Heat Sink Compounds Price Comparison
Compare 150 heat sink compounds from Thermal Grizzly, ARCTIC, Noctua and more — find the best thermal paste price across UK retailers.
Thermal paste is one of those components that costs very little yet makes an enormous difference to CPU and GPU temperatures. A poor thermal interface material can add 10–15°C to your processor's operating temperature — enough to trigger throttling, reduce performance, and shorten component lifespan. Prices in this category range from 4 £ for a basic single-use tube to 11 £ at the extreme end, though the vast majority of buyers will find everything they need between 4 £ and 10 £.
The market is dominated by a handful of specialists. Thermal Grizzly leads on sheer product count with 27 references, and their Kryonaut and Hydronaut pastes have become benchmarks in the enthusiast community. ARCTIC follows closely with 24 products and the lowest average price — their MX-4 remains arguably the most recommended paste for everyday builds, offering excellent thermal conductivity without any risk of electrical conductivity. Noctua's NT-H1 and NT-H2 are perennial favourites among builders who prioritise ease of application and long-term stability. For those needing thermal pads rather than paste, Iceberg Thermal and Thermal Grizzly's Minus Pad range offer pre-formed solutions that suit fixed-pressure mounting configurations.
One thing worth flagging: the average price in this category sits at 8 £, which is skewed significantly upward by bulk professional packaging and specialist high-conductivity compounds. For a standard desktop or laptop reapplication, you simply don't need to spend anywhere near that figure. The sweet spot for most builders — covering two or three applications with a quality compound — sits comfortably around the 8 £ mark. You can compare live prices across Amazon.co.uk, Scan, Overclockers UK and other UK retailers directly on MagicPrices to make sure you're not overpaying.
It's also worth distinguishing between thermal paste and thermal pads. Paste allows you to control application thickness and suits most air coolers and AIOs. Pads are pre-formed to a fixed thickness and are better suited to VRMs, memory modules, or situations where consistent contact pressure is guaranteed. Mixing up the two for your use case is one of the most common — and easily avoided — mistakes. For everything related to keeping your system cool, also browse our Computer Cooling Systems and Cooling System Parts & Accessories categories. If you're building from scratch, Computer Cases is the natural next stop.
How to Choose the Right Thermal Compound
Most buyers spend more time choosing their CPU cooler than the paste that goes between it and the processor — yet the thermal interface material can account for a 5–15°C difference in real-world temperatures. Here's what actually matters when picking one.
Thermal conductivity rating (W/m·K)
This is the headline spec you'll see on every product listing. Budget compounds typically sit at 3–5 W/m·K, mainstream options at 5–8 W/m·K, and high-performance pastes like Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut reach 12.5 W/m·K. The be quiet! DC2 Pro claims an extraordinary 80 W/m·K — though real-world gains beyond 12–15 W/m·K are often marginal for standard builds. Don't chase the highest number blindly; application quality matters as much as the spec sheet. A well-applied mid-range compound will outperform a poorly applied premium one every time.
Paste vs. pad — choosing the right format
Thermal paste is the right choice for CPUs and most GPU die applications — it allows you to adjust thickness and compensates for minor surface imperfections. Thermal pads (like the Thermal Grizzly Minus Pad 8 or Iceberg Thermal DRIFTIce) are better suited to VRMs, VRAM chips, M.2 SSDs, and situations where you need a consistent, pre-formed thickness. Using a pad on a CPU where mounting pressure varies is a common mistake — it can result in uneven contact and worse temperatures than a basic paste would achieve.
Electrical conductivity — a safety consideration
The vast majority of compounds on this list are non-conductive — ceramic, metal oxide, or boron nitride-based — and are safe to use even if a small amount strays onto PCB traces. A handful of specialist compounds use metallic particles for extreme conductivity; these require very careful application and are generally unnecessary for consumer builds. If you're not sure, stick with ARCTIC MX-4, Noctua NT-H1/NT-H2, or Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut — all non-conductive, all well-tested.
Quantity: single-use vs. multi-application
A 1g tube covers a single CPU application with little margin for error. 3.5–4g (the most common size, used by Noctua and Thermal Grizzly's standard tubes) gives you two to three applications — enough for a build plus a future cooler swap. If you're servicing multiple machines or running a small workshop, the 8g or 45g ARCTIC MX-4 packs bring the cost per gram down significantly. Don't buy bulk unless you'll genuinely use it; thermal paste does have a shelf life, typically three to five years once opened.
Pump-out resistance and long-term stability
Pump-out — where compound is gradually squeezed out from under mounting pressure during thermal cycling — is a real issue, particularly on systems that heat up and cool down repeatedly. Compounds with higher viscosity and better pump-out resistance maintain their thermal performance over 12+ months. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is sometimes criticised for pump-out under sustained high temperatures (above 80°C continuously), which is worth knowing if you're running a heavily overclocked system. For longevity under load, Noctua NT-H2 and ARCTIC MX-6 are often cited as more stable long-term choices.
Ease of removal and reapplication
This matters more than most guides admit. When you upgrade your cooler or CPU, you'll need to clean off the old compound. Pastes that harden significantly over time require aggressive scraping and risk scratching the IHS or cooler base plate. Most quality compounds clean up easily with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) at 90%+ concentration — a bottle of which costs very little and should be part of any builder's toolkit. Avoid cheaper pastes that are known to dry out and cake; they're a nuisance to remove and rarely perform well to begin with.
- Entry-level — single application (From 4 £ to 6 £) : Small tubes (1–4g) from ARCTIC and budget-tier brands. The ARCTIC MX-4 4g sits comfortably here and punches well above its price. Perfectly adequate for a standard desktop build or laptop reapplication. No frills, no extras — just functional thermal paste.
