There are countless products in the field of cooling components, but only a few manage to offer a perfect balance of performance, design and price. The Endorfy Fortis 5 Black ARGB fan aims to do just that. We’ll see if it succeeds. In this review, I take a close look at the fan and discuss all the relevant aspects – from performance to [...]
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PC-Cooling
On February 25, 2025, DeepCool launches the new FL12 series of 120 mm case fans. These fans combine high cooling performance with bright RGB lighting. The FL12 (WH) and FL12R (WH) models are equipped with 36 ARGB Gen2 LEDs that surround the frame and create a uniform illumination. A 3-phase, 4-pole, 6-slot motor ensures stable and efficient [...]
It is a personal concern of mine to always find the best and cheapest products for you. That’s why I regularly carry out tests, especially when I receive more and more feedback from users who are suddenly dissatisfied with the quality of a product. Unfortunately, in this context I have to withdraw the purchase award for the Thermalright TF8 [...]
Thermal interface pads (also known as thermal interface materials or TIM) are widely used solutions for transferring heat between uneven or different height components in electronic devices. Their use offers both advantages and potential disadvantages, depending on the choice of material, the quality of workmanship and the specific conditions of [...]
Testing the prototype of the Thermal Grizzly Duronaut, which I had internally dubbed “Paste X” at the time, hopefully marked the beginning of the end of an era that could almost be described as paste procurement crime. In the past, it was a real adventure to find good and durable thermal pastes – especially if you were looking [...]
After testing over 100 different thermally conductive pastes, of which almost 80 are already available in my online database, I was able to gather extensive experience that calls into question some common assumptions in this area. Of particular interest was the analysis of contradictions between my generalized measurement data, the frequently [...]
Here’s a little teaser for next week, as I have to work on other topics at the same time as all the graphics cards. And that’s where it gets exciting! In my current, detailed investigations into the laboratory analysis of processors, graphics processors and associated heatspreaders, I have been able to gain interesting insights that [...]
The Alpenföhn Blitzeis thermal compound is advertised by the manufacturer with a supposedly extreme thermal conductivity of 15.2 W/m-K. This impressive figure is of course intended to suggest that it is the ideal choice for anyone looking for maximum performance. However, as is so often the case, there is once again a wide gap between claim and [...]
Sourcing really good thermal pastes is a real challenge at the moment. The DOWSIL TC-5888 and TC-5550 are prime examples of the frustration that modern supply chains or manufacturers’ unwillingness to supply can cause. Although these highly specialized thermal pastes are indispensable for demanding applications, their availability is like [...]
At just over 7 euros for 3 grams, the Asus ROG RG-07 Performance Thermal Paste is within the range of what other mid-range pastes cost, but the kit for around 19 euros with spatula and film glue has already taken off completely. All that’s missing is RGB and an ROG friendship bracelet… But let’s leave this nonsense aside and [...]
What is Thermal Putty and what is it useful for? Thermal putty is a thermal interface material that has been specially developed to efficiently fill gaps between heat-generating components and heat sinks. Unlike thermal paste or pads, it is a viscoelastic mass that remains flexible and can adapt to irregular surfaces. It is particularly suitable [...]
The AAirhut GX-14 was more of a chance find, as I’m always on the lookout for affordable and good pastes away from the usual suspects. I paid 8.75 euros for the 8 grams on Amazon 4 weeks ago, but the price then immediately went up to just under 11 euros. In the meantime, the 8 grams have supposedly become only 2 grams, the article [...]
DeepCool has further developed its high-end tower cooler with the new ASSASSIN IV VC VISION model and presents a solution that sets new standards in terms of both technology and design. The ASSASSIN IV VC VISION features innovative vapor-chamber technology at the base of the heat sink, which enables efficient heat dissipation. This technology [...]
With the Maxtor CTG10, I am testing a really good paste today, which unfortunately once again reflects the current shortage of good and affordable pastes. It has barely been tested when it is no longer available. The Savio Glacier TG-04 is virtually identical and has also been on the rise in terms of price since I tested it. However, it is always [...]
The pump-out effect is a well-known and annoying problem when using thermal compounds on CPUs, GPUs and other electronic components subject to high thermal loads. It describes the displacement of the thermal paste from the contact area between the processor and heat sink, for example, typically as a result of temperature cycles or mechanical loads [...]
Today I’m testing the three new putties from Thermal Grizzly with the TG Basic, the TG Advance and the TG Pro. It’s annoying that a small database leak has already shown one of the overview tables in third-party forums, but if it’s worth third parties spreading the word in advance, it ultimately only shows the continuing great [...]
I thought long and hard about whether, how and, above all, to what extent I would write the final report, because the whole thing not only affects my interests, but above all those of the third parties involved and it is, I am sorry to say, already questionable under criminal law in some areas. After detailed consultation with some of the [...]
Igor always preaches putty, putty, putty, but the procurement situation has so far been rather modest and many customers have had to resort to platforms such as Aliexpress, Amazon or eBay, where there were often enough products of unclear origin. With TG Putty, Thermal Grizzly has now launched an innovative heat dissipation solution on the market [...]
Today is the requested follow-up test with the ARCTC TP-3, after I had already tested the predecessor model TP-2 against an Amazon product last week. The ARCTIC TP-3 and the APT2560 (better known as the TP-2) differ primarily in terms of material composition, softness and thermal conductivity. The TP-3 is particularly soft and flexible, which [...]
Update from 15.12.2024 Fairy-tale paste 2.0 or the misinterpretation of the thermal paste business Update from 06.12.2012 Since I highly value transparency, both in the interest of readers and X-Apply itself, I have conducted additional research into the company history and processes described in the original article. While it is natural [...]
With the Senza, ARCTIC has taken a relatively bold step and ventured into the phalanx of mini PC manufacturers. However, they have chosen a partner for the hardware that is already established in this market and whose platform can be symbiotically used and expanded with their own cooler skills. But more on that later, first we come to the [...]
Thermal pads on Amazon, like the AAirhut tested today, are always a gamble, usually with an unfortunate outcome. You click through offers that shine with full-bodied promises, only to end up with a product that looks more like a flabby eraser than an effective solution to thermal problems. It is advertised as having “excellent thermal [...]
3 years after the launch of Intel’s 12th generation Alder Lake CPUs and the then new LGA1700, we unfortunately still have to talk about bent CPUs and remedies for them. Because with the new Core Ultra CPUs of the Arrow (Error) Lake family, there was a new socket LGA1851, but it still hasn’t really solved the problem of bending [...]
I don’t like doing things like this and I’m issuing a warning, but shortage management should not lead to customers being misled. That’s why I’m really disappointed with Thermalright and the latest TF8 EX. Thermalright used to stand for above-average performance at acceptable prices, but the new paste is the exact opposite [...]
The database is finally online and this week I also tested a new paste, the Savio Glacier TG-04, which has made it to the top of the pastes tested so far. Of course, Savio is just a brand and the manufacturer behind the brand, ELMAK, has nothing to do with thermal pastes in terms of production, but it is a really good bought-in product. Of course [...]
