5 Best Thermal Paste for CPUs Based on What Matters Most to Users

The thermal paste isn’t the flashiest part of a PC build. It’s not RGB. It’s not a beefy GPU. It’s… goop. But here’s the thing: that tiny layer of grey magic can mean the difference between smooth gameplay and thermal throttling, between silent fans and a jet engine under your desk.

I learned this the hard way during a summer overclocking session that turned my Ryzen 7800X3D into a hot plate. That’s when I stopped brushing off thermal paste and started digging into what actually matters when choosing the right one.

What It Actually Does (No, It’s Not Just Paste)

Your CPU and cooler might look perfectly flat, but they’re not. Tiny gaps exist between them. These microscopic imperfections act like little air pockets, and air is a terrible heat conductor. Thermal paste fills those gaps so that heat can transfer efficiently from the CPU’s IHS (integrated heat spreader) to the cooler base. That means cooler temps, less throttling, and more stable performance.

Tom’s Hardware put it well: “Proper application prevents overheating and preserves hardware longevity.” And from what I’ve seen in countless builds, it does make a noticeable difference. Especially if you’re pushing your system hard with games, streaming, or creative workloads.

What to Look for in a Thermal Paste

If you’ve ever searched for thermal paste, you know it’s a rabbit hole of confusing specs, hype-y marketing, and forum debates. Here’s what I now focus on:

Thermal Conductivity: Higher W/mK = better heat transfer. Kryonaut is up at 12.5 W/mK, while MX-4 sits at 8.5.
Viscosity: A good middle ground is key. Too runny? It’ll ooze. Too thick? It’s a nightmare to spread.
Electrical Conductivity: Unless you’re a pro, go non-conductive. It’s safer and forgiving if you mess up the application.
Longevity: Some pastes last years; others degrade fast, especially under high temps. Reddit is full of complaints about having to reapply after just 12 months.

One Redditor on r/buildapc said it best:

“I want to apply paste ONCE and not worry about it for the next 3 years. I game every day—I don’t want maintenance as a hobby.”

5 Best Thermal Pastes for CPUs: Tried-and-Tested)

After diving deep into reviews, YouTube demos, Reddit threads, and my own messy hands-on experience, here are the most talked-about pastes and what makes them great.

1. Noctua NT-H2

This one’s a beast in terms of ease of application and consistent performance. It’s a hybrid compound that works for both air and liquid cooling, and I’ve personally seen it shave 3–5°C off load temps on a Ryzen 5800X build.

Reddit loves how it spreads evenly, and I love that it comes with cleaning wipes. Sounds small, but when you’ve reapplied paste 10+ times, those wipes feel like a luxury.

2. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut

If you’re into overclocking, this is your jam. It’s non-conductive, high-performing, and doesn’t need curing. In one 250W stress test I saw (Pokde.net), Kryonaut kept the CPU at around 82–83°C, outperforming most of the competition.

Downsides? The price. It ain’t cheap. And while it’s designed for longevity, I’ve seen a few users report diminishing results after a year or two under heavy thermal stress.

3. Arctic MX-6

An evolution of the beloved MX-4, MX-6 nails the “set-it-and-forget-it” goal. It’s non-conductive, and no curing is needed. And it’s super easy to apply.

I used this on an office rig with a 12700F. Temps dropped 4°C under load compared to the stock paste. And it’s affordable, which makes it a killer value pick.

4. Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut (Liquid Metal)

Let’s talk danger and glory. Conductonaut is liquid metal, meaning it has insane thermal conductivity. But it’s electrically conductive and corrosive to aluminum. Basically, if you mess this up, you could fry your motherboard.

Personally? I’d only recommend it to pros or extreme overclockers. The gains are real, but so are the risks.

5. Arctic Silver 5

The old-school classic. It’s been around forever, and it’s still kicking. It uses micronized silver for decent conductivity, but it’s a bit dated compared to Kryonaut or MX-6.

One thing I noticed is the long curing time, it can take a few thermal cycles to reach full performance. For casual builds, it’s fine. But if you’re building high-performance rigs, better options exist today.

6-Arctic MX-4

When I first tried Arctic MX-4, it felt like the “set it and forget it” thermal paste of the PC world. It’s the kind of paste that just works, especially if you’re not looking to max out thermal performance but still want reliability and clean application.

It uses carbon microparticles, which sounds fancy but just means it spreads smoothly and won’t short anything out. It’s 100% non-conductive. With a thermal conductivity of 8.5 W/mK, it’s not the highest on the market, but for everyday builds, it hits a sweet spot.

What sealed the deal for me was the ease of use. No weird curing time. No stickiness. Just a smooth, even application. Perfect if you’re not into overthinking paste.

7-Corsair TM30

Now, let’s talk value. Corsair’s TM30 isn’t here to win world-record overclocks. But it does deliver great cooling for the price. I tried it on a mid-range build with a Ryzen 5600 and a basic air cooler and saw a solid 3–4°C improvement over stock paste. Not bad for a sub-$10 option.

It uses a zinc oxide-based compound. This makes it non-conductive and non-volatile, a fancy way of saying it’s safe and stable. Reviews on Best Buy echo my experience. Users say it’s easy to apply and reliable enough for typical gaming and office workloads.

It doesn’t have the brand hype of Kryonaut or the legacy of Arctic Silver 5, but when it comes to performance per dollar, it’s a dark-horse winner.

8- Gelid GC Extreme / Honeywell PTM7950

Laptops and mini-ITX systems come with their own thermal problems, tight spaces, high temps, and limited airflow. Here, you need pastes that can handle heat cycling and resist pump-out (where paste gets pushed away from hotspots).

