paste question

i'm wanting to order some pico ez mate pigtails and while i was at it i need some thermal paste. i found the pigtails at digi key, but the only paste i have really heard of is the arctic silver. digi key doesn't have it. what are some other brands of paste that are worth using? i tried search but didn't come up with much at all. thanks in advance.

I use https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4RE4Y79666
Prolly not as good as arctic silver, but it works fine and one tub will be handed down for generations... Its easier to spread that AS is, which I like.

They are pretty much all the same... Just make sure you don't get thermal adhesive unless u specifically need it. I've used thermaltake brand on my PC builds and just bought a couple tubes of arctic silver for my LEDs. Coolermaster, masscool, noctua also make pastes.

Stay away from the cheap ceramic stuff , it is not very good. AS5 has a Thermal conductivity 8.9 W/mK I would not use anything lower then that for cobs. If you want to spend more PK3 has a thermal conductivity of 11.2 W/mK But it is on the pricy side. 5grams of PK3 costs the same as 15 grams of AS5. Personally i use PK3 for the better thermal conductivity every degree cooler the cobs run means more lumens for the plants.

thank you i'll see what i can come up with.

Arctic MX4 is my favorite. It's one of the top performers and the consistency is about perfect. Not too thick and not too thin.

You could aswell just make your own instead of buying it

EDIT: There are some noticeable differences in TIMs (ΔT wise) so check them out before you buy or make one.

Pk2 is cheaper than arctic silver with better wm\k

the era of Paste is dead

I have used Graftech on variety of cobs over the last couple of years and have no complaints.

No mess to cleanup
Cut to size
Comparable in $

Mx4 worked lovely for me. I'd buy again.

Abiqua said:

Pk2 is cheaper than arctic silver with better wm\k

the era of Paste is dead

I have used Graftech on variety of cobs over the last couple of years and have no complaints.

No mess to cleanup
Cut to size
Comparable in $

Click to expand...

i saw where one of the members here used the peel and stick in a youtube video making a far red light. how is it if you have to remove a burnt cob?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181852749369?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Dont know how much you are doing but 10g at 23$ is killer.Give you way more for extra

giggywatts said:

i saw where one of the members here used the peel and stick in a youtube video making a far red light. how is it if you have to remove a burnt cob?

Click to expand...

I have had what you 1st descibe....berhquist pre cut for free xt-e's and they work good.one side sticky only.

Graftech is similar one side sticky and I think they recommend mounting to diode not heatsink...never had a burnt diode though guess i am lucky but if cleanup is needed..most can be peeled off with fingers and then alcohol cleans up any traces left.....I have even used these between aluminum substrate and copper heatsink on purpose because it is a no-no.....just went a year without problems