Is Liquid Metal Better Than Thermal Paste? A Deep Dive for PC Enthusiasts
The short answer? Yes, liquid metal is generally better than thermal paste for pure thermal performance. However, that simplistic answer hides a world of caveats, risks, and considerations. Liquid metal offers superior heat transfer capabilities, potentially leading to lower CPU and GPU temperatures. But its conductive nature, reactivity with certain metals, and application difficulty make it a choice best suited for experienced PC builders willing to accept the potential downsides. Let’s unpack this in detail.
Understanding the Players: Thermal Paste vs. Liquid Metal
What is Thermal Paste?
Thermal paste, also known as thermal grease or thermal interface material (TIM), is a compound applied between a CPU/GPU integrated heat spreader (IHS) and a cooler. Its primary function is to fill the microscopic air gaps that exist between these two surfaces. Air is a poor conductor of heat, so eliminating these gaps significantly improves heat transfer from the chip to the cooler, allowing for more efficient dissipation. Typical thermal pastes are composed of a silicone or ceramic base mixed with metal oxides like zinc oxide or aluminum oxide.
What is Liquid Metal?
Liquid metal TIM is a completely different beast. It’s typically a eutectic alloy of metals like gallium, indium, and tin. These alloys exhibit exceptionally high thermal conductivity, far surpassing that of traditional thermal pastes. This means they can transfer heat much more efficiently. The most commonly used liquid metal TIM is GalinStan, an alloy of Gallium, Indium, and Tin.
The Performance Difference: How Much Better is Liquid Metal?
In ideal scenarios, liquid metal can offer a significant temperature reduction compared to even high-end thermal pastes. You can expect to see drops of anywhere from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius on your CPU or GPU under load, depending on the specific components and cooling system. This can translate to higher sustained clock speeds, improved overclocking headroom, and potentially quieter operation as fans don’t need to spin as fast to maintain temperatures.
The Dark Side: Risks and Challenges of Liquid Metal
The benefits of liquid metal come at a price:
- Conductivity: Liquid metal is highly conductive. If it spills onto the motherboard or other components, it can cause short circuits and potentially permanent damage. This is the biggest risk associated with liquid metal application.
- Reactivity: Liquid metal, specifically the gallium in many alloys, reacts aggressively with aluminum. Never use liquid metal with aluminum heatsinks or heat spreaders. The reaction will cause corrosion and pitting, ultimately destroying the aluminum. Copper and nickel-plated surfaces are generally safe.
- Application Difficulty: Applying liquid metal is more challenging than applying thermal paste. It requires precision and a steady hand to ensure even coverage and prevent spills.
- Staining: Liquid metal can stain the IHS and the cooler contact surface. While this doesn’t affect performance, it can be cosmetically undesirable.
- Longevity & Pump-Out: While longer lasting than some thermal pastes, liquid metal can experience “pump-out,” where it gradually migrates away from the center of the IHS over time due to thermal cycling. This necessitates reapplication.
- Cost: Liquid metal is significantly more expensive than traditional thermal paste.
Is Liquid Metal Right For You? A Checklist
Before you take the plunge, consider these questions:
- Are you comfortable working inside your PC? Liquid metal application requires a higher level of skill and caution than applying thermal paste.
- Is your cooler compatible? Ensure your cooler base is made of copper or nickel-plated copper, not aluminum.
- Are you willing to accept the risk of potential damage? Accidents happen. Be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
- Do you need the absolute best thermal performance? If you’re not pushing your system to its limits, the extra performance may not be worth the risk.
Alternatives to Liquid Metal: Bridging the Gap
If you’re hesitant to use liquid metal, consider these alternatives:
- High-End Thermal Paste: Premium thermal pastes like Kryonaut Extreme, Noctua NT-H1/H2, and Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut can offer excellent performance, closing the gap with liquid metal while being much safer to use.
- Phase Change Material (PCM): PCMs like Honeywell PTM7950 offer a good compromise between performance, longevity, and ease of use. They are often found in laptops due to their excellent thermal performance and resistance to pump-out.
Application Techniques and Safety Precautions
If you decide to proceed with liquid metal, follow these steps carefully:
- Preparation: Clean the IHS and cooler base thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol.