After reading through r/laptops and Linus Tech Tips forums, two names kept popping up: Gelid GC Extreme and Honeywell PTM7950.

Gelid GC Extreme is a high-viscosity paste that stays where it should, even under laptop fan bursts or hot GPU spikes. I used it during a thermal refresh on a Dell G5, and it brought temps down 5–6°C during sustained gaming.

PTM7950 is a bit more niche. It’s a phase-change pad rather than traditional paste. But it’s becoming more popular in high-performance ultrabooks and gaming laptops thanks to its durability and stability under constant high heat.

Performance Benchmarks (What the Numbers Show)

Across multiple tests and reviews I looked at (Pokde.net, TechPowerUp, and Reddit logs), here’s what you can generally expect under load:

Thermal Paste	Avg Temp Drop (vs. Stock)	Best Use Case
Kryonaut	-6 to -8°C	Overclocking & gaming rigs
MX-4	-3 to -5°C	All-around daily builds
NT-H2	-4 to -6°C	Compact & silent systems
TM30	-2 to -3°C	Budget setups, quick swaps

Keep in mind that your cooler, case airflow, and ambient temps will affect these numbers, but they’re good ballpark figures.

Application Tips (How Not to Screw It Up)

After testing paste after paste, I’ve picked up a few universal rules that make or break your results:

Clean everything first. Use isopropyl alcohol (at least 90%) on both the CPU and the cooler base.
Pea-sized dot in the center. Not a glob. Not a drizzle. Just a dot.
Don’t overspread. Let the cooler’s pressure do the work—manual spreading can introduce air bubbles.
Tighten evenly. Uneven mounting = hotspots and poor contact.

Reddit’s r/pcmasterrace is filled with thermal paste horror stories, and they usually start with someone saying, “I thought more paste would be better…” (It’s not.)

Final Thought

Choosing the right thermal paste isn’t about chasing the one with the flashiest specs. It’s about knowing what you actually need. Whether you’re tweaking a 13900K, upgrading your laptop thermals, or just building your first gaming rig, the best thermal paste is the one that matches your use case, not just a spec sheet.

I’ve tested these pastes. I’ve seen them win. I’ve also seen them fail when used incorrectly. Hopefully, this guide saved you from that learning curve.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

It’s the Arctic MX-4 or the Corsair TM30. Both are non-conductive and forgiving if you’re nervous about overapplication.

Depends. For casual builds, probably not. For high-performance or overclocked setups? Absolutely.

Yes—just make sure it’s non-conductive and suited for high heat. MX-6, Kryonaut, and NT-H2 all work well.

If you’re using a high-quality paste like Noctua NT-H2 or Arctic MX-4, you’re good for 3 to 5 years unless your temps spike or your rig is under serious thermal stress.

But here’s the catch: environment matters. Dusty cases, poor airflow, or high humidity can shorten that lifespan. I usually recommend checking paste every 2–3 years, especially if you’re gaming daily or overclocking.

Application technique directly impacts your temps. Here are the main methods:

Pea-sized dot (most popular): This is Simple, effective, and works for most CPUs. The cooler spreads the paste evenly.
Line method: A thin line across the CPU die—useful for rectangular dies like Intel’s older chips.
Spread method: Manually spreading a thin layer with a spatula or card. Some pastes (like Kryonaut) benefit from this, but it increases the risk of bubbles if not done perfectly.

Avoid this mistake: applying too much paste, thinking “more is better.” It’s not. It can ooze out, create insulation, or even damage surrounding components if it’s conductive.

Redditor wisdom:

“Pea dot or bust. I used to spread it like frosting—my temps were garbage until I switched.”

Generally, yes. Most non-conductive pastes are safe for both CPUs and GPUs. Just make sure the paste can handle higher, fluctuating temperatures (especially important in laptops or GPUs with poor cooling).

That said, some thermal compounds are optimized for specific use cases. For example:

MX-6 or Kryonaut: Works well on both desktop CPUs and GPUs
Honeywell PTM7950: Great for laptop GPUs/CPUs with tight thermal tolerances

Short answer: Yes, if misapplied.

Conductive pastes (like liquid metal compounds) can deliver top-tier performance, but they’re not forgiving. If they spill onto the motherboard or pins, you could short your components.

That’s why most builders—especially beginners—go with non-conductive options like:

Arctic MX-6
Noctua NT-H2
Corsair TM30

Unless you’re experienced and working with delidded CPUs or exotic cooling setups, it’s best to play it safe.

There are two giveaways:

Too little: You’ll likely see high temps even after repasting. The cooler may not be making full contact across the IHS.
Too much: You’ll see paste oozing out from the sides after mounting the cooler. This can create the mess, trap heat, or worse—short circuits (if the paste is conductive).

Absolutely, yes.

Once you remove the heatsink or cooler, that thermal seal is broken. Reusing old paste can introduce air gaps and compromise contact.

Always clean both surfaces with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol, then apply a fresh layer before remounting.

Even if the paste looks fine, don’t risk it. A $0.50 blob of paste is cheaper than a cooked CPU.

It can, especially once opened.

An unopened tube stored in a cool, dry place can last a few years. But once you crack it open and expose it to air? The clock starts ticking.

If the paste:

Looks dry or crusty
Feels separated or grainy
Doesn’t spread like it used to

It’s time to toss it. Most quality pastes list a shelf life of 1–3 years once opened.

It’s simple but important:

Grab a lint-free cloth or coffee filter
Apply a small amount of 90%+ isopropyl alcohol
Gently wipe the CPU and cooler base until all residue is gone
Let both surfaces dry completely before applying new paste

Avoid tissues or paper towels—they can leave fibers behind. And never use water or soap (yes, it’s been done).