DOWSIL TC-5550
You can tell that it’s a genuine industrial paste and not a patched-up gaming product, because both the composition and consistency as well as the stated values for the thermal conductivity are correct down to the decimal place. In its own documentation, Dow writes of up to 5.3 W/(m-K), so the 5.298 measured here is quite accurate. What had to be proven. The paste is very easy to apply and also passed all the simple tests for heating, cooling and extreme compression with flying colors.
Of the three pastes tested, this paste also has by far the best peelability (see previous page) and a stable silicone matrix. If you are looking for something balanced and easy to use in the upper mid-range, you will definitely find it here. Note the picture at the bottom right, where a fairly homogeneous layer remains even after separation. The TC-5550 is easier to work with than the Thermalright TF8, but in terms of all its properties (thermal resistance!) it is even a tad better!
Gelid Solutions GC-4
The Gelid GC-4 is inexpensive, but that’s about it. The absence of zinc oxide and the relatively coarse grinding grades not only make the paste somewhat more uncomfortable to use, but also likely to cause pump-out effects to set in sooner Even though this paste is inexpensive, I would definitely not use it privately. There is not much more to write about it and in the end it is hardly better than the (over)liquid Gelid GC-Extreme. When separating, the paste is much more torn up than the TC-5550.
Snowman TGM5 / TGM10
Not all products on AliExpress are bad per se, but the Snowman MTG is also only mediocre, even if it is reasonably priced. It performs about as well or as badly as the GC-4, but is more homogeneous and should last a little longer than the rather crumbly GC-4. The picture of the tear-off below is slightly better, but not ideal either. The bottom line is that if it’s just the CPU and not the graphics card, you can go for it.
Summary and conclusion
Once again, it has been shown that there is no way around a paste that has been developed and tested in large series by an experienced, large paste manufacturer and that it is better to avoid the stretched pastes from various bottlers and adulterers, no matter how boldly it says “gaming” and advertises utopian values for thermal conductivity. I would like to pass this on to all those who are still looking for a durable solution apart from the expensive pads and would like to get some serious information.
The fact that good industrial pastes are also available for the normal user is demonstrated by pastes such as KOLD-01, whose bottler and origin I know. And that’s why I can already spoil it at this point that I will soon be presenting a new German brand with three such pastes, where the products come from very safe and proven sources on the one hand, and on the other hand they have deliberately dispensed with all the gimmicks. Only facts count, which includes transparency and honesty. This, in turn, is a test that I am really looking forward to. That concludes today’s article and we will continue as teased…
However, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my request for more pastes, as the selection and stock can never be large enough. However, please discuss these things in advance via PN to avoid duplicates!
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