Hey everyone! I'm in the process of upgrading my CPU from a 7600X to a 7800X3D, and I'm wondering about using liquid metal instead of thermal paste for the cooling. I've got the new CPU ready to go, but before I buy any thermal interface materials, I need to know if using liquid metal is a good option. I've read that the cold plate on my Thermalright Aqua Elite V3 AIO cooler needs to be made of nickel-plated copper to avoid damage, but I'm not entirely sure about that. Can anyone clarify if I can safely use liquid metal with this cooler? Thanks for any insights!
1 Answer
The 7800X3D doesn't produce a ton of heat, even though it has a higher temperature rating due to its architecture. Liquid metal definitely has its benefits, but it can be risky. There's really no need for it unless you're looking to squeeze out every last degree of temperature. Most decent thermal pastes, including options like MX-7 or Kryonaut, will perform well within a margin that's pretty negligible for typical loads. I just got MX-7 myself because it's resistant to pump-out effects, which is great for high-performance scenarios.
Thanks for the info! I think I’ll go with either MX-7 or the Thermal Grizzly stuff.