The 5 Best Thermal Pastes for CPUs in 2025
Expert-tested thermal compounds for AMD AM5 & Intel 14th/15th gen processors. Maximize your CPU cooling performance with our comprehensive reviews and testing data.
Why thermal paste still matters in 2025: With AMD's new AM5 Ryzen 9000 series reaching 95°C at stock settings and Intel's 14th/15th gen CPUs pushing 250W+ under load, proper thermal management is more critical than ever. Even a 2-3°C temperature reduction can mean the difference between thermal throttling and peak performance in today's high-power gaming and content creation workloads.
After testing dozens of thermal compounds with AMD AM5 and Intel LGA1700 CPUs, we've identified the top 5 thermal pastes that deliver the best combination of performance, value, and ease of use for 2025.
Top 5 Best Thermal Pastes for 2025
Arctic MX-6
Ultimate Performance Value Champion
Arctic MX-6 has revolutionized the thermal paste market by delivering premium performance at mainstream pricing. In our testing with AMD Ryzen 7600X, MX-6 performed within 0.3°C of pastes costing significantly more, making it the clear value champion for 2025.
Key Specifications
✅ Pros
- Premium performance at excellent value
- Extremely high viscosity prevents pump-out
- 20% better thermal performance than MX-4
- Beginner-friendly application
- Universal cooler compatibility
- Includes authenticity verification system
❌ Cons
- High viscosity makes manual spreading difficult
- Requires cooler mounting pressure for distribution
- Cannot be spread with spatula
Best for:
Mainstream gaming builds, direct-die cooling, users wanting premium performance without premium pricing, applications requiring long-term stability.
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme
Peak Traditional Performance
For users demanding absolute maximum performance from traditional thermal paste, Kryonaut Extreme consistently ranks in the top 3 across all major hardware reviews. With its 14.2 W/mK thermal conductivity and extreme temperature range, it's designed for serious overclocking.
Key Specifications
✅ Pros
- Maximum thermal performance for traditional paste
- Optimized for extreme overclocking
- No curing time required
- Excellent high-temperature stability
- Universal socket compatibility
❌ Cons
- Premium pricing
- Very viscous and challenging application
- Can degrade above 80°C reducing longevity
- Strings heavily during application
Best for:
Extreme overclocking, liquid nitrogen cooling, users prioritizing absolute maximum performance regardless of cost.
Noctua NT-H2
Premium Reliability with Accessories
Noctua NT-H2 represents the gold standard for premium thermal compounds, delivering top-tier performance within 0.3°C of the best performers while including premium cleaning accessories and offering exceptional consistency.
Key Specifications
✅ Pros
- Top-tier performance with excellent consistency
- 5+ year stability rating
- Includes premium cleaning wipes
- No break-in period required
- Significant improvement over NT-H1
- AM5 edition includes thermal paste guard
❌ Cons
- Challenging application with tendency to string
- Moderate difficulty for beginners
- Premium pricing for included accessories
Best for:
Premium builds where reliability matters most, users wanting comprehensive installation accessories, long-term systems requiring minimal maintenance.
Thermalright TF8
Budget Performance Leader
Thermalright TF8 proves that excellent thermal performance doesn't require a premium price tag. Despite its budget pricing, TF8 delivers performance rivaling pastes costing significantly more, making it exceptional value for budget-conscious builders.
Key Specifications
✅ Pros
- Outstanding price-performance ratio
- Thick consistency prevents pump-out
- Excellent for high-temperature applications
- Long service life
- No curing time required
- Includes application spatula
❌ Cons
- Very thick viscosity requires spreading skill
- Bubble-gum consistency challenging for beginners
- Limited brand recognition vs premium options
Best for:
Budget-conscious builders, laptops and high-temperature applications, users prioritizing value over ease of application.
Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut
Liquid Metal Performance Leader
⚠️ EXPERT LEVEL ONLY: Requires advanced application skills and poses significant risks if misapplied.
Conductonaut offers absolute maximum thermal performance with 5-10°C better results than traditional paste, but requires expert-level application skills and poses significant risks if misapplied.
