Quick question for people who’ve tested different options.
Ignoring the cooler itself and airflow, just talking about what goes between the CPU and the heatsink:
– Regular thermal paste
– Graphene / carbon thermal pads
– Phase change material (like PTM7950)
– Liquid metal
Which one do you actually consider the best in real use?
Not just benchmarks, but long-term behavior, ease of use, maintenance, and whether the extra hassle is worth it.
Is liquid metal really worth the risk?
Are graphene pads or phase change materials good enough to replace paste nowadays?
Curious to hear real-world experiences, not marketing claims.