The short answer on the best thermal paste for CPU cooling is the ARCTIC MX-4 for almost everyone, and Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme if you are chasing the lowest possible temperatures on an overclocked or console chip. Both are metal-free and non-conductive, both apply with a pea-sized dot, and neither needs a cure period.
We compared 12 compounds side by side, read through more than 250,000 buyer reviews, and separated the marketing claims from what people actually report after a few years of service. What we found is that almost every reputable paste on this list lands within a couple of degrees of the others, so the deciding factors are stability, cleanup, conductivity safety and how much paste is in the tube.
That matters more than it sounds. Forums are full of buyers who assumed a more expensive tube would drop their temperatures by 15 degrees and were disappointed, while other builders happily run the same budget compound for a decade without a single repaste. This guide explains which choice fits which build, how much paste to actually buy, and how to apply it so you get the result the tube is capable of.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks (October 2026)
ARCTIC MX-4 4g
- Carbon microparticle formula
- Non-conductive and metal-free
- Rated for at least 8 years
- Includes applicator spatula
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
- Extremely high conductivity
- Non-curing formula stable at 80C
- Precision syringe applicator
- Universal socket fit
Noctua NT-H2 3.5g
- Second-generation premium compound
- Three cleaning wipes included
- No cure time needed
- Roughly 3-20 applications
The MX-4 takes the top slot because it does almost nothing wrong. It is non-conductive, easy to spread, rated for at least eight years of service and sold in a tube that covers many builds, and it carries by far the largest review base of anything here.
The Kryonaut is the enthusiast benchmark for pure cooling headroom on a standard heat spreader, with no break-in period and stable behaviour under sustained load. The NT-H2 sits between them, giving up very little performance while including cleaning wipes and a large tube in the box.
All 12 Picks Compared in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| ARCTIC MX-4 4g Thermal Paste |
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Check Latest Price |
| Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut 1g |
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Check Latest Price |
 Noctua NT-H1 3.5g |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Corsair TM30 3g |
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Check Latest Price |
| Noctua NT-H2 3.5g |
|
Check Latest Price |
 BSFF Thermal Paste 1.8g Toolkit |
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Check Latest Price |
 ARCTIC MX-6 8g |
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Check Latest Price |
 ARCTIC MX-7 8g |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Thermal Grizzly Duronaut 6g |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Corsair XTM70 3g |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme 2g |
|
Check Latest Price |
 PolarTronix Liquid Metal 1g |
|
Check Latest Price |
Two products on this table are not ordinary paste at all. The PolarTronix entry is liquid metal, which conducts far better than any grease but is electrically conductive and will short components if you are careless, and the Kryonaut Extreme is a nano-particulate enthusiast formula aimed squarely at overclockers.
Everything else is a conventional non-conductive compound, which is the right default for the vast majority of desktop and laptop builds.
1. ARCTIC MX-4 Review: Best Overall Thermal Paste for CPU Cooling
ARCTIC MX-4 (4 g) – Premium Performance Thermal Paste for All Processors
4 g tube
Carbon microparticle formula
Non-conductive and metal-free
Rated for at least 8 years
Pros
- Lowers CPU and GPU temperatures and clears throttling on multiple systems
- Non-conductive and metal-free so socket mistakes are harmless
- Easy consistency that spreads cleanly for beginners
- 4 g tube covers many builds and laptops
Cons
- Premium rivals can edge it on peak conductivity
- Thin consistency is not ideal for bare die surfaces
The MX-4 is the compound we keep coming back to because it has no meaningful weakness. It is a carbon microparticle formula, metal-free and non-conductive, and the manufacturer states the formula has not changed even though the packaging has, so what you buy today behaves like the tube people have used for years.
It is the easiest recommendation in this guide to defend because the review volume behind it is enormous. Buyers consistently report replacing dried factory paste and watching throttling disappear, and they report the same behaviour a year or more later with no pump-out and no drying.
One of the more telling details in the reviews is that people often end up running their fans slower after applying it. A well-bonded cooler simply has less work to do, and several buyers mention lowering their fan curve as the first thing they noticed.
Long-term ownership reports matter more in this niche than any lab delta, and on that measure the MX-4 is well supported. A commenter on Tom’s Hardware described a laptop that had shown the usual symptoms of degraded paste, throttling and a hot palm rest, roughly a year and a half after leaving the factory, while the machine with MX-4 applied inside was unchanged after three years.
Who the MX-4 suits
This is the paste to buy if you are building your first PC, refreshing a three-year-old machine, or repasting a laptop that has started throttling. It costs little per application, it cannot short anything, and there is no technique to master.
It is also the safe recommendation for anyone whose main worry is a mistake. Over-application and under-application fear both show up constantly in build advice threads, and a forgiving paste reduces the cost of getting it slightly wrong.
