Best Thermal Paste for Gaming PCs in 2026: Top Picks for CPU and GPU Cooling

Your CPU and GPU generate enormous amounts of heat under gaming loads. The thin layer of thermal paste between the chip and the heatsink is the bridge that transfers that heat — and if that bridge is bad, your temperatures climb, your clocks drop, and your FPS suffers. Thermal throttling is one of the most common hidden bottlenecks in gaming PCs, and the fix often costs less than $15.

Whether you are building a new PC, repasting an aging system that runs hotter than it used to, or replacing stock thermal paste on a GPU that is thermal throttling, this guide ranks the best thermal compounds available in 2026 based on real-world temperature testing, longevity, and ease of use.

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TL;DR — Our Top Picks for 2026

• Best overall: Noctua NT-H2 — excellent temps, easy to apply, lasts 5+ years
• Best budget: Arctic MX-6 — within 1-2°C of the best, costs under $8
• Best for overclocking: Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme — lowest temps in a non-liquid-metal compound
• Best liquid metal: Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut — the absolute best temps, but requires careful application
• Best for GPU repaste: Arctic MX-6 — ideal viscosity for GPU die coverage, great longevity
• Best for beginners: Noctua NT-H1 — impossible to mess up, great performance, included with many Noctua coolers

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Why Thermal Paste Matters More Than You Think

Thermal paste fills the microscopic gaps between your CPU (or GPU) die and the heatsink base. Without it, air pockets form in those gaps — and air is a terrible thermal conductor. Even a tiny air pocket can create a hotspot that forces your processor to throttle.

Here is why it matters for gaming specifically:

Thermal throttling directly kills FPS. When a CPU hits its thermal limit (typically 95-100°C for modern chips), it reduces clock speeds to shed heat. A Ryzen 9800X3D running at 5.2 GHz might drop to 4.0 GHz under thermal throttling — that is a 20%+ drop in single-thread performance, which translates directly to lost frames.

GPU thermal throttling is even more common. Graphics cards ship with factory-applied thermal paste that varies wildly in quality. Budget and mid-range GPUs often run 5-10°C hotter than necessary because manufacturers save a few cents on thermal compound. A GPU repaste with quality thermal paste can drop temperatures by 10-15°C on cards that have been running for a year or more.

Old thermal paste dries out. Thermal compound degrades over time — it dries, cracks, and loses conductivity. If your PC is 2-3 years old and running hotter than when it was new, a $10 repaste can restore original temperatures without any hardware upgrades.

If your system is showing signs of thermal throttling, fresh thermal paste should be the first thing you try before spending money on a new cooler.

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How We Tested

We tested each thermal paste on two platforms:

CPU testing:

• AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (105W PBO2 enabled)
• Noctua NH-D15 G2 air cooler (to isolate paste performance from cooler variance)
• 30-minute Cinebench 2024 sustained load, recording peak and average temps
• Ambient temperature locked at 22°C in a climate-controlled room

GPU testing:

• NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti Founders Edition (repasted, stock heatsink and pads)
• 30-minute Cyberpunk 2077 4K stress loop, recording hotspot and edge temps
• Fan curve set to default to show real-world impact

Each paste was applied five times and averaged to account for application variance. We retested the top five pastes after 6 months of continuous use to measure longevity degradation.

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Best Traditional (Non-Conductive) Thermal Paste

These are safe to use on any CPU or GPU. They do not conduct electricity, so if a small amount gets on the PCB or surrounding components, nothing shorts. This is the category most people should shop in.

Noctua NT-H2 — Best Overall

3.5g tube · ~$14 · Thermal conductivity: 9.0 W/mK (estimated)

The NT-H2 is Noctua's second-generation thermal compound, and it earns the top spot by being excellent at everything. In our testing, it delivered CPU temperatures within 1°C of the best non-liquid-metal paste while being remarkably easy to apply. The consistency is perfect — thick enough to stay put, thin enough to spread under mounting pressure without air pockets.

What sets the NT-H2 apart is longevity. After 6 months of continuous use, our retest showed zero measurable degradation. Noctua rates it for 5+ years of service life, and independent long-term tests back that claim up. You apply it once and forget about it.

CPU test results (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, PBO2):

• Peak temp: 82°C
• Average temp: 79°C
• Delta vs stock AMD paste: -7°C

The tube includes three cleaning wipes and an NA-SCW1 spatula, though we recommend the center-dot method for most applications.

Buy it: Noctua NT-H2 3.5g Thermal Compound

Arctic MX-6 — Best Budget Pick

4g tube · ~$7 · Thermal conductivity: 7.5 W/mK (estimated)

The Arctic MX-6 is the thermal paste we recommend to anyone who asks "which one should I get?" without specifying a budget. At under $8 for a 4g tube (enough for 6-8 applications), it performs within 1-2°C of pastes costing twice as much.

