Consider changing to a graphite pad instead of thermal paste. Need advice?
Consider changing to a graphite pad instead of thermal paste. Need advice?
I have an i7 9700k with a Noctua NH-U12 cooling solution and Coolermaster MasterGel thermal pad. Recently, I saw Innovation Cooling graphite pads and wondered if they’re better than paste. I prefer avoiding paste cleaning, so I’m curious—do others use these pads? Are they effective?
Graphite thermal pads aren't superior to conventional paste just because they're thicker. The Mastergel Maker stands out as a top non-metal thermal paste, meaning using a pad might actually lead to higher temperatures rather than lower ones. Edited September 19, 2020 by Mateyyy
Pads are not ideal and I wouldn't suggest using them. Consider Noctua's NT-H1 instead—it lasts about five years (based on personal testing) and is easy to swap out. For better performance, try Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut or Kinpin KPx, though the latter can be difficult to find.
Unless you frequently change the CPU and cooler, it's better not to use them—they work less efficiently than high-quality thermal paste.