good stuff. Just spend a bit more and get Artic Silver 5 and you'll be set.

Pros: Better than nothing, but only slightly

Cons: Definitely not for P4 or higher. My first experience with this product was a mess. It did not matter how i applied, High temps were constantly pushing between 140-170F. When i removed the sink to clean and exchange for a better compound, the compound had been reduced to this thin silvery oil.

Pros: Fills in the gaps

Cons: I think I could have used peanut butter and got the same results.

Other Thoughts: I'm glad my new heatsink comes with the Tunic brand paste.