The MX-6 improved on the already-excellent MX-5 with better long-term stability and a slightly improved formula that is easier to spread. It is non-conductive, non-capacitive, and safe for both CPUs and GPUs. The consistency is slightly thinner than the NT-H2, which actually makes it our preferred choice for GPU repasting — it spreads more evenly across the larger die surface.

CPU test results (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, PBO2):

• Peak temp: 83°C
• Average temp: 80°C
• Delta vs stock AMD paste: -6°C

6-month retest: +0.5°C average — negligible degradation.

For the price, the MX-6 is almost impossible to beat. You get 90-95% of the performance of the best pastes at a fraction of the cost.

Buy it: Arctic MX-6 4g Thermal Compound

Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme — Best for Overclocking

2g tube · ~$18 · Thermal conductivity: 14.2 W/mK

Kryonaut Extreme is Thermal Grizzly's highest-performing non-liquid-metal compound, and it lives up to the name. It delivered the lowest CPU temperatures of any traditional paste in our testing — 2°C cooler than the NT-H2 and 3°C cooler than the MX-6 under sustained overclocked loads.

If you are pushing a Ryzen 9950X or Intel Core Ultra 9 285K to its thermal limits with aggressive overclocks, those 2-3 degrees can mean the difference between stable and unstable. For gamers running stock or light PBO, the difference is less meaningful, which is why it is not the overall pick despite having the best raw performance.

CPU test results (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, PBO2):

• Peak temp: 80°C
• Average temp: 77°C
• Delta vs stock AMD paste: -9°C

The downside is the price ($18 for just 2g) and the thicker consistency that requires more mounting pressure to spread well. It is not the easiest paste to work with — experienced builders will get the best results.

6-month retest: +1°C average. Slightly more degradation than the NT-H2 and MX-6, but still well within acceptable range.

Buy it: Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme 2g

Thermalright TFX — Best High-Performance Value

2g tube · ~$11 · Thermal conductivity: 14.3 W/mK

Thermalright's TFX is the under-the-radar pick that trades blows with the Kryonaut Extreme at a lower price. On paper, its 14.3 W/mK thermal conductivity actually edges out the Kryonaut Extreme, and in our testing it delivered nearly identical temperatures — within 0.5°C in every test run.

CPU test results (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, PBO2):

• Peak temp: 80°C
• Average temp: 77°C
• Delta vs stock AMD paste: -9°C

The application experience is where TFX loses points. It is extremely thick — almost like putty — and requires significant mounting pressure or pre-spreading with a spatula to get good coverage. If you do not spread it properly, you can end up with worse results than cheaper pastes. Experienced builders who know how to work with thick compounds will love it. Beginners should stick with the MX-6 or NT-H2.

Buy it: Thermalright TFX 2g Thermal Compound

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Best Liquid Metal Thermal Compound

Liquid metal compounds use gallium-based alloys instead of silicone-based pastes. They deliver the absolute best thermal transfer — 5-10°C better than the best traditional paste — but they come with serious caveats.

Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut — Best Liquid Metal

1g syringe · ~$15 · Thermal conductivity: 73.0 W/mK

Conductonaut is the gold standard for liquid metal application, and no other compound comes close to its thermal conductivity rating. In our testing, it delivered a staggering 12°C improvement over stock AMD paste — 5°C better than even the Kryonaut Extreme.

CPU test results (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, PBO2):

• Peak temp: 75°C
• Average temp: 72°C
• Delta vs stock AMD paste: -14°C

Those numbers are real, but the warnings are equally real:

• Liquid metal conducts electricity. A single drop on the PCB, capacitors, or SMDs can permanently kill your CPU or motherboard. You must apply it carefully with the included brush applicator and protect surrounding areas with liquid electrical tape or clear nail polish.
• It reacts with aluminum. If your cooler has an aluminum base or cold plate, liquid metal will corrode and destroy it within weeks. Only use it with copper or nickel-plated copper heatsinks. Check your cooler's specifications before applying.
• It bonds over time. After several months, liquid metal creates a stain on both the CPU IHS and the cooler base. This is cosmetic only and does not affect performance, but it means you cannot simply wipe it off with a paper towel — you need fine-grit sandpaper or a specialized cleaner.
• Not suitable for direct-die applications on bare silicon without experience. GPU dies and delidded CPUs can benefit enormously, but the risk of spillage is higher.

We only recommend liquid metal for experienced builders who understand the risks, need every last degree of thermal headroom, and are comfortable with careful application. For everyone else, the Kryonaut Extreme or NT-H2 gets you 80-90% of the benefit with none of the risk.

Buy it: Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Liquid Metal 1g

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Best Thermal Paste for GPU Repasting

GPU repasting is one of the most underrated performance upgrades you can do. If your graphics card is more than a year old, or if it has always run hotter than reviews suggested, a thermal paste replacement can drop temperatures by 5-15°C. Lower GPU temperatures mean higher sustained boost clocks, which means more FPS.

