CPU to hot
CPU to hot
I purchased the CARBONAUT 32x32 mm from thermal-grizzly a day ago as a substitute for thermal paste. I followed all the instructions carefully, and now my temperature stays between 60 to 70 degrees, while in games like Minecraft it reaches 90 - 100 degrees. CPU model is i9900K, AIO is Corsair H150i Pro RGB.
It seems you're questioning why someone would choose a premium thermal paste alternative when a slightly improved thermal paste would suffice. The carbonaut appears thin, maybe even thinner than standard paste, which suggests you'd need to apply more pressure carefully during installation. However, you can't apply too much pressure as it might stress the CPU or damage connections with the motherboard.
It might be an improper setup or a defective AIO and pump. Only you can confirm this after testing. Watch closely and listen to the pump; observe if it operates correctly. Consider retrying your installation. If you notice bubbles and trapped air inside the AIO, try placing the PC on its side with radiators facing up, giving it a gentle shake—not too hard. Avoid reaching 90°C in Minecraft, and also verify your CPU voltage. Reset your BIOS to its default state for extra assurance, as hitting 90°C in a game with any BIOS configuration isn’t advisable.
in a perfect world, tiny gaps and scratches on every CPU and cooler heat plate allow more air to flow through while reducing air inside the paste because it simply fills it.
It's unclear how this connects to your comment about the sheet being thinner than paste. The paste becomes thinner due to mounting pressure that squeezes it, covering only the imperfections and enabling direct metal-to-metal contact. Sheets don't get compressed as much as paste does.