The Best High-Performance Thermal Paste

Noctua quotes around 9 to 60 applications depending on CPU size. On tube size it leads this guide at 10g, ahead of the Duronaut 6g (6g). It is the only pick here with a 10 cleaning wipes in the box; the Kryonaut 5.55g has an a syringe and spatula in the box instead.

It also comes with enough for dozens of mainstream CPUs. Clean off old paste with isopropyl alcohol first, then apply a pea-sized dot or a thin line on the heatspreader; on large Intel chips an X or a line covers the longer die better. Do not pre-spread it; let the cooler's mounting pressure distribute it. Only the Kryonaut 5.55g came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.

The 5.55g size suits overclockers who remount often, and the maker says it does not dry out at 80°C. It is popular with overclockers and suits standard builds too. The 5.55g size covers many repastes.

Its 5.55g tube size ranks third of 5 here, behind the NT-H2 10g (10g) and ahead of the KPx (3g). You get an a syringe and spatula in the box here, which sets it apart from the Duronaut 6g and its an a TG Spatula Pro in the box. Clean off old paste with isopropyl alcohol first, then apply a pea-sized dot or a thin line on the heatspreader; on large Intel chips an X or a line covers the longer die better. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Duronaut 6g and the pricier NT-H2 10g, at the time of writing.

Corsair rates it for CPUs up to 250W and beyond. Corsair rates it for processors up to 250W TDP and beyond, and the kit includes an applicator and three cleaning wipes. Its low viscosity spreads evenly without much effort.

The 3g tube holds enough for several CPU applications. On tube size it ties with the KPx at 3g. Clean off old paste with isopropyl alcohol first, then apply a pea-sized dot or a thin line on the heatspreader; on large Intel chips an X or a line covers the longer die better. When we checked, only the KPx cost less, and the Duronaut 6g cost more.

The 6g tube comes with a TG Spatula Pro and suits hot CPUs you do not want to remount often. On tube size it sits mid-pack at 6g: the NT-H2 10g comes in at 10g, and the KPx comes in at 3g. It is the only pick here with an a TG Spatula Pro in the box; the NT-H2 10g has a 10 cleaning wipes in the box instead.

It also comes with a paste that does not harden over time. Clean off old paste with isopropyl alcohol first, then apply a pea-sized dot or a thin line on the heatspreader; on large Intel chips an X or a line covers the longer die better.

It is non-conductive and non-capacitive and spreads evenly without separating. The 3g tube covers a few builds. It is designed to stay stable under heavy workloads and overclocking.

It matches the XTM70 on tube size (3g). Clean off old paste with isopropyl alcohol first, then apply a pea-sized dot or a thin line on the heatspreader; on large Intel chips an X or a line covers the longer die better. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the XTM70 was the next step up. If tube size is your priority, the NT-H2 10g (10g) is the stronger choice.