Where it falls short
The honest limitation is that a few enthusiast formulas measure marginally cooler under heavy sustained load, so if you are chasing the last two or three degrees on a 250W chip, there are better-targeted options further down this list.
Second, the consistency is thin enough that it is not the right choice for exposed bare silicon. For direct die cooling on a graphics card or a console, the thicker compounds hold a bond line much more reliably.
2. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Review: Best Performance Paste for Overclocked CPUs
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut – 1 Gram Thermal Paste Extremely High Performance
1 g precision syringe
Extremely high thermal conductivity
Non-curing and stable at 80C
Universal socket fit
Pros
- Strongest non-conductive performance in regular use
- No curing or break-in period
- Holds load temperatures a year or more after application
- Ships with a syringe applicator and spatula
Cons
- 1 g tube is tight for large Intel heat spreaders
- Thin consistency is prone to pump-out on bare dies
Kryonaut has been the enthusiast reference point for years, and the review data still supports the reputation. Owners describe it as the strongest non-conductive paste they have used, with temperature reductions that reviewers put in the range of a few degrees below mainstream compounds.
What separates it from cheaper pastes in real use is not the first-hour number, it is the number six months later. Multiple buyers report that the same load temperatures are still showing after a year or more, which points to a formula that resists both drying out and pumping away from the heat spreader.
There is no break-in to wait for either. A reviewer who mounts the cooler and starts a stress test gets the number the paste is capable of immediately, which is convenient when you are iterating on an overclock or comparing cooling setups quickly.
The packaging is genuinely good for the price class. You get a syringe with a precision tip plus a spatula, which means you can lay a controlled amount rather than guessing from the nozzle, and that matters on large rectangular Intel heat spreaders.
Who the Kryonaut suits
Pick this if you are running a heavily loaded workstation chip, tuning an all-core overclock, or simply want the best conventional cooling available and do not mind buying a small tube.
It is also a comfortable recommendation for anyone building on a large Intel heat spreader, where a syringe you can control beats a squeeze from a cap.
Where it falls short
The 1 g tube is the first practical issue. A full hand-spread across a big desktop heat spreader consumes a meaningful fraction of that gram, so if you have more than one chip to cool you will be doing careful partial applications.
Second, buyers repeatedly warn about pump-out on surfaces without an integrated heat spreader. On a graphics card die or a console chip, the thin Kryonaut consistency is not the best match, and a thicker compound is the safer pick.
3. Noctua NT-H1 Review: Easiest Paste to Apply for First-Time Builders
Noctua NT-H1 3.5g, High-Performance Thermal Paste
3.5 g pack
Metal-free and non-conductive
Cleans with a dry tissue
No pre-spreading needed
Pros
- Proven formula with very high user satisfaction over two decades
- Simplest application of any paste on this list
- Cleans up with a dry tissue without alcohol
- Generous pack covering roughly 3-20 applications
Cons
- Improvements over good factory paste can be modest
- Pricier per gram than generic alternatives within a few degrees
The NT-H1 wins on approachability. You do not pre-spread it, you do not need to squeeze a precise amount, and if you make a mistake you wipe it off with a dry tissue instead of hunting for a bottle of isopropyl alcohol.
That simplicity is why it keeps showing up in recommendations. In the brand-name threads on r/pcmasterrace, pastes from Arctic, Thermal Grizzly and Noctua are the names that come up repeatedly, and the reason given is usually that any known brand works rather than that one specific tube is magic.
The formula itself has been around since the early 2000s, and its longevity is the quiet selling point. Noctua recommends up to five years of CPU usage time for the compound, and reviewers describe it as unexciting in the best possible way.
It works with both air coolers and AIO liquid coolers, which covers the overwhelming majority of builds, and the metal-free formulation means it is non-conductive without any caveats.
For laptops specifically, this is one of the compounds we would trust most. A user repasting a gaming laptop wants a paste that will not need doing again within a year and that does not require perfect spreading on a cramped heat spreader.
Who the NT-H1 suits
This is the one to recommend to somebody who has never applied thermal compound before. The failure modes of thermal paste application are almost entirely about technique, and this paste has the fewest.
It also suits anyone who will be doing several small jobs over a few years, since the 3.5 g pack covers everything from a desktop CPU to a console or laptop depending on the size of the surface.
Where it falls short
If your old paste is still in reasonable condition, the temperature win over good factory compound is often only a few degrees. This is a paste you buy for reliability, not for a headline benchmark result.
Second, you pay a noticeable premium per gram for that reliability, and plenty of generic alternatives land within a few degrees. If your priority is purely the lowest temperature, this is not the value option.
