New High-Performance Thermal Paste
High-performance thermal paste is essential in high-power electronics. It fills the tiny gaps between your CPU’s IHS (interface heat sink) and cooler to promote thermal conductivity and help keep your CPU and other components at the correct temperatures for optimal performance and durability. While there have been some esoteric thermal compounds over the years like diamond and liquid metal, these new offerings from NZXT and Alphacool are more traditional: they’re non-electrically conductive, easy to use for people of all experience levels, and will work well in any application.
NZXT’s HTT XT is a new thermal paste that has been designed to be easier to apply, especially for people with smaller hands. It features a new formula that has been optimized to be more consistent for even spread, and they’ve also changed the color from blue to an attractive aqua shade. While it’s not quite as good as the Noctua NT-H1 on this list, it’s still a very high-end option that’s worth considering.
The Thermalright TF9 is another new option that comes out in 2022, and it’s a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable, high-performance thermal paste option. It’s not as good as the top options on this list, but it will certainly perform well in any build and comes with a nice syringe that’s easy to use. It’s also made to be non corrosive, which is always a plus.
The TF9’s main selling point is its high thermal conductivity of 14 W/mK, which is quite impressive for a paste in this price range. It’s a bit thicker than some of the other options on this list, but that can sometimes be a good thing when it comes to applying it and getting it to stick. It’s made to last too, with the company stating that you should only need to replace this thermal paste every six months or so.