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Thermal Materials & Accessories · 7 articles

Thermal Materials & Accessories

The right thermal paste or pad makes a measurable difference — and the wrong one costs you temps and peace of mind. We map out the hierarchy from everyday compounds to liquid metal, plus fans, controllers, and everything else that quietly makes or breaks your cooling setup.

Thermal Pads for GPU VRAM, SSDs, and VRMs: Thickness, Conductivity, and What to Actually Buy

Thermal Pads for GPU VRAM, SSDs, and VRMs: Thickness, Conductivity, and What to Actually Buy

Thermal pads are the unsung heroes keeping your GPU memory, M.2 drives, and voltage regulators from throttling. Here's how to choose the right thickness and

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Prebuilt AIO Thermal Paste: Why You Should Always Repaste Out of the Box

Prebuilt AIO Thermal Paste: Why You Should Always Repaste Out of the Box

The factory thermal paste on many all-in-one liquid coolers can arrive dried out or poorly applied — here's how to spot the problem, fix it, and get the

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120mm Case Fan Roundup: Static Pressure vs. Airflow, Noise, and Whether ARGB Is Worth It

120mm Case Fan Roundup: Static Pressure vs. Airflow, Noise, and Whether ARGB Is Worth It

Not all 120mm fans move air the same way. We break down static pressure vs. airflow ratings, real-world noise levels, and whether RGB lighting is worth the

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Graphene Pads vs. Phase-Change Pads vs. Liquid Metal: The Advanced Thermal Interface Shootout

Graphene Pads vs. Phase-Change Pads vs. Liquid Metal: The Advanced Thermal Interface Shootout

Three premium thermal interface materials — graphene pads, phase-change pads, and liquid metal — promise measurably lower CPU and GPU temperatures than

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Console and Laptop Repasting Guide: Which Thermal Products Actually Work

Console and Laptop Repasting Guide: Which Thermal Products Actually Work

If your PS5 sounds like a jet engine or your six-year-old laptop throttles under load, dried-out thermal paste is probably the culprit. Here's which thermal

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Thermal Paste Hierarchy: Which Compound Actually Moves the Needle on Your CPU Temps

Thermal Paste Hierarchy: Which Compound Actually Moves the Needle on Your CPU Temps

Not all thermal paste is created equal. We break down the real-world performance tiers — from budget squeeze tubes to phase-change pads — so you can make a

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Case Fan Buying Guide: PWM vs. 3-Pin, High-RPM vs. Silent, and When to Spend More

Case Fan Buying Guide: PWM vs. 3-Pin, High-RPM vs. Silent, and When to Spend More

Not sure whether to grab a cheap 3-pack or spring for Noctua? We break down the real differences between PWM and 3-pin fans, quiet versus high-airflow picks

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