Buying Guide
The Best Noctua Thermal Paste
Five thermal pastes compared, from the NT-H1 to the NT-H2 10g, with the trade-offs of each named.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Noctua sells two pastes, NT-H1 and its successor NT-H2, in several pack sizes and kits. Every pick is a Noctua paste, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by amount, rated service life and applications per tube, working from the makers' own data; if a maker skips rated service life, the guide says so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
Noctua NT-H1 (3.5g)Undercutting the NT-H1 SW on price when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $50.
Check price for Noctua NT-H1 (3.5g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Noctua NT-H1 SW Edition (3.5g)A rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU.
Best for: Buyers who want rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU.
Check price for Noctua NT-H1 SW Edition (3.5g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Noctua NT-H2 (3.5g)A recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU.
Best for: Buyers who want recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU.
Check price for Noctua NT-H2 (3.5g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
Noctua NT-H2 AM5 Edition (3.5g)An NA-TPG1 guard that keeps paste out of the AM5 heatspreader's cut-outs.
Best for: Buyers who want NA-TPG1 guard that keeps paste out of the AM5 heatspreader's cut-outs.
Check price for Noctua NT-H2 AM5 Edition (3.5g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Tube Size
Noctua NT-H2 (10g)The largest tube size here (10g).
Best for: Buyers who put tube size first.
Check price for Noctua NT-H2 (10g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercutting the NT-H1 SW on price when we checked. | Keeping the cost under $50. | Check price for Noctua NT-H1 (3.5g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU. | Buyers who want rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU. | Check price for Noctua NT-H1 SW Edition (3.5g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| A recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU. | Buyers who want recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU. | Check price for Noctua NT-H2 (3.5g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| An NA-TPG1 guard that keeps paste out of the AM5 heatspreader's cut-outs. | Buyers who want NA-TPG1 guard that keeps paste out of the AM5 heatspreader's cut-outs. | Check price for Noctua NT-H2 AM5 Edition (3.5g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest tube size here (10g). | Buyers who put tube size first. | Check price for Noctua NT-H2 (10g) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Noctua NT-H1 (3.5g)
NT-H1 needs no spreading and wipes off with a dry paper towel, which makes it one of the least fussy pastes to work with.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $50.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: tube size of 3.5g, behind the NT-H2 10g (10g).
Why we like it
Noctua rates it for up to five years on a CPU and about 15 applications on AM4 or LGA1700. On tube size it ties with the NT-H1 SW, the NT-H2 and the NT-H2 AM5 at 3.5g. It shares an about 3 to 20 applications per tube with the NT-H1 SW and NT-H2 AM5; the NT-H2 10g goes with an about 9 to 60 applications per tube.
It also offers a recommended storage time of up to three years. 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. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the NT-H1 SW the next step up.
Key specs
- Amount
- 3.5g
- Rated service life
- up to 5 years
- Applications per tube
- About 3 to 20
- Application
- No need to spread before mounting
Pros
- Maker-rated for up to 5 years without reapplying
- Cleanup with a dry paper towel, no alcohol needed
- Recommended storage time of up to three years
- Undercutting the NT-H1 SW on price when we checked
Cons
- Tube size of 3.5g, behind the NT-H2 10g (10g)
The catch
What it gives up: tube size of 3.5g, behind the NT-H2 10g (10g); by contrast, the NT-H2 10g comes in at 10g.
Also Consider2 of 5
Noctua NT-H1 SW Edition (3.5g)
The SW Edition adds a spatula and three cleaning wipes to NT-H1, so it covers a full repaste from cleanup to spreading.
Best for
- Buyers who want rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the NT-H1 was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
Noctua rates it for up to five years on a CPU or GPU. It matches the NT-H1, the NT-H2 and the NT-H2 AM5 on tube size (3.5g). Like the NT-H1 and NT-H2 AM5, it has an about 3 to 20 applications per tube, while the NT-H2 10g uses an about 9 to 60 applications per tube.
