Bitspower NB/SB block - Which TIM?

[DJM]

I got the new Bitspower Black Freezer northbridge/southbridge waterblock for the 790i board. They included in the box a tube of Arctic Silver 5. I've read a number of posts by people advising Ceramique rather than the conductive AS5 for anything other than the CPU. I see there are some metal surface mount "bits" fairly close to both the NB and SB chips that could be contacted by excess squeezed paste.

What do people recommend? Ceramique vs. Arctic Silver 5?

[slim142]

I was also a fan of AS5, but from now on will only use MX-2 for the simple reason that AS5 has a 200-hour curative time and I dont have that time....

[DJM]

That looks like my solution. Non-conductive, and slightly better thermal properties than AS5.
Now I just have to go out to Fry's and hope they carry it so I can continue with my weekend project.
Thanks!

[dengyong]

TX-2 is also a good choice and is probably the same thing.

[Conumdrum]

Frys does not carry MX-2. Tons of online placed do tho.

[j.almonte]

Artic Cooling MX-2 real easy to apply, last 8 years and easy to remove if you need to...

[karl_eller]

The problem with AS5 is that it's conductive, so it's a bit of a risk using it on pretty much anything that doesn't have an IHS (ie only CPUs, some GPUs and some NBs). For everything else, a non-conductive TIM is better. Arctic Cooling MX-2 and Tuniq TX-2 are fairly common, both perform quite well (in fact I'm sure they're the same thing, just re-branded), non-conductive and at a decent price.

Eller

[arnemetis]

I used ocz freeze on my black freezer, max 42c on either chip spp 1.47v/mcp 1.65v. Just use a non conductive tim and you'll be fine I think.