Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Paste Review

Testing:

OCCT v2.0 Perestroika supports multi-core processors and will produce the most CPU heat of any stress test. Prime95 and its variants can produce the same heat load, but only after a longer period of time. OCCT has a standardised test that lasts for one hour, and produces temperature charts at the end of a successful run. The mean average of the CPU temperature over the second half of the test was recorded as a meaningful sustained heat load.

Settings:

• Auto/Custom: Auto (1h)
• CPU/RAM/Mix: (Preset) Mix

Well, I wasn't expecting much different at stock speed and voltage, but then again, I haven't used half of these thermal pastes on a CPU before. I was surprised by the difference in load temperatures of the Noctua NT-H1 compared to the worst in the group, the Vantec thermal paste, 6°C difference just from thermal paste!

The gap widens when overclocked and overvolted, and while the NT-H1 is neck and neck with the AS5 at stock, the NT-H1 takes the lead when the CPU is producing a massive heat load. The next nearest thermal paste after AS5 is Thermalright's "Type 2," which results in a 4°C higher load temperature. The other pastes in this review are even worse, with the Vantec paste giving a whole 11°C higher load temperature!