You also get a rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU and wipes that remove old paste without a separate cleaner. 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. Its price falls between the NT-H1 and the NT-H2, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Amount
- 3.5g
- Rated service life
- up to 5 years
- Applications per tube
- About 3 to 20
- In the box
- a spatula and three cleaning wipes
Pros
- Maker-rated for up to 5 years without reapplying
- Includes a spatula and three cleaning wipes
- Rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU
- Wipes that remove old paste without a separate cleaner
Cons
- Costs more than the NT-H1 at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Noctua NT-H2 (3.5g)
NT-H2 comes with three cleaning wipes and needs no spreading.
Best for
- Buyers who want recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU.
Skip if
- Pass if a published rated service life matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
Noctua rates it for up to five years on the CPU, which suits builders who set it and forget it. On tube size it ties with the NT-H1, the NT-H1 SW and the NT-H2 AM5 at 3.5g. It is the only pick here with a three cleaning wipes in the box; the NT-H2 10g has a 10 cleaning wipes in the box instead.
It also offers a recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU and enough for around 3 to 20 applications. 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. It was priced above the NT-H1 SW and below the NT-H2 AM5 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Amount
- 3.5g
- In the box
- three cleaning wipes
- Application
- No need to spread before mounting
Pros
- Includes three cleaning wipes
- Recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU
- Enough for around 3 to 20 applications
Cons
- No published rated service life
- Costs more than the NT-H1 at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published rated service life figure, whereas the NT-H1 offers up to 5 years.
Worth a Look4 of 5
Noctua NT-H2 AM5 Edition (3.5g)
This NT-H2 edition adds a guard that keeps paste out of the cut-outs around an AM5 heatspreader, a real annoyance when repasting Ryzen 7000 and 9000 chips.
Best for
- Buyers who want NA-TPG1 guard that keeps paste out of the AM5 heatspreader's cut-outs.
Skip if
- Skip it if tube size matters most to you; the NT-H2 10g offers 10g.
Why we like it
It also comes with three cleaning wipes. The guard sits around an AM5 chip during application and lifts away, leaving the heatspreader cut-outs clean. Noctua rates the paste for up to five years on a CPU.
It matches the NT-H1, the NT-H1 SW and the NT-H2 on tube size (3.5g). Like the NT-H1 and NT-H1 SW, it has an about 3 to 20 applications per tube, while the NT-H2 10g uses an about 9 to 60 applications per tube. It also offers the second generation of Noctua's NT-H1. 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.
Key specs
- Amount
- 3.5g
- Rated service life
- up to 5 years
- Applications per tube
- About 3 to 20
- In the box
- an AM5 paste guard and three cleaning wipes
Pros
- Maker-rated for up to 5 years without reapplying
- Includes an AM5 paste guard and three cleaning wipes
- NA-TPG1 guard that keeps paste out of the AM5 heatspreader's cut-outs
- The second generation of Noctua's NT-H1
Cons
- Tube size trails the NT-H2 10g (10g)
- Costs more than the NT-H1 at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is tube size; for more, the NT-H2 10g comes in at 10g.
Largest Tube Size5 of 5
Noctua NT-H2 (10g)
The 10g NT-H2 is Noctua's second-generation paste in a size meant for builders who work on many machines, with 10 cleaning wipes included.
Best for
- Buyers who put tube size first.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the NT-H1, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Noctua quotes around 9 to 60 applications depending on CPU size. Its 10g tube size is the largest here; the NT-H1 comes next at 3.5g. It is the only pick here with an about 9 to 60 applications per tube; the NT-H1 has an about 3 to 20 applications per tube instead.
You get a 10 cleaning wipes in the box here, which sets it apart from the NT-H2 and its a three cleaning wipes in the box. You also get 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. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the NT-H2 AM5 and the rest.
Key specs
- Amount
- 10g
- Rated service life
- up to 5 years
- Applications per tube
- About 9 to 60
- In the box
- 10 cleaning wipes
- Application
- No need to spread before mounting
Pros
- 10g is enough for several applications
- Maker-rated for up to 5 years without reapplying
- Includes 10 cleaning wipes
- The second generation of Noctua's NT-H1
Cons
- Costs more than the NT-H1 at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is rated service life; for more, the NT-H1 offers up to 5 years.
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.
