[Review] Indigo Xtreme vs. AS5, MX-2, IC Diamond, Shin-Etsu X23-7783D

[Nickel020]

I personally don't think making a line is easier than making a blob in the center.[/URL]

I think I didn't make myself clear here. I'm not saying it's easier, I'm saying it's easier to get consistent results with the line method, and you're AS5 results point toward this as well, as they have a lower variation than those tests done with the blob method. It's simply not humanly possible to apply a consistent blob size without using some special syringe that applies the same amount every time*. A blob is a very complicated geometric body, as opposed to a line, which is simply defined by length and diameter. So with the blob you might be looking at +/- 20% (guesstimate) variation of TIM used between mounts, while with the line method you might be closer to +/-5%. This partly explains the variations in your first round test results imho.


*It might actually be a good idea to just use a small syringe with a scale on it similar to that that Liquid Ultra comes in. That way you can read of the scale the amount of TIM you just used for a blob

Edit: I'm also not saying that blob or line are better, I'll again second churchy in that testing exemplary TIMs with the line and blob method (MX2 for a thin viscosity, something else for a thick), but I think more than 3 mounts will be necessary. I realize how much of a constrain time is, but this should be considered and maybe done instead of testing some of the more obscure TIMs. I for one don't know of a single article with trustworthy data that compares line with blob method, so I think this would be very interesting.