[tw33k]

Click here for new test results which now include Phobya Liquid Metal

I've been unable to find a comparison between these two compounds so I thought I'd compare them myself. I've had it confirmed by the CEO of Coollaboratory that Liquid Ultra is rated at 38.4w/mk and Liquid Pro is rated at 32.6w/mk.



System
CPU: Intel 3770K @ 4.7GHz 1.224v (de-lidded)
Mainboard: ASUS Maximus V Formula
Cooler: Corsair H100 (2x Corsair SP120/2x Scyte Ultra Kaze 3000)
Memory: 2x4GB Crucial Ballistix Tracer @ 2000MHz
SSD: Crucial M4 128GB
Graphics:Sapphire 7950
Case: Corsair 800D
Operating System:Windows 8 Pro x64

The case is very well cooled. There are a total of 9 case fans all intake. The H100 exhausts out the top.

I have a temp sensor measuring the room temperature. Attached to it is a sensor which is inside the case, next to the mainboard. There are 4 more temperature sensors attached to the fan controller at various points inside the case. The case temperature was recorded at the start, after 15 minutes, after 30 minutes, after 45 minutes and at the end of the testing. The average was then used.

I used the latest version of Aida64 running "Stress FPU" for 1 hour. FPU stressing means AIDA64 System Stability Test will use a floating-point calculation task that stresses the FPU part of your processor. Modern processors all have an integrated FPU, and from all the components that are integrated, the FPU is the most complex one. Hence stressing only the FPU actually stresses most of your processor, and usually drives the processor to its maximum temperature. The average core temperature is recorded by Aida64.

The compound was painted on the die, on both sides of the IHS and on the base of the H100. Each compound was applied, tested then re-applied and tested again. The best results were posted.

<update> I noticed no difference in temps when I applied the liquid metal to the underside of the IHS and when I didn't. The amount used however can have a dramatic effect on temps. Despite what others may say, I found that applying too much or too little caused a noticeable increase in temps. It's worth applying it multiple times if you believe your temps could/should be better. As you can see from these results using Liquid Ultra, the hottest core was only 53c with an average temp of 49c. I have so far been able to achieve the same results so I'm waiting for more to arrive so I can keep trying.



Liquid Ultra


Liquid Pro




Liquid Ultra has a delta temp of 3.1c lower than Liquid Pro in my system

3770K @ 5GHz 1.416v

Liquid Pro


Liquid Ultra




This time Liquid Pro was 1.71c cooler than Ultra.

If we use a +/- 2c margin of error there is nothing separating these two compounds. Liquid Ultra is better to work with. I wouldn't use the cotton tips that are supplied with Liquid Pro because I found more compound stayed on the cotton than on the IHS. Also there is the risk of cotton fibers sticking to the die or IHS which would impact temps. I used the brush that is supplied with Liquid Ultra which makes the application very easy.

Cleaning is another issue. Liquid Ultra simply wipes off but Liquid Pro often forms tiny balls which when accidentally smeared leaves quite a big mess. I had the stuff all over my fingers by the time I finished wiping it off.

If you are using one or the other than stick with it. There is nothing to gain by switching.

 

[PCWargamer]

Cool that you tested this tw33k. I have used both TIMs myself to see how they worked in my system. For my system I had PRO better than Ultra by 1-3C. Did you do the test multiple times in case it was just one application being better than the other the time it was done? I know I do not apply TIMs perfectly everytime I try and it would be great to know if your results were from 5-10 applications with highs and lows for each TIM to better account for mounting issues.

Lots of the guys on the delidding thread think PRO is better than Ultra too, so if you could get a good case of mounting samples showing that Ultra is better it might spark some additional testing on other systems too.

 

[Hokies83]

Me to i found pro 2- 5 c better then ultra.

Guess it depends on the APP.

 

[tw33k]

I only have 1 lot of each so I tested both of them twice and posted the best result.

 

[King4x4]

Major thanks tw33k!

One batch of Liquid Ultra coming up!