4. Corsair TM30 Review: Budget Paste With a Full Applicator Kit
Corsair TM30 Performance Thermal Paste | Ultra-Low Thermal Impedance CPU/GPU | 3 Grams|w/applicator, Silver for Desktop
3 g zinc oxide compound
Stencil and spreader included
Non-conductive, two year warranty
Low viscosity
Pros
- Delivers a few degrees over older or dried-out paste
- Included stencil and spreader remove the guesswork
- Reported stable for years with no drying or cracking
- Enough in the tube for several CPU and GPU repastes
Cons
- Temperature gains are modest rather than dramatic
- Not the strongest choice on bare-die GPU surfaces
The TM30 is a zinc oxide compound sold with an application stencil and a spreader, which is an unusual inclusion at this level. If you have ever squeezed too much paste onto a heat spreader and then spent twenty minutes scraping it off, that stencil is the feature that will matter to you.
Performance-wise it is a middle-of-the-road compound. Buyers report a few degrees of improvement over old or dried paste rather than a dramatic drop, and the low viscosity is meant to fill microscopic abrasions and channels in older or worn surfaces.
What stands out in the reviews is time rather than peak numbers. Several people describe tubes that are three years old and still performing, with no drying, cracking or change in consistency, and many use it for console maintenance as well as desktop CPUs.
It is non-conductive and contains no volatile compounds, so there is no fumes concern and no short-circuit risk around socket pins. It also carries a two year warranty, which is unusual for a compound at this level.
The practical read is that this is the paste to buy when you want a clean, guided install and a modest improvement, without paying for an enthusiast formula. It is a good second PC or a good spare to keep on the shelf.
Who the TM30 suits
It suits first-time builders who want the insurance of a stencil, and anyone doing routine maintenance across several machines rather than optimising a single build.
It is also a sensible choice for graphics card and console work where the surface is flat and you want a thin, even layer, provided the surface is a cold plate rather than bare silicon.
Where it falls short
If your paste is already good and relatively fresh, expect a small change rather than a transformation. This is not the compound to buy when you are chasing a specific temperature target.
Second, the same thin consistency that makes it easy to spread also makes it a weaker option on exposed dies, where nothing gives the paste a surface to grip.
5. Noctua NT-H2 Review: Best High-End Value With Cleaning Wipes Included
Noctua NT-H2 3.5g, High-Performance Thermal Paste and 3 Cleaning Wipes
3.5 g pack
Three NA-CW1 wipes included
Non-conductive, no cure time
Air and AIO cooler ready
Pros
- Consistently shaves 4-6C off stock or aged paste
- Cleaning wipes make removing old compound fast
- Within 1-2C of premium enthusiast pastes
- Large tube covers many builds
Cons
- Expensive per gram versus budget equivalents within a few degrees
- Included wipes are oversized and awkward to fold
The NT-H2 is the second generation of Noctua’s award-winning compound, and reviewers treat it as the sweet spot in the range. The recurring comparison in the reviews is that it lands within one to two degrees of Kryonaut while costing considerably less and including three cleaning wipes.
Reported gains are usually described as four to six degrees over stock or aged factory paste, with occasional larger wins on hot laptops and graphics cards where the previous compound had genuinely degraded.
Like the NT-H1 it needs no cure time, which means you can mount the cooler and trust the reading. It is non-conductive, works with both air coolers and AIO liquid coolers, and Noctua recommends up to five years of CPU usage time.
The wipes are a small detail that quietly matters. Repasting is an invasive job, and having three purpose-made wipes in the box means you are not using a paper towel that leaves lint behind on the integrated heat spreader.
Several reviewers note that the wipes are larger than they need to be, which is a fair criticism, but nobody mentions them as a deal-breaker. The 3.5 g pack covers roughly three to twenty applications depending on the chip.
Who the NT-H2 suits
This is the high-end pick for someone who wants enthusiast-level cooling without paying the enthusiast price, and it is our usual recommendation for a hot desktop that needs a full repaste.
It is also the safer premium recommendation for laptops, where the surface is small, the mounting pressure is low and the machine has to run hot for years between services.
Where it falls short
The per-gram cost is high compared with budget compounds that land within a few degrees. If you are building on a budget and your current paste is not actually degraded, you will not feel the difference this is supposed to deliver.
Second, this is still a conventional grease, so it is not the right choice for exposed silicon or for pushing a chip to its thermal limits under sustained extreme overclocking.