- What we compared
- We set side by side five pastes on tube size, rated service life, applications per tube and in the box, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 5 picks leave out rated service life.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the NT-H1 to the NT-H2 10g, state tube size.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The NT-H2 gives no rated service life; the NT-H2 gives no applications per tube.
- Price range
- From the NT-H1 to the NT-H2 10g, all sat in the under $50 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Noctua Thermal Paste
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Tube size
Here tube size runs from 3.5g on the NT-H2 AM5 to 10g on the NT-H2 10g, an 186% spread. Start with the NT-H2 10g if tube size decides it.
Features beyond the spec table
The NT-H2: enough for around 3 to 20 applications. The NT-H2 AM5: the second generation of Noctua's NT-H1. The NT-H2 10g: enough for dozens of mainstream CPUs.
A case with purple-lit front fans and the motherboard area behind them Budget
Price does little to separate these 5: the NT-H1 through the NT-H2 10g 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 NT-H1. Buyers who put tube size first: the NT-H2 10g.
A tower air cooler with brown fans installed in a PC 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 Noctua Thermal Paste
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the cost under $50 | NT-H1 | Undercutting the NT-H1 SW on price when we checked |
| Buyers who want rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU | NT-H1 SW | A rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU |
| Buyers who want recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU | NT-H2 | A recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU |
| Buyers who want NA-TPG1 guard that keeps paste out of the AM5 heatspreader's cut-outs | NT-H2 AM5 | An NA-TPG1 guard that keeps paste out of the AM5 heatspreader's cut-outs |
| Buyers who put tube size first | NT-H2 10g | The largest tube size here (10g) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The NT-H2 10g leads on tube size at 10g, ahead of the NT-H1 at 3.5g. "Not listed" marks rated service life where the NT-H2 leaves the figure out.
| Paste | Amount | Rated service life | Applications per tube | In the box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NT-H1 | 3.5g | up to 5 years | About 3 to 20 | Not listed |
| NT-H1 SW | 3.5g | up to 5 years | About 3 to 20 | a spatula and three cleaning wipes |
| NT-H2 | 3.5g | Not listed | Not listed | three cleaning wipes |
| NT-H2 AM5 | 3.5g | up to 5 years | About 3 to 20 | an AM5 paste guard and three cleaning wipes |
| NT-H2 10g | 10g | up to 5 years | About 9 to 60 | 10 cleaning wipes |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the largest tube size: the NT-H2 10g or the NT-H1?
Between the top two, it is 10g on the NT-H2 10g against 3.5g on the NT-H1, an 186% difference.
Is the NT-H2 10g worth paying more than the NT-H1?
The spec sheets show tube size (10g against 3.5g) in its favour. Both sat in the under $50 tier when we checked, so the gains in tube size cost little extra by tier.
What makes the NT-H2 10g the Largest Tube Size?
It carries the badge for the largest tube size here (10g). The NT-H1 is next on tube size at 3.5g, so this pick's 10g is 186% further out. It makes sense for anyone who puts tube size first.
Do the NT-H1 and the NT-H2 10g differ on applications per tube?
The NT-H1, the NT-H1 SW and the NT-H2 AM5 use about 3 to 20; the NT-H2 10g uses about 9 to 60. The maker of the NT-H2 doesn't state applications per tube, so 4 of 5 picks are covered here.
Beyond the specs, what sets the NT-H1 and the NT-H1 SW apart?
The NT-H1: cleanup with a dry paper towel, no alcohol needed. The NT-H1 SW: a rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU. The NT-H2: a recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the NT-H1, chosen for undercutting the NT-H1 SW on price when we checked. Look at the NT-H1 SW for a rated usage time of up to five years on a CPU or GPU, the NT-H2 for a recommended usage time of up to five years on the CPU and the NT-H2 AM5 for an NA-TPG1 guard that keeps paste out of the AM5 heatspreader's cut-outs if those matter more to you.
Neither needs pre-spreading; Noctua recommends a dot and letting the cooler press it out.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Thermal Pastes for CPUs and GPUs
- Related guideThe Best CPU Air Coolers
- Related guideThe Best Air Coolers
- Lower budgetThe Best Thermal Paste Under $10
- Similar guideThe Best Thermal Paste Kits
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- Topic hubAll cpu coolers and cooling guides
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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