Buying Guide
The Best Low-Viscosity Thermal Paste
Three thermal pastes compared, from the XTM60 to the XTM70, with the trade-offs of each named.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read3 products evaluated
Low-viscosity paste flows into fine surface channels and spreads with little effort. Every pick is sold as low-viscosity, ordered from the lowest price.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: amount and in the box come from each maker's published specs; gaps in the specs are flagged, not filled in, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Which of the 3 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
Corsair XTM60 (3g)Undercutting the XTM50 on price when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $50.
Check price for Corsair XTM60 (3g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Tube Size
Corsair XTM50 (5g)The largest tube size here (5g).
Best for: Buyers who put tube size first.
Check price for Corsair XTM50 (5g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Corsair XTM70 (3g)The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-viscosity formula.
Best for: Buyers who want a low-viscosity formula and can spend more than the XTM50 costs.
Check price for Corsair XTM70 (3g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercutting the XTM50 on price when we checked. | Keeping the cost under $50. | Check price for Corsair XTM60 (3g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest tube size here (5g). | Buyers who put tube size first. | Check price for Corsair XTM50 (5g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-viscosity formula. | Buyers who want a low-viscosity formula and can spend more than the XTM50 costs. | Check price for Corsair XTM70 (3g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
Corsair XTM60 (3g)
XTM60 is Corsair's low-viscosity paste with an applicator card for an even layer every time.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $50.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: tube size of 3g, behind the XTM50 (5g).
Why we like it
Corsair pitches it at overclocking and says it resists drying and cracking over time. On tube size it ties with the XTM70 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.
It cost the least of the 3 picks at the time of writing, with the XTM50 the next step up. What it gives up: tube size of 3g, behind the XTM50 (5g); by contrast, the XTM50 comes in at 5g.
Key specs
- Amount
- 3g
- In the box
- an applicator card
Pros
- Includes an applicator card
- Low-viscosity formula for an even layer
- Resistance to drying and cracking over time
- Undercutting the XTM50 on price when we checked
Cons
- Tube size of 3g, behind the XTM50 (5g)
Largest Tube Size2 of 3
Corsair XTM50 (5g)
XTM50 is a zinc-oxide, non-conductive paste with a stencil and spreader in the box, which takes the guesswork out of coverage.
Best for
- Buyers who put tube size first.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the XTM60 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
Its low viscosity fills fine surface channels, and Corsair says it contains no volatile compounds. Its 5g tube size is the largest here; the XTM60 comes next at 3g. It also comes with zero volatile compounds, by the maker's claim.
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. You also get this: 5g is enough for several applications. On price it sat second of 3, between the cheaper XTM60 and the pricier XTM70, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Amount
- 5g
- Compound
- Zinc oxide
- Electrically non-conductive
- Yes
- In the box
- an application stencil and spreader
Pros
- 5g is enough for several applications
- Electrically non-conductive, so spills are harmless
- Includes an application stencil and spreader
- Low-viscosity compound that fills fine surface channels
Cons
- Costs more than the XTM60 at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
Corsair XTM70 (3g)
XTM70 includes an applicator kit and three wipes, with a low viscosity that spreads easily.
Best for
- Buyers who want a low-viscosity formula and can spend more than the XTM50 costs.
Skip if
- Skip it if tube size matters most to you; the XTM50 offers 5g.
Why we like it
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. It matches the XTM60 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 highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the XTM50 and the rest.
Key specs
- Amount
- 3g
- In the box
- an applicator kit and three cleaning wipes
Pros
- Includes an applicator kit and three cleaning wipes
- Low-viscosity formula
- Rating for processors up to 250W TDP and beyond
- The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-viscosity formula
Cons
- Tube size trails the XTM50 (5g)
- Costs more than the XTM60 at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is tube size; for more, the XTM50 comes in at 5g.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared three pastes on tube size and in the box, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results, and every compared field is stated for all 3 picks.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the XTM60 to the XTM70, state tube size and in the box.
- Who each pick suits
- The XTM60 for undercutting the XTM50 on price when we checked; the XTM50 for the largest tube size here (5g); the XTM70 for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-viscosity formula.
- Price range
- From the XTM60 to the XTM70, all sat in the under $50 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Low-Viscosity Thermal Paste
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Tube size across these picks
Here tube size runs from 3g on the XTM70 to 5g on the XTM50, a 67% spread. If tube size is your first filter, the XTM50 sets the ceiling at 5g.
Features beyond the spec table
The XTM60: resistance to drying and cracking over time. The XTM50: zero volatile compounds, by the maker's claim. The XTM70: a rating for processors up to 250W TDP and beyond.
A tower air cooler in a case with red-lit fans Where your budget lands
Price does little to separate these 3: the XTM60 through the XTM70 all landed in the under $50 tier, which leaves tube size to decide it.
Match the pick to your priority
Keeping the cost under $50: the XTM60. Buyers who put tube size first: the XTM50. Buyers who want a low-viscosity formula and can spend more than the XTM50 costs: the XTM70.
An all-in-one liquid cooler pump block above a graphics card Thicker pastes are harder to spread
High-performance pastes are often thick. Warming the tube in your hand makes them easier to apply.
How to Choose a Low-Viscosity Thermal Paste
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the cost under $50 | XTM60 | Undercutting the XTM50 on price when we checked |
| Buyers who put tube size first | XTM50 | The largest tube size here (5g) |
| Buyers who want a low-viscosity formula and can spend more than the XTM50 costs | XTM70 | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-viscosity formula |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The XTM50 leads on tube size at 5g, ahead of the XTM60 at 3g.
| Paste | Amount | In the box |
|---|---|---|
| XTM60 | 3g | an applicator card |
| XTM50 | 5g | an application stencil and spreader |
| XTM70 | 3g | an applicator kit and three cleaning wipes |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the XTM60 compare with the XTM50 on tube size?
Between the top two, it is 5g on the XTM50 against 3g on the XTM60, a 67% difference.
What makes the XTM50 the Largest Tube Size?
It carries the badge for the largest tube size here (5g). The XTM60 is next on tube size at 3g, so this pick's 5g is 67% further out. It is aimed at anyone who puts tube size first.
Beyond the specs, what sets the XTM60 and the XTM50 apart?
The XTM60: a low-viscosity formula for an even layer. The XTM50: a low-viscosity compound that fills fine surface channels. The XTM70: a low-viscosity formula.
Should I pick the XTM60 or the XTM70?
The XTM60 suits keeping the cost under $50; the XTM70 suits buyers who want a low-viscosity formula and can spend more than the XTM50 costs.
How much paste should I use?
About a pea-sized dot on most desktop CPUs. Too much mostly spills out; too little leaves gaps.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the XTM60, chosen for undercutting the XTM50 on price when we checked. Look at the XTM50 for the largest tube size here (5g) and the XTM70 for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a low-viscosity formula if those matter more to you.
Thin pastes can run on vertical mounts; use the recommended amount, not more.
Related Guides
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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