6. BSFF Thermal Paste 1.8g Review: Budget Compound With a Bundled Toolkit
Thermal Paste CPU 1.8g with Toolkit for CPU GPU IC and Heatsinks
1.8 g tube
Toolkit included
Non-conductive and metal-free
Rated for at least 5 years
Pros
- Metal-free and non-conductive so application mistakes are harmless
- Easy consistency that beginners report spreading without trouble
- Multiple tube sizes available for one-off fixes or repeated builds
Cons
- Limited independent testing data compared with big-name pastes
- Performance claims lean on marketing language rather than published figures
This is the entry-level pick in the group, sold in a small tube with an application and cleaning toolkit. The formula description is a carbon microparticle base, metal-free and non-conductive, rated for at least five years.
That is a familiar profile because it mirrors the chemistry of the class leaders. The difference is that you are buying consistency and simplicity rather than a validated benchmark ranking, and buyers mostly frame it that way, calling it a capable everyday compound for routine repastes.
The main reason to like it is the toolkit. For a first build or a spare-tubes-on-the-shelf situation, having the applicator and cleaning supplies in the same box removes an extra purchase and a trip to find an old cotton swab.
The 1.8 g size is the right call for a single job. A desktop application uses a small fraction of a gram, so this covers a CPU and then some, and it does not sit around for years.
One thing to set expectations on is that independent performance data is thin. Compared with compounds that appear in published roundups, you are trusting user reports rather than a measured ranking, which for most builders is an acceptable trade.
Who this paste suits
It suits a first-time builder on a budget, or anyone who needs to fix a laptop or a spare machine this weekend and does not want to think hard about it. It is also a reasonable tube to keep in a drawer for emergency repasts.
Because it is metal-free and non-conductive, it is fine for anyone who is nervous about application mistakes around socket pins.
Where it falls short
The honest answer is that the temperature difference versus a proven mid-tier paste is small, and the difference versus a top paste is smaller. You are buying adequacy and value, not headroom.
Second, the thin consistency and unverified long-term data mean it is not what we would choose for a hot chip under sustained load, or for anything with a bare die.
7. ARCTIC MX-6 Review: Best for Direct Die and Console Repairs
ARCTIC MX-6 (8 g) – Ultimate Performance Thermal Paste for CPU, Consoles, Graphics Cards, laptops, Very high Thermal Conductivity, Long Durability, Non-Conductive
8 g tube
About 20 percent lower thermal resistance than MX-4
Non-conductive and non-capacitive
Authenticity check included
Pros
- About 20 percent lower thermal resistance than the MX-4
- Viscosity suited to direct die GPU and console chips
- Non-conductive and non-capacitive for safe application
- 8 g tube covers many applications
Cons
- Thick putty-like consistency is harder to spread than MX-4
- Can act like glue if left to set before mounting
- Some long-term users report needing replacement sooner than expected
The MX-6 is where ARCTIC pushed past the MX-4, and the headline change is a viscosity increase alongside roughly twenty percent lower thermal resistance. That thicker, stickier formula is the point of the product, not a flaw, because it is what makes direct die cooling work.
On a graphics card die or a console processor there is no integrated heat spreader to grip, so a thin grease can pump out and leave a patchy bond. The MX-6 holds together, which is why it is the one we would reach for on bare silicon.
It is non-conductive and non-capacitive, and the listing includes an authenticity check so you can confirm you received a genuine tube.
The difficulty is real though. Experienced builders work around the spreading difficulty happily, but beginners report patchy coverage if they spread it too fast, and the consistency behaves like glue if you leave it sitting on the die before mounting.
Long-term reports are mixed. Some long-term owners report needing to replace it sooner than they expected, which is worth factoring in if the machine is one you will not want to open again for a while.
Who the MX-6 suits
This is the paste for graphics card and console work, and for any direct die or contact frame build where the paste needs to hold on a flat surface without an integrated heat spreader to anchor it.
It is also a reasonable upgrade for a desktop CPU if you already know how to spread a thick paste properly and want the extra conductivity headroom.
Where it falls short
For a straightforward desktop CPU mount, the thick consistency adds difficulty for no meaningful gain over a well-applied thinner paste. A first-timer should know that before opening the tube.
Second, if you apply it and then leave the cooler off while you go and find a screwdriver, it will set. That is a genuinely annoying way to waste a fresh mount.
8. ARCTIC MX-7 Review: Best for Hot Laptops and Graphics Cards
ARCTIC MX-7 (8 g) – Ultimate Performance Thermal Paste, Long Durability
8 g tube
Dense high-viscosity high-filler formula
No pump-out or dry-out across cycles
Designed for no-spread application
Pros
- Large dense consistency resists pump-out better than thinner pastes
- Reported drops of roughly 10C or more plus added FPS on throttled laptops
- Distributes itself under cooler pressure for an even bond line
- Non-conductive and safe across CPUs GPUs laptops and consoles
Cons
- Cannot be spread by hand so an even X pattern takes practice
- Thick and stubborn to spread when the tube is cold
- Not suited to spreading across a bare die
The MX-7 is the newest flagship in this group and it takes a deliberate design decision: the paste is not meant to be spread by hand. It is dense enough that mounting pressure alone distributes it across the heat spreader without trapping air bubbles.