Key Specifications
✅ Pros
- Absolute maximum thermal performance
- Significant temperature reductions under extreme loads
- Optimized for high-power applications
- Best performance above 8°C temperature differential
❌ Cons
- NEVER compatible with aluminum coolers
- Electrically conductive - extreme caution required
- Extremely difficult application
- Can void CPU warranty
- Potential for permanent component damage
Best for:
Expert-level extreme overclocking ONLY, professional applications where maximum cooling is critical, users with extensive liquid metal experience.
Thermal Paste Comparison Table
| Product | Performance Level | Thermal Conductivity | Best Use Case | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic MX-6 | 🏆 Excellent Value | ~12 W/mK (estimated) | Gaming & General Use | Beginner |
| Kryonaut Extreme | Premium Performance | 14.2 W/mK | Extreme Overclocking | Advanced |
| Noctua NT-H2 | Premium Reliability | Undisclosed | Premium Builds | Moderate |
| Thermalright TF8 | 🏆 Budget Champion | 13.8 W/mK | Budget Builds | Moderate |
| Conductonaut | Maximum Performance | 73 W/mK | Expert Overclocking | Expert Only |
Buying Guide: Which Thermal Paste is Right for You?
🎮 For Gaming PCs (95% of users)
Arctic MX-6 offers the best balance of performance, ease of use, and value. It delivers premium results at mainstream pricing and includes excellent pump-out resistance for long-term reliability.
🚀 For Extreme Overclocking
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme for traditional paste, or Conductonaut for maximum performance (experts only). Both deliver the absolute best thermal performance available.
💰 For Budget Builds
Thermalright TF8 provides excellent performance at an unbeatable price point. The larger sizes offer outstanding value for multiple builds or applications.
Application Tips for AMD AM5 and Intel LGA1700
AMD AM5 (Ryzen 7000/8000/9000 Series)
Application method: Single 3-4mm center dot due to smaller heat spreader area. All quality pastes perform within 1-2°C of each other on AM5 due to the compact chiplet design.
Intel LGA1700 (12th/13th/14th/15th Gen)
Application method: Five-dot pattern - center dot plus four corner dots for hybrid P-core/E-core architecture. Larger IHS requires more paste volume than AMD equivalents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arctic MX-6 offers the best overall value, delivering premium performance at mainstream pricing. For absolute maximum performance, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme leads traditional pastes, while Conductonaut liquid metal provides the ultimate thermal performance for expert users.
Liquid metal like Conductonaut provides 5-10°C better performance than traditional paste, but the application difficulty and safety risks make it worthwhile only for expert overclockers. For most users, high-quality traditional pastes like MX-6 or Kryonaut Extreme offer 95% of the performance with much easier application.
Quality thermal pastes like MX-6 and NT-H2 last 3-5 years under normal conditions. Replace thermal paste when you notice temperature increases of 3-5°C compared to baseline, or every 2-3 years for optimal performance. Gaming laptops may require more frequent replacement due to thermal cycling.
Performance differences between quality thermal pastes are typically just 1-3°C under identical conditions. More important factors include ease of application, longevity, and pump-out resistance. High-viscosity pastes like MX-6 and TF8 resist pump-out better than low-viscosity alternatives.
Yes, but high-power GPUs (RTX 4090, 600W operation) show pump-out effects within weeks using thin pastes. For GPU applications, recommend high-viscosity options like MX-6, TF8, or phase-change materials like Honeywell PTM7950.
Our 2025 Thermal Paste Recommendations
After extensive testing with modern AMD AM5 and Intel LGA1700 platforms, Arctic MX-6 emerges as our top recommendation for 2025. It delivers premium performance that matches more expensive pastes while offering excellent pump-out resistance and beginner-friendly application.
For users demanding absolute maximum performance, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme remains the traditional paste champion, while Conductonaut liquid metal provides ultimate thermal performance for expert users willing to accept the application challenges and safety considerations.
Bottom Line: The performance gap between quality thermal pastes has narrowed significantly in 2025. Choose based on your skill level, budget, and specific use case rather than chasing maximum thermal conductivity numbers.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase products through our links, at no additional cost to you. This helps support our testing and keeps our reviews independent and unbiased.