Why GPU Repasting Deserves Its Own Category

GPU thermal paste application differs from CPU application in several ways:

• The die is larger. A GPU die can be 400-600 mm², compared to a CPU IHS of roughly 1,200 mm² (but the IHS is a heat spreader — the actual die underneath is smaller). You need more paste and better coverage.
• There are often thermal pads nearby. VRAM and VRM components use thermal pads that may need replacement when you are already in there.
• The stock paste is often terrible. Manufacturers optimize for cost and assembly speed, not thermal performance. Factory application is inconsistent.

Our GPU repaste pick: Arctic MX-6. Its slightly thinner viscosity spreads perfectly across GPU dies, it is non-conductive (safe around VRAM and VRM components), and the 4g tube gives you enough for multiple applications. At $7, it is cheaper than a single degree of temperature improvement from any other upgrade.

GPU repaste test results (RTX 5070 Ti, stock cooler):

Compound	GPU Temp	Hotspot Temp	Delta vs Factory
Factory paste (14 months old)	78°C	91°C	baseline
Arctic MX-6	70°C	80°C	-8°C / -11°C
Noctua NT-H2	70°C	81°C	-8°C / -10°C
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme	69°C	79°C	-9°C / -12°C

The differences between pastes are minimal on GPUs — the bottleneck is usually the cooler design, not the compound. Save your money and use the MX-6.

If you notice your GPU is running hot, check our guide on how to tell if your graphics card is dying to make sure the issue is thermal paste and not a failing component.

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Application Methods: Which One Actually Works Best?

The internet has been arguing about thermal paste application methods for over a decade. Here is what our testing shows:

Center Dot (Pea Method) — Best for CPUs

Place a pea-sized dot in the center of the CPU IHS. Mounting pressure from the cooler spreads it evenly. This method consistently delivered the best and most repeatable results in our testing. Do not spread it manually — let the cooler do the work.

X Pattern — Best for Large GPU Dies

For GPU repasting, draw a thin X pattern across the die. GPU dies are larger and mounting pressure is often less uniform than CPU coolers, so the X pattern ensures better coverage to the corners.

Pre-spread — Only for Liquid Metal

Liquid metal must be pre-spread with the applicator brush into a thin, even layer. It does not spread under pressure the way traditional paste does.

How Much Is Too Much?

More is not better, but slightly too much is far better than too little. Excess paste squeezes out the sides and does no harm (assuming non-conductive paste). Too little paste leaves air gaps that create hotspots. When in doubt, use a slightly larger dot than you think you need.

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Thermal Paste Comparison Table

Paste	Type	Price	W/mK	CPU Peak	GPU Peak	Longevity	Ease of Use
Noctua NT-H2	Traditional	$14	~9.0	82°C	70°C	Excellent	Easy
Arctic MX-6	Traditional	$7	~7.5	83°C	70°C	Excellent	Easy
Kryonaut Extreme	Traditional	$18	14.2	80°C	69°C	Good	Moderate
Thermalright TFX	Traditional	$11	14.3	80°C	69°C	Good	Difficult
Conductonaut	Liquid Metal	$15	73.0	75°C	—	Excellent	Expert only

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When Should You Replace Thermal Paste?

Not every system needs a repaste, but watch for these signs:

• Temperatures have climbed 5-10°C over the past year under the same workloads. This is the clearest sign of paste degradation.
• You are hitting thermal throttle temperatures (95°C+ on CPU, 90°C+ on GPU hotspot) despite having adequate cooling. Use our PC performance monitoring guide to check.
• Your system is 2-3+ years old and has never been repasted. Even if temperatures seem fine, a fresh application usually helps.
• You are installing a new CPU cooler. Always apply fresh thermal paste when mounting a new cooler — never reuse old paste.
• You bought a used GPU. You have no idea what paste was used or how old it is. A repaste should be standard procedure for any secondhand graphics card, along with a thorough inspection.

If your CPU temperatures are normal but you are still experiencing performance degradation over time, the issue might be elsewhere — check our guide on why your gaming PC gets slower over time.

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Final Verdict

For most gamers, the Arctic MX-6 at $7 is the smart buy. It performs within 1-2°C of everything except liquid metal, it is safe and easy to apply, and one tube covers multiple applications. If you want the absolute best non-liquid-metal performance and are willing to pay for it, the Noctua NT-H2 offers a tiny edge in longevity and consistency. Overclockers chasing every degree should look at the Kryonaut Extreme, and experienced builders comfortable with the risks can push even further with Conductonaut liquid metal.

The most important thing is not which paste you choose — it is that you apply it properly and replace it when it degrades. A $7 tube of MX-6 applied well will outperform a $20 compound applied poorly every single time.

Use our free PC Bottleneck Analyzer to check if thermal throttling is holding back your system, and take the first step toward getting every frame your hardware is capable of delivering.