 

[VonDutch]

nice test tw33k,
thanks for taking the effort and time to do this,
in general it seems liquid pro performs a bit better then liquid ultra in our delidded thread,
keep in mind theres always a fault tolerance of about 2-3C, one time you apply the tim better then other times etc..

liquid ultra is the new pro, its easier to clean later on, thats what we do know, i contacted Coollaboratory
again, to ask about the w/mk liquid pro has, we know for sure now the w/mk of liquid ultra, 38.4 w/mk,
liquid pro has a w/mk of 82 as far as we know..
my guess is, theres a " optimal" w/mk for use on the die,
the difference in w/mk gets less when its over a certain point, tempwise that is

i dont think if there was a tim with 150 w/mk, it will drop temps by alot more then using liquid pro on the die
theres a maximum in heat dispersion from the die to ihs, or to the cooler block(direct die)

 

[Matt-Matt]

Yes! Very good guide!

I applied pro on the CPU, then Ultra on the IHS. I ran out of ultra though as I stuffed up my 7950's application and tried a Pentium 4 IHS which failed.

For the record Ultra stains the bottom of the heatsink...

 

[stickg1]

Good job Tweek!

 

[tw33k]

Thanks guys.

It would be good if those people who claim to have used both posted their results. It's not good enough to simply say "I found Pro performed better" Post proof otherwise it appears you're not being truthful

 

[Hokies83]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tw33k

Thanks guys.

It would be good if those people who claim to have used both posted their results. It's not good enough to simply say "I found Pro performed better" Post proof otherwise it appears you're not being truthful

Ive used both why do i need to Lie about it? Liquid Pro is better on the Die then Ultra ...

Also Ultra is just as hard to clean off as Pro so i donno ?

Maybe it is your App or the wimpy 1.24 v core you are using? for all we know Ultra could perform better with low V core and Pro with High V core?

 

[zalbard]

Pro has better conductivity. If applied properly it performs a bit better.

 

[motherpuncher]

Could I use this stuff for the heatsinks on my motherboard? Repped for the testing, thanks.

 

[stickg1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tw33k

Thanks guys.

It would be good if those people who claim to have used both posted their results. It's not good enough to simply say "I found Pro performed better" Post proof otherwise it appears you're not being truthful

I didn't accurately document my results of Pro vs Ultra. By the time I tested with Ultra on the same chip I used Pro on originally I was on a different motherboard. I do like that Pro has an actual needle on the syringe. The Ultra I bought had leaked out of the cap and was a mess. Probably the retailer or carriers fault but I wasn't happy. I got two applications out of it compared to the 7 applications I got of Pro.

The results didn't seem too far off though.

 

[Hokies83]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickg1

I didn't accurately document my results of Pro vs Ultra. By the time I tested with Ultra on the same chip I used Pro on originally I was on a different motherboard. I do like that Pro has an actual needle on the syringe. The Ultra I bought had leaked out of the cap and was a mess. Probably the retailer or carriers fault but I wasn't happy. I got two applications out of it compared to the 7 applications I got of Pro.

The results didn't seem too far off though.

Silence! he who ships fans and does not clean them first!

You owe me 4 Qtips!

 

[stickg1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokies83

Silence! he who ships fans and does not clean them first!

You owe me 4 Qtips!

LOL, I blew it off with 120 psi of compressed air. That's about all the cleaning I do bro. If I clean its with power tools, not with cleaning products

 

[Solonowarion]

Good stuff man. Ill stick with my ultra.

 

[Hokies83]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickg1

LOL, I blew it off with 120 psi of compressed air. That's about all the cleaning I do bro. If I clean its with power tools, not with cleaning products

LoL i can tell u do not smoke or not much..

When i clean my fans after 3 months use the dust is like tar lol.

 

[stickg1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokies83

LoL i can tell u do not smoke or not much..

When i clean my fans after 3 months use the dust is like tar lol.

I do but I'm not allowed to smoke inside because of the kids. Well I'm glad you got them in one piece, supposedly the entire spindle and blades comes off, I guess so you can clean them easier, IDK. I never tried.

Also I only used them for like 2 weeks. I got them replace some sickleflows because an anandtech review said they were so much better but they were actually the exact same performance and then I got some Corsair SP-120's for free on a newegg sale and a rebate card so I hadn't used them since.

Okay I'm done thread jacking/OT

 

[tw33k]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hokies83

Ive used both why do i need to Lie about it? Liquid Pro is better on the Die then Ultra ...

Also Ultra is just as hard to clean off as Pro so i donno ?

Maybe it is your App or the wimpy 1.24 v core you are using? for all we know Ultra could perform better with low V core and Pro with High V core?

lol...

 

[tw33k]

5GHz results posted