That design shows up in how people describe the results. Builders switching from the MX-4 or MX-6 report noticeably better performance, and the most striking reports are on throttled laptops, where people describe roughly ten degree drops and added frame rate once the machine stopped backing off its clocks.
Graphics card results are also frequently called out as large gains, which fits the high-cohesion formula and its resistance to pump-out across thermal cycles.
The learning curve is real. An X pattern works, but it takes practice to get even, and if the tube is cold the paste is stubborn and will not spread readily. Warming the tube in your hand first is the fix most people settle on.
One limitation is worth being precise about: this is not a bare-die spreader. On exposed silicon it needs a dot or stripe pattern, because there is no heat spreader to press it against.
Who the MX-7 suits
If your laptop throttles, or your graphics card runs hot enough to downclock, this is the paste we would try first. The high-filler, high-cohesion formula is built for surfaces that move with temperature.
It is also a good choice for anyone building a small-form-factor or compact PC where airflow is marginal and every degree counts.
Where it falls short
It is the least forgiving paste here to apply. If you expect to be able to spread it evenly by hand and correct mistakes, that assumption is wrong by design.
Second, it carries the least independent testing history of the ARCTIC range here, since it is the newest, so the long-term picture is still forming.
9. Thermal Grizzly Duronaut Review: Best for Long-Term Stability
Thermal Grizzly Duronaut 6 Gram Thermal Paste – Exceptional Stability
6 g tube
Aluminium microparticles with zinc oxide nanoparticles
Minimised pump-out
Supplied with TG Spatula Pro
Pros
- Runs roughly 2-4C cooler than ARCTIC MX-6 in side-by-side tests
- Holds stable temperatures over sustained AVX and long renders
- Thicker sticky consistency resists pump-out and dried hotspots
- 6 g tube covers several CPUs and GPUs
Cons
- Much thicker than conventional paste so difficult to spread without practice
- Requires more paste than expected for an even layer
- Not recommended by the manufacturer for bare GPU dies
The Duronaut is the high-end conventional paste on this list, built around a single idea: do not harden, do not pump out, do not dry into hotspots. The formula combines aluminium microparticles with zinc oxide nanoparticles, and the manufacturer describes it as engineered not to harden over extended periods.
In side-by-side Cinebench comparisons reported by buyers, it runs a couple of degrees cooler than the ARCTIC MX-6, and experienced builders frequently describe it as matching or edging Kryonaut. That puts it at the front of the conventional paste field.
The long-session behaviour is what reviewers emphasise. People running sustained AVX workloads or long rendering sessions report temperatures that hold steady rather than climbing, which is the practical version of the stability claim.
It is electrically non-conductive, so it carries none of the safety caveats that liquid metal does, and the 6 g tube plus the included TG Spatula Pro is a generous package for multiple builds.
The consistent complaint is the same one shared by thick pastes in general. It is much thicker than conventional paste and hard to spread without practice, and several users note it takes more paste than they expect to get a genuinely even layer.
Who the Duronaut suits
It suits anyone running a high-wattage CPU for long periods, particularly under all-core workloads where thermal cycling is constant and paste that pumps out degrades quickly.
If you build machines to keep rather than to sell, the stability focus is exactly the right trade, and a workstation that runs hot every day is where a couple of degrees holds up over months.
Where it falls short
The thickness is the deal-breaker for a lot of people. Without practice or a good spatula, getting an even layer is genuinely difficult, and beginners are the ones most likely to apply too little in the middle.
The manufacturer also advises against bare GPU dies with this paste, so for direct die work you need something else.
10. Corsair XTM70 Review: Built for Processors Above 250W
Corsair XTM70 Extreme Performance Thermal Paste, 3g for Intel & AMD Processors up to 250W+ TDP – Low Viscosity, Easy Application, Three Included Cleaning Wipes and Applicator Kit for Desktop
3 g tube
Low viscosity compound
Applicator kit plus three wipes
Tuned for 250W and higher
Pros
- Low viscosity spreads evenly for clean application
- Complete kit with three cleaning wipes and applicator tools
- Enough paste for multiple applications
- Aimed at high-TDP processors where transfer matters most
Cons
- Smallest review base among the enthusiast pastes listed
- Premium price point for a 3 g tube
The XTM70 is a newer Corsair paste aimed explicitly at processors rated at 250 watts and above. The reasoning is straightforward: at that power level the bond line between die and cold plate is the weakest link, so the paste is designed to spread into a thin even film and hold it.
