Best thermal paste for your CPU in 2024

Looking for the best thermal paste out there to achieve optimal cooling for your PC? We’ve rounded up some of the best picks out there on the market right now.

Getting the best thermal paste will help you keep your gaming PC cool, which allows you to get the most out of your beloved build. Good cooling relies on a range of factors, but one of them is thermal paste.

Thermal paste might not be as attention-grabbing as a colorful RGB fan and cooler, or a big flashy PC case, but it is just as important to the functionality of your components. What sort of thermal paste you need varies; perhaps you are looking for something cheap and quick, or something a bit more bespoke for that premium touch. We’ve gone over some of the best options for you below.

1. Prolimatech PK-3 Nano thermal paste

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Multiple tests by many outlets such as Tom’s Hardware put the Prolimatech PK-3 near the top of the benchmarks for performance in thermal testing. That is certainly not to be sniffed at, but that level of performance does come at a price, so you will be paying a premium, especially compared to many other varieties of thermal paste. If keeping your PC cool is a top priority for you, then this is probably worth it.

2. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut

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Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is a more viscous and stable formulation than many other thermal compounds, making it easier to work with and apply. This is especially true for amateur PC builders who have not worked with thermal paste much. It includes a spatula to make application easier, and is much cheaper than the Prolimatech option listed above despite still being fairly premium compared to most options out there.

3. Arctic MX-6

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Arctic branded thermal paste is so ubiquitous that there are many people under the impression that ‘Arctic Silver’ is just another phrase for thermal paste. It got to that level of brand recognition for a good reason, it is a superb budget option that can still deliver a good level of performance for most uses. If you find yourself looking for something reliable that doesn’t break the bank, you cannot go wrong with Arctic.

4. Cooler Master Gel Pro v2

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Not everyone is experienced at building PCs, and for those who are new to the task, it is more or less inevitable that mistakes will be made. For those times, having a thermal compound that is easy to handle and cleans up well is extremely useful. Cooler Master Gel Pro v2 is notable in how easy it is to clean up compared to many other thermal compounds, making it a good choice for a novice PC builder.

5. Noctua NT-H1

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Noctua NT-H1 has a high rating on Amazon for a good reason. It might be in the ‘cheap and cheerful’ end of thermal compounds, but it does the job well and comes with an application tool and alcohol swaps for clean-up. It also has the advantage of a decently long shelf life of three years, making it a good option if you plan to upgrade within that timeframe.

How thermal paste works

Once applied, you spread the compound across the CPU. As you place the CPU cooler onto the CPU, it spreads out to cover the metal plate on top. Doing so can help keep the CPU cool where the lid isn’t properly reaching. It’s not exactly required, but placing it on will improve your performance when the PC starts hitting critical temperatures.

How much thermal paste should I use?

This varies between people and somewhat depends on the component, but a small pea-sized blob of paste should work. The ‘pea’ in question should be about a chickpea. You want it large enough to provide good coverage, but small enough that it’s not going to leak over the edges.

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