Liquid Metal Thermal Paste...

[tstor]

I hope for some people to learn a lesson from this post before they ever have to try using liquid metal thermal paste. I just got done building my new gaming rig a few days ago when my new CPU cooler (Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO) and thermal compound (Coollaboratories Liquid Ultra) arrived in the mail. I was rather excited. I popped off the stock AMD cooler, removed all the thermal past, applied the new thermal paste, mounted the new cooler, and was ready to overclock. I OC'd my Ryzen 5 1600 to a cool 3.8 Ghz with no issues and I was happy to settle there. I was at an idle of about 25C and a max of 58C. I got done with a few hours of gaming before I decided to check on the new thermal compound, as I had never really used liquid metal in before. This is where it gets ugly...

I first noticed that one of the aluminum sides of the copper pipes on the Hyper 212 EVO was becoming corroded (see picture). I promptly took off the cooler and removed the thermal paste, which was an absolute pain. It simply did not want to come off. Quite a lot of elbow grease and isopropyl alcohol was required to simply get it off of the CPU itself. I then noticed small flakes had dropped to the motherboard. This would not be an issue with a regular thermal compound, but this is metallic (i.e., conductive). I spent hours upon hours using isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs scrubbing the infected areas of the motherboard. I finally got it all off and had to put back on the stock AMD cooler, as the Hyper 212 EVO was too badly corroded.

TL;DR
Do not use metal thermal pastes...ever. Performance is great until it corrodes your cooler and risks the life of your motherboard.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I hope for some people to learn a lesson from this post before they ever have to try using liquid metal thermal paste. I just got done building my new gaming rig a few days ago when my new CPU cooler (Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO) and thermal compound (Coollaboratories Liquid Ultra) arrived in the mail. I was rather excited. I popped off the stock AMD cooler, removed all the thermal past, applied the new thermal paste, mounted the new cooler, and was ready to overclock. I OC'd my Ryzen 5 1600 to a cool 3.8 Ghz with no issues and I was happy to settle there. I was at an idle of about 25C and a max of 58C. I got done with a few hours of gaming before I decided to check on the new thermal compound, as I had never really used liquid metal in before. This is where it gets ugly...

I first noticed that one of the aluminum sides of the copper pipes on the Hyper 212 EVO was becoming corroded (see picture). I promptly took off the cooler and removed the thermal paste, which was an absolute pain. It simply did not want to come off. Quite a lot of elbow grease and isopropyl alcohol was required to simply get it off of the CPU itself. I then noticed small flakes had dropped to the motherboard. This would not be an issue with a regular thermal compound, but this is metallic (i.e., conductive). I spent hours upon hours using isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs scrubbing the infected areas of the motherboard. I finally got it all off and had to put back on the stock AMD cooler, as the Hyper 212 EVO was too badly corroded.
View attachment 203068
TL;DR
Do not use metal thermal pastes...ever. Performance is great until it corrodes your cooler and risks the life of your motherboard.

All part of the learning experience!

 

[tstor]

All part of the learning experience!

I would be more fond of looking at it that way if I did not have to buy another CPU cooler for overclocking lol. I will have to wait for my next paycheck.

 

[Hall]

I have no idea what you just talked about but it sounds cool and will make sure to never use metal thermal paste.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I would be more fond of looking at it that way if I did not have to buy another CPU cooler for overclocking lol. I will have to wait for my next paycheck.

Ceramics is also undergoing a lot of development; ceramic engineering is important now in aeronautics.

 

[tstor]

Ceramics is also undergoing a lot of development; ceramic engineering is important now in aeronautics.

wut?

 

[faroukfarouk]

wut?

I guess I was just making the observation and thinking that ceramics can be lighter than metals but also they can be stronger; hence their use aeronautically in jet engine blades, and so forth. This involves a lot of research into temperatures at which metals and ceramics will turn into liquids, etc. - if at all.

 

[timewerx]

I never use anything that looks like pixie dust (metallic powder) near my computer.

They are not only thermally conductive but also electrically conductive as well. They could flake after a very long time and if any of these lands on the pins of your CPU, bye bye CPU!!

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

This is why I research everything online before buying stuff. I just use regular Artic Cooler paste. Also this is why I never bought water cooking systems, people don't realize how often they can have issues such as leaking. Especially when you first start. Or burst tubes...etc. I'd rather have a fan die out and the PC shut off then have a water cooler leak onto my motherboard, video card...etc and fry them all out.

 

[Waterwerx]

Liquid Metal Thermal Paste will corrode aluminum over time, and the added heat of the CPU will increase the rate of oxidation.

Using these non-standard pastes makes zero sense unless you know exactly what you're doing and are familiar with the components(motherboard, CPU, GPU, etc.). For the amount of trouble you have to go through to correctly use these pastes(lapping, delidding, cleaning & reapplying more frequently, etc.), its not worth it and would void your hardware warranties...

 

[Goatee]

Plus, u probably put too much on. It only requires a tiny amount.

 

[tstor]

Plus, u probably put too much on. It only requires a tiny amount.

I just spread a thin layer on it as per the instructions. I ended up ordering a new cooler, which is now installed.

 

[Dave-W]

It sounds like a galvanic reaction between the metal in your paste and the aluminum in the cooler. Anytime you have dissimilar metals together you can have that.

 

[Goatee]

I just spread a thin layer on it as per the instructions. I ended up ordering a new cooler, which is now installed.

I usually apply I tiny drop in the middle of the CUP. Not even a pea sized amount! It then spreads to the correct level when heatsink applied. Never had an issue. I have seen the problems when people have applied too much though!

 

[tstor]

I usually apply I tiny drop in the middle of the CUP. Not even a pea sized amount! It then spreads to the correct level when heatsink applied. Never had an issue. I have seen the problems when people have applied too much though!

That is correct for standard thermal paste. Liquid metal requires you to spread it across the entire surface. Like so:

 

[Vanpotheos]

You know that HUGE RED BOLD UNDERLINED card that came with the Liquid Metal thermal compound that says "DO NOT USE WITH ALUMINUM HEAT SINKS!" written on it?

Maybe you just throw out documentation that comes with anything you buy? Not reading the manual (or gigantic warning placards) in conjunction with not doing any research tends to lead to disaster when it comes to electronics.

I highly recommend Liquid Metal thermal compounds for anyone who is serious about performance and getting the most bang for their buck out of their hardware.

Just be sure you don't have an aluminum heat sink and this won't happen to you. Your hardware will actually last longer and work better.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

On the subject of PC cooling, years ago I thought about liquid cooling, but could not bring myself to go that route, simply on account of risking any potential leakage problem. Also because if I remember correctly, the liquid has to be refilled...every so often. Perhaps liquid cooling works wonderfully when it performs as described, and maybe it works great for most people, but then I am not most people. lol