It is a low viscosity compound, which is the opposite of the thick enthusiast pastes here, and that makes it easy to spread cleanly with the included applicator kit. Three cleaning wipes are included for removing old compound, which saves a separate purchase.
It is described as suitable for CPU, GPU and console cold plates, so it is a general-purpose high-wattage compound rather than a specialist bare-die product.
The honest issue with this one is the size of its evidence base. It has the fewest reviews among the enthusiast pastes on this list, so while the feedback that exists is positive, you are buying into a shorter track record.
Reviewers consistently describe the application as easy and clean, and the low viscosity means a pea-sized dot behaves itself under mounting pressure without any spreading effort at all.
Who the XTM70 suits
It is for high-TDP desktop chips, particularly where a large die and a heavy cooler press hard on the bond line. It is also a comfortable pick for anyone who wants a complete kit in one box.
Low-viscosity pastes are ideal for AIO users, because the pump plate applies even pressure and a thin compound fills it perfectly without any technique.
Where it falls short
The 3 g tube is small for a high-end paste, and you are paying a premium for the branded high-wattage positioning. If you just need one good desktop application, you could buy more paste for less.
Second, with a limited review base there is not yet the multi-year longevity picture that compounds like the NT-H2 or Kryonaut have built up.
11. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme Review: Maximum Conductivity for Enthusiasts
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme – 2 Gram – Extremely High Performance Thermal Paste with 12 Cleaning Wipes 6 Wet & 6 Dry- for Maximum Thermal Conductivity While Overclocking CPU/GPU/PS4/PS5/Xbox
2 g tube
Nano-aluminium oxide particles
Non-curing and stable at 80C
Six wet and six dry wipes included
Pros
- Users report 5-15C cooler temperatures than the paste replaced
- Nano-aluminium oxide formula performs strongly on power-hungry chips
- Included wipes make cleanup of old compound quick
- Covers well with a thin layer so the tube stretches further
Cons
- Highest cost per gram among the conventional pastes listed
- Some users report drying out sooner than ARCTIC alternatives
- 2 g runs out quickly when doing a CPU and a GPU
This is the overclocking variant of Kryonaut, using nano-aluminium oxide particles to fill the smallest surface irregularities. It is the most aggressive conventional paste on this list, and the reported numbers reflect that.
Buyers with power-hungry CPUs report temperature drops of five to fifteen degrees against whatever they replaced, and reviewers also mention quieter fans, which usually means the cooler is being held to a lower fan speed at the same temperature.
It is non-curing and stable at extreme temperatures, so there is no break-in and no risk of a thermal spike if a workload lands hard while the machine is cold.
The package is unusually complete for a small tube. Six wet and six dry cleaning wipes plus a syringe applicator means you have everything you need for the install in one box.
The criticisms are consistent: it has the highest cost per gram of the conventional pastes here, and some users report that it dries out sooner than the ARCTIC alternatives in long-running extreme overclocking service. The 2 g size also runs out quickly if you do both a CPU and a GPU.
Who the Kryonaut Extreme suits
It suits someone deliberately chasing lower temperatures on a high-wattage chip, whether that is a tuned all-core overclock, a rendering box, or a console that was throttling before the repaste.
If you are running sub-zero or liquid nitrogen bench work, a non-curing high-filler compound like this is the correct category rather than a standard desktop paste.
Where it falls short
This is not a paste for a casual build. The per-gram cost means you have to be comfortable with the outlay and with the knowledge that a lot of people get a similar result from cheaper tubes.
The longevity reports are the real reservation. For a machine that runs hot every day for years, a compound with reports of earlier drying is the opposite of what you want, and the ARCTIC MX-7 or the Duronaut are steadier long-term stories.
12. PolarTronix Liquid Metal Review: Best for PS5 and Console Repairs
PolarTronix Liquid Metal Thermal Paste – 1 Gram – Made in USA – Liquid Metal for PS5 – CPU – GPU – Series S Series X- Game Consoles Best for overclocking – Premium Materials – Ps5 Liquid Metal
1 g precision syringe
Gallium indium tin alloy with trace silver
Non-corrosive on copper and nickel
Electrically conductive
Pros
- Biggest wins on consoles
- with PS5 units running smoothly after repaste
- Fixed severe throttling on a gaming laptop with roughly 25C lower startup temps
- Does not dry out separate or evaporate under heavy load
- Includes precision applicator and cleaning wipe
Cons
- Electrically conductive so over-application can short components
- Not compatible with aluminium heatsinks or cold plates
- Requires care and experience to apply correctly
Liquid metal is not a thermal paste in the usual sense. It is a gallium indium tin alloy with trace silver that stays liquid, and it transfers heat dramatically better than any grease on this page. The cost is that it is electrically conductive, so it must never touch a component.
