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Summary
Liquid metal is much better at transferring heat than thermal paste.
You should only use liquid metal if you’re an expert or have expert help.
Using liquid metal in place of thermal paste has been touted as an upgrade by many.
Justin Duino / How-To Geek
And yes, there are plenty of advantages.
But should you actually use it?
How does it compare to the regular, everyday thermal paste you’ve always used?
ASUS
What Is Liquid Metal?
Liquid metal is growing in popularity.
For example, the PlayStation 5 famously uses liquid metal for its cooling.
Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek
If Liquid Metal Is So Good, Why Isn’t Everyone Using It?
There are a few reasons why many people willingly stick to the good old thermal paste.
You should strictly cover the IHS and only the IHS.
The ‘old reliable’ of liquid metal TIMs, this thermal cooling solution is among the best and most trusted out there, and it’s great for everything from CPUs to GPUs.
It can also be corrosive.
Specifically, you shouldn’t use aluminum heatsinks over liquid metal, as it will corrode aluminum.
You’re pretty much forced to use copper heatsinks if you use liquid metal.
Thermal Grizzly’s Kryonaut paste is a balanced, well-performing option that aims to provide the best thermal transfer possible. Paired with a solid cooling solution, it’s one of the best thermal pastes your money can buy.
Should You Use Liquid Metal?
However, the risks involved with it ultimately mean that it should only be applied by experts.
Realistically, thermal paste is good enough for pretty much every PC.
But if your PC needs it, you’ll need expert assistance.
If you want to give liquid metal a shot, there are plenty of options you might check out.
If, however, you’d rather go for thermal paste, there are lots of reliable options.
Paired with a solid cooling solution, it’s one of the best thermal pastes your money can buy.
