The new ARCTIC MX-7 is a consistent further development of a paste series that has been shaping the market for many years in a rather inconspicuous but technically relevant segment. ARCTIC focused early on creating uncomplicated yet reproducible solutions for users who require reliable thermal bonding without having to deal with exotic [...]
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PC-Cooling
I’m taking today’s launch of the Arctic MX-7 at 2 p.m. (article in full depth only here, of course) as an opportunity to give you a brief, deliberately neutral impression, without anticipating the actual test, as this is not intended as an advertising text, but as a clean technical classification. What I can spoil about the release [...]
Over the past few months, I have received many inquiries regarding the availability and authenticity of Honeywell PTM7950 pads. The Linus Tech Tips store, which has become one of the few reliable publicly accessible sources for this material, was mentioned particularly frequently. The pads offered there are considered trustworthy in the scene [...]
Today I’m comparing two thermal pastes that keep popping up on social networks under different trade names, namely the CAYOM CA-4 and the Z980 from Boligo and Boligao respectively. Both products are in the lower price range and are mainly sold via international online platforms. I base my assessment exclusively on my own measurements, as [...]
Corsair’s AIO coolers have become an integral part of the market. Loved, hated, but above all bought. With the TITAN 420 RX RGB, Corsair not only wants to set a new performance reference, but also push its own iCUE LINK ecosystem. Goodbye tangled cables, hello RGB – at least that’s Corsair’s marketing promise. But how does [...]
Sometimes you come across products on the open market that seem so ambitious that you almost have to smile in awe. Thermally conductive pastes with utopian performance specifications undoubtedly belong in this category. Suddenly, gray mush becomes the physical reincarnation of the perpetual motion machine, silicone oil and fillers become a miracle [...]
After testing well over 100 thermal pastes, today we have a real upgrade! In today’s presentation of the new database version 3.0, I will explain why the evaluation of thermal pastes based on a simple CPU measurement is often misleading. I will also show why the TIMA5 has been fundamentally improved once again and why the content of the [...]
Be Quiet! Dark Rock 5 review – Compact high-end cooling with silent genes and precision requirements
With the Dark Rock 5, Be Quiet! presents the latest representative of its well-known high-end air cooler series, which is designed to harmonize performance and quietness. The manufacturer promises high cooling reserves combined with very low noise levels, which has been one of the brand’s key features for years. In contrast to the larger [...]
I’m deliberately starting this test at the beginning, because the question of the actual origin and quality of such phase change pads often determines the subsequent performance more than any manufacturer’s specifications. Thermal Grizzly offers the Phase Sheet PTM for just under 9 euros, a product that clearly falls into the same [...]
The FSP MP7 Black is a new dual-tower air cooler in the mid-range price segment and is aimed at users who want good cooling performance with a discreet design and solid workmanship. The manufacturer FSP has previously been better known for its power supply units, but is now also looking to impress in the CPU cooler sector with its MP series [...]
I didn’t really want or need to write this article, because after my test of the AMeCh SGT-4 in October 2024 and the cases of damage documented later, which I addressed in the follow-up article, it seemed that everything had been said. However, it is now clear that the issue cannot simply be put to rest with technical facts or scientific [...]
About a month ago, I showed in detail that a supposedly original DOWSIL TC-5888 thermal compound from Chinese sources was in fact a fake. My measurements in the laboratory, the chemical analysis and the deviating thermal behavior left no doubt that this product did not come from a regular production facility. The case seems to have spread, as I [...]
The KoolFaze 918 from ZYP Coating is a good example of how even experienced specialists in their own field can fail if they underestimate the complex interrelationships of a different specialist area. The company is actually considered a proven expert in high-temperature coatings and ceramic protection systems, but the development of a heat [...]
Augrund neuer Erkenntnisse und Umstände möchte ich das offizielle Statement gern voranstellen, welches auch die Hintergründe beleuchtet und Einiges klar stellt: The AMeCh SGT-4 Case – The Story Behind the Story and Corrosive Amino Groups | Statement After my original test of SGT-4 here on my website, almost exactly one year ago to [...]
The FSP NP5 Black is aimed at users who are looking for a compact, discreetly designed CPU cooler with a good price-performance ratio. The cooler is based on a classic single-tower design and, according to the manufacturer, should offer respectable cooling performance despite its comparatively small size. FSP promises simple installation, full RAM [...]
With the Maxtor CTG12, the manufacturer is launching a new top-of-the-range model on the market after the CTG10. The nomenclature leaves no doubt that it is not just an addition, but the direct successor. I had already tested the CTG10 and classified it in my database as a solid paste with good performance, so expectations of the new CTG12 are [...]
With the Nautilus 360 RS ARGB, Corsair is launching an all-in-one water cooling system that deliberately sets itself apart from its own iCUE models. While series such as the H150i Elite rely on extensive software integration, displays and a close connection to Corsair’s own ecosystem, the Nautilus is clearly aimed at users who prefer [...]
The demand for high-performance thermal pastes has been high for years, but few products have such a legendary reputation as DOWSIL TC-5888. It is regarded as the reference for thin bondline applications and is used both in industry and in the high-end PC sector. Precisely because the paste is difficult to obtain and Dow has still not managed to [...]
be quiet! has been known for years for being deadly serious about “quiet”. Power supply units, coolers, housings, all with the focus: as little noise as possible with maximum functionality. With the Pure Loop 3, they are now launching the third generation of their in-house AiO water cooling system. And yes, there is also a version with [...]
What looks like the result of a collaboration between a watchmaker, an architect and a microsurgeon is in fact a cooling block – or more precisely: a next-generation liquid cold plate. This high-precision marvel was developed by Alloy Enterprises, supported by nTop. The aim is nothing less than to cool a 700-watt GPU. Not a typo. Seven [...]
NZXT has added a new flagship to its AiO line-up with the Kraken Elite series. The Kraken Elite 360 RGB comes with a revised pump, three powerful ARGB fans and a round 2.36-inch display with high resolution. But is the larger radiator surface enough to keep it at the forefront of the premium segment, not only in terms of looks but also performance [...]
I recently reported on RMA problems with Asus using a very specific card that the buyer had sent me, including all documents, emails and the recorded RMA process. This is not an isolated case, as other readers have also contacted me in the meantime to tell me about their experiences with the Asus RMA and where a spring screw on the voltage [...]
What looks like a simple distribution announcement is actually a strategic maneuver with reverberations: Aquatuning GmbH will take over the distribution of EK products from LM TEK in Germany, Austria and Switzerland from August 13, 2025. Sounds harmless? Well, let’s shed some light on the subject… On August 13, 2025, Aquatuning took [...]
White hardware is in, no discussion. Those who are fed up with RGB but don’t want to compromise on style are turning to clean designs, and this is exactly where ALSEYE wants to score with the W700 Pro White. A tower cooler with a dual-fan setup, chic aluminum finish and supposedly high performance. But what’s the point of the design if [...]
Alphacool from Braunschweig remains true to itself: the company from Lower Saxony has dominated the market for water cooling components for over 20 years and consistently delivers products that not only function technically, but also make a statement visually. Now they are expanding their portfolio with a new Apex Distro Plate, tailor-made for the [...]