Where it earns its place is consoles. Owners report PS5 units that had been powering down or showing thermal problems running smoothly after a repaste, and one reviewer reports a year of problem-free use, which is unusual for a repair.
It also solved a stubborn laptop problem in at least one report, where severe CPU throttling was fixed and startup temperatures dropped by roughly twenty-five degrees once the machine stopped backing off its clocks.
On the safety side it is non-corrosive on copper, nickel-plated copper, stainless steel and silver surfaces, and it is mixed and tested in the USA with a precision 1 g syringe and a non-flammable cleaning wipe included.
The constraints are equally clear. It is not compatible with aluminium heatsinks or cold plates, and because it is electrically conductive, over-application or a stray droplet can short components. It needs care and experience.
Who liquid metal suits
It suits console repair, particularly PS5 work, and direct die or delidded builds where the surface is copper or nickel plated copper and you want the highest possible heat transfer.
It is also appropriate for extreme overclocking, where a non-conductive paste cannot hold the thermal margin you need. Anyone considering LN2 bench work is already past the point where conductive compounds cause problems.
Where it falls short
For a standard desktop CPU with an integrated heat spreader and an aluminium or nickel-plated copper cold plate, this is the wrong tool. The performance gain over a good conventional paste is small and the risk is not.
It is also a specialist skill. If you have never applied liquid metal before, the first application should not be on a machine you depend on, and you must insulate nearby components with tape or conformal coating.
How to Choose Thermal Paste for CPU Cooling in 2026
Non-conductive versus conductive is the first decision, and for almost everyone the answer is non-conductive. Only liquid metal and some silver pastes carry electricity, and every paste on this list is metal-free except the PolarTronix entry.
Stability over time matters more than peak conductivity. Buyers care most about how the paste behaves in year two, not how it reads in the first ten minutes, and compounds that hold their bond line across thousands of thermal cycles are worth more than a couple of degrees on day one.
Application and cleanup are the factors that separate a pleasant build from a frustrating one. A pea-sized dot with no pre-spreading removes almost all risk, and a paste that wipes off with a dry tissue saves time at every future service.
W/mK ratings are marketing more than engineering. Users consistently report that huge differences in listed conductivity produce almost no real-world temperature difference, which is the single biggest reason people distrust spec-sheet rankings in this category.
That leaves four questions worth asking before you buy: is it non-conductive, does it suit the surface I am mounting to, how long do I want before opening the machine again, and how many applications does this tube actually cover.
How to Apply Thermal Paste and How Much You Need
A pea-sized dot in the centre of the heat spreader is enough for any desktop CPU, and mounting pressure spreads it into a thin even film. Builders have been doing this for more than three decades, and the reason it works is that the cooler does the spreading for you.
Under-application is the more common real problem than over-application. Too little paste and the CPU can run substantially hotter with no obvious symptom, while slightly too much simply gets displaced at the edges once the cooler is torqued down.
For a desktop CPU, expect to use roughly a fraction of a gram. Larger integrated heat spreaders and direct die surfaces use more, and a full manual spread on a big Intel heat spreader can consume noticeably more than a dot.
A 1 g tube is comfortably enough for one desktop application plus small jobs. A 3.5 g pack covers several desktop builds and any number of laptop or console repasts, and the 8 g tubes on this list are sized for people who build repeatedly or who service several machines.
The 1 g tubes are the ones worth planning around. Noctua describes its 3.5 g pack as roughly three to twenty applications depending on the CPU, which tells you how much the answer varies between a small laptop die and a spread application.
Storage is simpler than most guides suggest. Reseal the nozzle, keep the tube upright, and store it somewhere cool and dark. Two grams is more than enough for a single CPU install, so buy the smaller tube if it is one job.
Clean the old compound off both the heat spreader and the cooler plate before you start. Isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth or one of the included wipes works, and starting on a clean surface is the difference between an even bond and a patchy one.
Arctic MX-4 vs MX-6 vs MX-7: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
The MX-4 remains the sensible default because it is non-conductive, forgiving to apply and rated for at least eight years, and the community consensus is that most people never need to move up from it.
The MX-6 adds roughly twenty percent lower thermal resistance and a viscosity thick enough for direct die cooling on GPU and console chips. If you are not mounting on bare silicon, that thickness is effort without much reward.
The MX-7 goes further, with a dense high-filler formula designed to resist pump-out and dry-out across thermal cycles, and it reports the strongest gains on throttled laptops and hot graphics cards.
So is the upgrade worth it? For a desktop CPU on a healthy machine, no. For a laptop that throttles or a graphics card that downclocks, the MX-7 is the one worth trying, because those cases are where stability and filler content matter more than a couple of degrees.
