Keeping our CPUs cool require two
components, not just the cooler itself. You could have the most
expensive cooler out there, but if you've got junk thermal compound
you might as well be using the stock cooler instead.
Today for review I've got Arctic
Cooling Arctic MX-3 thermal compound. The MX-2 version performed very
well and received many awards. Let's find out how the new version
performs, I've put it up against four other compounds for
comparison...
Premium Thermal Compound with
High Thermal Conductivity
Main Features:
*
High Thermal Conductivity
*
Low Thermal Resistance
*
Non-Electrical Conductive
*
Non-Capacitive
*
Non-Corrosive
*
No Curing
*
No Bleeding
Unparalleled thermal
performance
As an upgraded version of the
award-winning ARCTIC MX-2, the performance of the ARCTIC MX-3
outranges other well-known thermal compounds clearly. This new
compound is composed of carbon microparticles which lead to an
extremely high thermal conductivity – 8.2 W/mK. It guarantees that
heat from the CPU or GPU can be dissipated quickly and efficiently.
Tested and proven, by using the
ARCTIC MX-3, the CPU core temperature is 7°C and 2.5°C lower than
using stock compound and other branded ones respectively. It shows
how significant a high performance thermal compound can be to reduce
the temperature. Such excellent cooling result is surely what every
overclocker and gamer is looking for. The ARCTIC MX-3 is the easiest
way to push the overclockability further!
Safer. Better.
The ARCTIC MX-3 is a
metal-free, non-electrically conductive compound which does not cause
any damage of the components if it is accidentally spilled out on
them. It eliminates any risks of short circuit and provides more
protection to the CPUs, graphic cards and other applications between
power semiconductor components and heatsinks. The ARCTIC MX-3 is a
truly hassle-free premium thermal compound you can rely on.
Specs:
Thermal conductivity: 8.2 W/mK
Viscosity: 875 poise
Density: 2.32 g/cm3
Net weight: 4g
Warranty: 8 year
A
Better Look at Things:
The MX-3 comes in a plastic
package, inside you'll find a familiar syringe style delivery device.
Installation,
Testing and Comparison:
The consistency of the MX-3 is
actually rather thick compared to MX-2, but it's similar to the
Noctua compound. It's about as thick as peanut butter really making
it a bit hard to spread.
I've compared the MX-3 to a few
other compounds I've got on hand including Chillaramic, NT-H1, Gelid
GC1 and MX-2 (not pictured)
Ambient room temperature during
testing was 23.5C (+/- .3C).
I used the latest version of
CoreTemp to monitor and log the CPU temperatures at Idle and Load.
Idle is just the computer sitting
there running whatever normal processes etc.
Load was achieved by running two
instances of Orthos Stress prime.
As you can see there isn't much
difference between the MX-2 and the MX-3 really, at least in my
testing, but it is obviously much better than the others in the test.
Overall it is the best choice to use for a thermal compound.
I've personally been using MX-2
for most everything I do because it has been the best performing out
of all I have. Now with the introduction of MX-3 there is a reason to
switch, but not until I run out of MX-2, which won't be long...
Summary
and Comments:
Arctic MX-3 performs admirably
well when put up against other thermal compound options out there
today.
While it not be much of an
improvement over the MX-2 compound, it still offers an improvement
though, and any little bit helps, especially if you're overclocking
and trying to get the most from your components.
DragonSteelMods gives the Arctic
Cooling ARCTIC MX-3 Thermal Compound a 5 out of 5 score and our
Recommended Award as well.
I buy Thermal compound ARCTIC MX-3, but, what is the better sollution to apply it on intel CPU ? applying just in center or all CPU surface ? I read many things, but... Can you help me, and tell me how you perform your tests?
Thank you in advance for your Help, A. Ferreira
Comment by
on 2010-04-24 10:24:12 hi,
my experience is even all over the surface and thin as possible is the best choice because the MX-3 is rather thick in it´s consistence. If you put only a drop in the middle of the cpu the 4 corners still have no compound (tested this). The complete surface of the cpu must be even and thin filmed covered, so then it is guaranteed that the thermal difference between idle and full load changes to optimum in shortest time (and cools down fast)
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