- The sweet spot (From 6 £ to 8 £) : Where most enthusiast-grade single tubes live: Noctua NT-H1, NT-H2, Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut (1g and 3.9g), and ARCTIC MX-4 8g. This range offers the best balance of performance, ease of application, and value. Our recommendation for the vast majority of builders.
- Premium compounds and larger packs (From 8 £ to 10 £) : Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut larger formats, Gelid Solutions compounds, and mid-size ARCTIC packs. Also where thermal pads from Iceberg Thermal and Thermal Grizzly start appearing. Worth it if you're servicing multiple systems or want the absolute best thermal performance for an overclocked rig.
- Professional and bulk packaging (Over 10 £) : Bulk packs (20g+), Iceberg Thermal's premium pad range, and specialist high-conductivity compounds. Primarily for system integrators, PC repair shops, or extreme overclockers. The ASUS ROG RG-07 20g kit and Prolimatech's higher-end offerings sit here. Overkill for a single home build.
Top products
- ARCTIC MX-4 (8 g) Edition 2019 – High Performance Thermal Paste (ARCTIC) : The benchmark value pick — non-conductive, easy to apply, and good for four to five applications. Not the highest conductivity on paper, but consistently outperforms its price in real-world testing. The go-to recommendation for most builders.
- Noctua NT-H1 3.5G heat sink compound Thermal paste (Noctua) : Noctua's long-standing classic — forgiving to apply, stable over years of use, and trusted by builders who don't want to think twice. Not the absolute peak performer, but reliability and ease of use make it a top choice for anyone upgrading a cooler.
- Noctua NT-H2 heat sink compound 3.5 g (Noctua) : A genuine step up from the NT-H1 with improved thermal conductivity and better pump-out resistance — worth the modest price difference if you're running a high-load system. Slightly thicker consistency means it rewards a careful application technique.
- Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut heat sink compound 12.5 W/m·K 11.1 g (Thermal Grizzly) : One of the highest-conductivity non-conductive pastes available, and a favourite among overclockers. The 11.1g format offers excellent value per gram. Caveat: it can degrade faster under sustained temperatures above 80°C — not ideal for always-on workstations.
- Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut heat sink compound Thermal paste 11.8 W/m·K 3.9 g (Thermal Grizzly) : Hydronaut sits between Kryonaut and budget options — slightly lower peak conductivity but better long-term stability under continuous load. A smart choice for gaming PCs that run hot for hours at a time. Often overlooked in favour of Kryonaut, but arguably the more sensible everyday pick.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thermal paste for a standard home PC build in 2026?
For most home builds, the ARCTIC MX-4 or Noctua NT-H1 are the two safest recommendations. Both are non-conductive, easy to apply, widely available from UK retailers, and perform within a degree or two of compounds costing three times as much. The NT-H1 has a slight edge in ease of application; the MX-4 wins on price per gram. Unless you're overclocking aggressively, there's no meaningful reason to spend more.
Is there a real performance difference between a cheap and expensive thermal paste?
Yes, but it's smaller than most people expect. The gap between a budget compound (3–5 W/m·K) and a premium one (12+ W/m·K) is typically 5–10°C under sustained load — significant for overclocking, but unlikely to cause throttling on a standard build. The bigger variable is application technique: too much paste, too little, or an uneven spread will cost you more temperature than switching from a mid-range to a premium compound. Get the application right first.
Can I use a thermal pad instead of thermal paste on my CPU?
Generally, no — thermal pads are not recommended as a direct CPU replacement for thermal paste. Pads have a fixed thickness and require consistent, even mounting pressure to perform well. CPU cooler mounting mechanisms apply variable pressure, which can result in poor contact with a pad. Thermal pads are best suited to VRMs, VRAM chips, M.2 SSDs, and other components where the gap is consistent and pre-determined. Stick to paste for your CPU and GPU die.
How often should I reapply thermal paste?
For most systems, every two to three years is a reasonable interval — or whenever you remove the cooler for any reason. Signs that reapplication is overdue include rising idle temperatures, increased fan noise, or thermal throttling on tasks that previously ran smoothly. Laptops tend to need more frequent reapplication (every 18–24 months) due to smaller heatsinks and higher sustained temperatures. Always clean off the old compound thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol before applying fresh paste.
Is Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut worth the premium over ARCTIC MX-4?
For overclocked systems running sustained loads above 70–80°C, Kryonaut can offer a genuine 3–5°C advantage over MX-4. However, Kryonaut has a known weakness: it can degrade faster under continuous high temperatures, making it a less ideal choice for systems that run hot around the clock. For a standard gaming PC or workstation, the MX-4 is the more pragmatic choice. Kryonaut makes more sense for competitive overclocking or benchmarking scenarios where peak performance matters more than longevity.
What are the risks of using an electrically conductive thermal compound?
Electrically conductive compounds — typically those using metallic particles — can cause short circuits if they contact PCB traces, capacitors, or exposed pins around the CPU socket. Even a small amount of overspill can permanently damage a motherboard. For consumer builds, there is no practical reason to use a conductive compound; non-conductive options like ARCTIC MX-4 and Noctua NT-H1 deliver comparable or superior performance without the risk. Conductive compounds are a specialist tool, not a general upgrade.
How much thermal paste should I apply to a CPU?
A pea-sized dot in the centre of the IHS is the standard recommendation for most CPUs — roughly 0.3–0.5ml. The mounting pressure from the cooler spreads it evenly. Applying too much is the most common mistake: excess paste can overflow onto the socket, is harder to clean, and doesn't improve thermal performance. For larger dies (AMD Threadripper, Intel Xeon), a thin line or cross pattern may give better coverage. Never pre-spread manually unless the compound's instructions specifically recommend it.