Paste, Liquid Metal, Phase Change and Thermal Pads Compared
Conventional paste is the right default for CPU coolers of every kind, air or AIO, because it is cheap per application, non-conductive and easy to reverse when you want to sell the chip.
Liquid metal transfers far more heat and never dries out, but it is electrically conductive, it attacks aluminium surfaces, and a mistake is much harder to undo. Treat it as a specialist tool for consoles and extreme overclocking.
Thermal pads handle surface-to-surface gaps where paste would pump out, and they are the correct choice for VRAM and VRM areas on graphics cards, not for a CPU integrated heat spreader. They are also reusable in a way paste is not.
Phase change materials sit between paste and pad. They soften under heat, fill irregularities and then re-solidify, so they do not pump out over time, which makes them a good fit for laptops and long-term silent builds.
One further note on measurement. Peak and average temperatures differ between reviews because the compounds behave differently under transients, and a thicker paste often looks better on peak figures while a thinner one holds steady averages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thermal paste for CPU liquid cooling?
Any of the high-quality non-conductive pastes on this list work well with an AIO liquid cooler. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut and Thermal Grizzly Duronaut lead on pure cooling, while the ARCTIC MX-4 and Noctua NT-H2 are the easier picks to apply correctly. Because an AIO pump plate applies even pressure, a pea-sized dot is enough and no pre-spreading is needed.
Is MX-4 or MX-6 better?
The MX-4 is better for most desktop CPUs because it is thinner, easier to spread and forgiving. The MX-6 measures about twenty percent lower thermal resistance and its thicker viscosity is what makes it the right choice for direct die cooling on graphics card and console chips. Choose MX-6 when you are mounting to bare silicon, otherwise the MX-4 is the easier install.
What is the best cooling paste for a CPU?
ARCTIC MX-4 is the best all-round choice for most people, with Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut the strongest conventional option for enthusiasts and ARCTIC MX-7 the pick for hot laptops and graphics cards that throttling. All three are electrically non-conductive and none needs a cure period, so the deciding factors are how forgiving the paste is to apply and how long you want it to last.
Is 95 C bad for a CPU?
It depends entirely on the chip. Many modern processors are designed to sit near their thermal limit under heavy all-core load without throttling, so a short spike to 95 C during a stress test is normal for a high-wattage part. What matters is whether the CPU is throttling or hitting its limit during light workloads, and whether temperatures keep climbing after the workload ends.
How much thermal paste do I need for a pea-sized dot?
A pea-sized dot uses roughly a fraction of a gram, and that is enough for any desktop CPU because mounting pressure spreads it into a thin even film. Larger integrated heat spreaders and direct die surfaces use more. One gram covers a single desktop application comfortably, so a small tube is plenty for a one-off build.
How much amount of thermal paste should I apply?
For a standard desktop CPU, apply a single pea-sized dot in the centre of the integrated heat spreader and do not spread it. For a graphics card or console processor, use a small stripe or dot sized to the die. Too little paste leaves hot patches and a significantly hotter CPU, while slightly too much is simply displaced at the edges when the cooler is tightened.
How many applications does 1 g of thermal paste cover?
One gram covers a single desktop CPU application with plenty remaining for a small graphics card die or a console processor. Noctua describes its 3.5 g pack as roughly three to twenty applications depending on the CPU, which reflects how much a full manual spread uses on a large Intel heat spreader compared with a pea-sized dot.
Is 2 grams enough for thermal paste?
Two grams is more than enough for a single CPU install and will cover several applications if you use a pea-sized dot rather than spreading the compound manually. Buy a larger tube only if you build or service multiple machines regularly, or if you plan to do a full spread across a large heat spreader more than once.
The Verdict: Which Thermal Paste to Buy in 2026
Buy the ARCTIC MX-4 if you want one answer. It is non-conductive, forgiving to apply, rated for at least eight years and covers many applications per tube, which makes it the best thermal paste for CPU cooling for the overwhelming majority of builds.
Move to the Noctua NT-H2 if you want the last few degrees and do not mind spending more per gram, because it lands close to the enthusiast pastes and includes cleaning wipes. Move to the Thermal Grizzly Duronaut if your machine runs hot every day and long-term stability matters more than an easy first install.
Choose the ARCTIC MX-7 if the problem is a throttling laptop or a graphics card that downclocks, and the ARCTIC MX-6 if you are mounting directly to bare silicon. Save liquid metal for console repair and extreme overclocking, where its conductivity is a genuine risk you have to manage.
Whichever you pick, clean both surfaces, use a pea-sized dot, let the cooler sit evenly under pressure and give any fresh application a proper burn-in period before you judge the result.