Are there any new advancements in thermal pad technology since Honeywell’s PTM7950?

Thermal transfer is still a major concern for cooling CPUs. In fact, many OEMs have switched to using PTM7950 for GPU cooling. It really makes a difference, especially in keeping hotspot temperatures down significantly. Sure, traditional thermal paste is fine and all, but once you try PTM, you'll see why many prefer it — it adheres really well. Although the price of good thermal paste is climbing, I think it's still worth it to consider PTM or other PCM options.

There was a recent buzz about a company called Xerendipity that claimed to have thermal pads with vapor chambers, but they’re not available yet and it’s still up in the air how effective they might be. Also, thermal putty is becoming a popular alternative for pads and PCMs, with PTM7950 still being considered high quality, although not by a huge margin.

Most people still prefer using regular thermal paste since it works just fine for most builds. I looked around and couldn't find any new thermal interface materials lately. If you're really into this stuff, you might have better luck asking in forums dedicated to overclocking or laptops, as those guys often need what's best for direct die applications. For regular builders, thermal paste has been the go-to for ages and it's usually enough.