Summary:
- Arctic’s new MX-7 thermal grease features enhanced low adhesion, high viscosity, and cohesion for superior heat transfer.
- Testing reveals a temperature reduction of 2.3°C compared to its predecessor, MX-6, improving performance for high-end processors.
- Available in various sizes, the MX-7 is slightly more expensive, but offers significant thermal efficiency benefits.
Arctic MX-7 Thermal Grease: The Next Generation of Heat Dissipation
On December 17th, Arctic announced the release of its latest thermal grease, the MX-7, designed to build on the success of its well-regarded predecessor, the MX-6. While MX-6 has remained a top choice among thermal pastes since its launch, the MX-7 promises to be the most advanced version to date.
Unveiling the New Formula
Arctic has opted not to disclose the specific ingredients of MX-7 but has highlighted three core advantages that set it apart from other thermal compounds in the market:
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Low Adhesion: The thermal paste boasts an easy application, ensuring uniform heat conduction across surfaces.
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High Viscosity: This feature prevents unwanted flow and spillage during application, making it suitable for various configurations.
- High Cohesion: The adhesive strength of MX-7 enhances durability, allowing it to maintain a long-lasting bond.
Performance Metrics
Although Arctic refrains from publishing the thermal conductivity values—often a key concern for users—they provide detailed specifications that illustrate the performance improvements of MX-7:
- Viscosity: At 35,000-38,000 Poise, this level is a 22% reduction compared to MX-6.
- Density: This has increased by 12% to 2.9 g/cm³.
- Volume Resistivity: Registered at 1.7 x 10^10 ohm·cm, reflecting a 6% decrease.
- Breakdown Voltage: A notable drop to 4.2 kV/mm, about 42% lower than previous versions.
- Operating Temperature: MX-7 maintains an impressive operational range from -50°C to 150°C, consistent with its predecessor.
The reduced viscosity of MX-7 still allows for easy application. Users can perform a simple cross-painting technique, followed by pressing a radiator over the paste to ensure even distribution.
Comprehensive Testing Results
In controlled environment tests, the MX-7 was subjected to rigorous evaluations. At a room temperature of 25°C, a Core Ultra 9 285K processor operating at 4.5GHz and consuming approximately 284W was utilized. Results demonstrated that MX-7 outperformed MX-6, achieving a temperature reduction of 2.3°C—approximately 3% lower. When compared to MX-4, this reduction escalates to 4.1°C, or about 6%.
These significant improvements underscore the effectiveness of the MX-7 in thermal management, particularly for advanced gaming rigs or high-performance computing systems.
Additional Offerings
Complementing the new grease, Arctic has also introduced a set of MX cleaning wipes specifically designed to eliminate any leftover residue from previous thermal compounds. This ensures that users can achieve optimal application results with the MX-7.
Pricing and Availability
The Arctic MX-7 thermal grease is now available in various configurations, catering to a range of user needs. The pricing structure is as follows:
- 2 grams: $6.89 (￥48.5)
- 4 grams: $7.39 (￥52.0)
- 8 grams: $8.59 (￥60.6)
- 4 grams + 6 cleaning wipes: $9.59 (￥67.5)
While the pricing has seen a slight increase—between $0.50 to $1.40 (￥3.5 to ￥9.9) compared to previous generations—the enhancements in thermal efficiency may justify the cost for many users.
Conclusion
With the release of MX-7, Arctic has solidified its reputation as a leader in thermal management solutions. The new thermal grease emphasizes ease of use, enhanced performance, and longevity, making it a favorable option for anyone looking to optimize their cooling solutions. Whether you’re a competitive gamer or a technology enthusiast, the Arctic MX-7 thermal grease stands out as a robust choice for managing heat dissipation effectively.