- Protection: Apply electrical tape or conformal coating around the CPU socket to protect the motherboard from spills.
- Application: Use the applicator provided with the liquid metal to apply a very thin layer to both the IHS and the cooler base. A little goes a long way.
- Spreading: Use a cotton swab or applicator to spread the liquid metal evenly. It should have a mirror-like finish.
- Cleanup: Immediately clean up any spills with a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol.
- Monitoring: Monitor your temperatures closely after applying liquid metal.
The Future of Thermal Interface Materials
The quest for better thermal solutions is ongoing. Researchers are exploring new materials and technologies, including:
- Carbon Nanotubes: These offer exceptional thermal conductivity and are being investigated for use in thermal pastes and other TIMs.
- Graphene: Similar to carbon nanotubes, graphene boasts high thermal conductivity and potential for use in advanced TIMs.
- Direct-Die Cooling: This involves removing the IHS entirely and mounting the cooler directly to the CPU die, maximizing heat transfer but also increasing risk.
The Importance of Education and Responsible Practices
It’s crucial for PC enthusiasts to educate themselves about the risks and benefits of different thermal interface materials. Sharing knowledge and promoting responsible practices within the community is essential to prevent accidents and ensure the longevity of our hardware. Organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org can play a role in fostering this education. This website is the home of experts in various games-based STEM learning experiences.
Conclusion: Making the Informed Choice
Liquid metal offers a significant performance advantage over thermal paste, but it’s not without its drawbacks. Weigh the risks and benefits carefully, consider your skill level, and choose the TIM that’s right for your needs. Remember, safety and responsible practices should always be your top priorities. With proper research and careful application, you can unlock the full potential of your system while minimizing the risk of damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does liquid metal thermal paste last?
Liquid metal oxidises, needs replacing every two-three years. Phase change material is superior for laptops.
2. When should I not use liquid metal thermal paste?
Under no circumstances can liquid metal thermal paste be used with heat spreaders or cooler bases made of aluminum.
3. Is it worth using liquid metal for CPU coolers?
It is worth using liquid metal as a heat transfer medium because it offers much better heat transfer compared to classic thermal paste. However, in practice it also harbors dangers, for example due to spillage. In the worst case, this can even cause damage to the PC components.
4. Is it OK to touch liquid metal?
As long as you don’t expose your skin to the metal too much and you wash your hands after then you would be fine.
5. What are the cons of liquid metal thermal paste?
Liquid metal thermal paste is conductive, and can cause shorts if it gets on electrical components. It is also much more expensive than normal thermal paste, and cannot be used with aluminum heat sinks, as it will destroy them.
6. Does liquid metal damage CPU?
Liquid metal will NOT corrode the CPU die, nor will it corrode the IHS. A surface alloying between the nickel plating on the IHS and the gallium in galinistan occurs.
7. How often should liquid metal be replaced?
You will probably want to replace after 1-3 Years, depending on Workload.
8. How long does liquid metal take to cure?
Drying time is 3 to 4 hours and full cure will take place within 24 hours.
9. Is liquid metal thermal paste permanent?
No it is not permanent; liquid metal thermal paste is one time use, as is normal thermal paste. The only type of material that goes in the CPU that is multiple use is the thermal pads.
10. Can thermal paste last 10 years?
Thermal paste can last as short as 2 years to as long as 10 years depending on the cooling system, weather, usage, and the quality of the compound.
11. Can toothpaste replace thermal paste?
Toothpaste does not meet these requirements. It lacks heat-conductive materials, its water content could potentially cause electrical issues, and it dries out over time. It should never be used.
12. Is a thermal pad better than paste?
A thermal paste is a much better option than a thermal pad, in most cases.
13. Is liquid cooling CPU worth it?
If you want the lowest possible temperatures, or if you’re interested in a quieter solution and don’t mind a slightly more complex installation process, liquid cooling is probably the best option.
14. Is liquid metal cooling better than water cooling?
The main difference between liquid metal and water is that liquid metal would be able to conduct heat away from the fins in the block at a much lower gpm flow rate. Liquid cooling refers to using water blocks to cool CPU/GPU, not using liquid metal.
15. Can liquid metal freeze?
When molten metal cools sufficiently it will freeze in to a solid.