MX-6 (incl. MX Cleaner)

I purchased the ARCTIC MX-6 thermal paste to replace older paste during routine CPU maintenance and to improve thermal performance in a desktop system. Intended use: Reapplying thermal compound during CPU cooler installation and general system maintenance. Packaging and contents: The package includes 4 g of MX-6 thermal paste along with ARCTIC MX Cleaner wipes, which is convenient for removing old paste before application. The syringe design allows for controlled dispensing without excess waste. Application experience: MX-6 is easy to apply and spreads evenly under mounting pressure. The consistency is slightly thicker than some pastes, which helps keep it in place during installation without making it difficult to work with. Thermal performance: After installation, CPU temperatures were stable and slightly improved compared to the older paste it replaced. Idle and load temperatures remained consistent during extended use, with no noticeable pump-out or degradation over time. Ease of maintenance: The included cleaner simplifies prep work, and the paste does not harden quickly, making future removal manageable. Limitations: This is not a liquid metal compound, so users seeking maximum possible thermal performance may want to look elsewhere. For most air- and liquid-cooled setups, however, performance is more than sufficient. Overall experience: MX-6 has performed reliably in daily use and provided consistent thermal results without complications during installation. Conclusion: ARCTIC MX-6 is a solid choice for routine CPU or GPU thermal paste replacement, offering easy application, dependable performance, and useful included cleaning materials.

This is one of the best thermal pastes I’ve used. Application is smooth and precise with the included applicator, and it spreads evenly. The cooling performance is great — I noticed a drop in CPU temperatures almost immediately. What really impressed me was the included cleaner — very effective at removing old paste cleanly without damaging components. If you’re doing a PC build or upgrade, this kit is a no-brainer. Great value and performance.

Cools down my cpu very well. The smell kinda lingers because of the wipes it comes with, but overall very useful. comes with a good amount, but I had trouble spreading it out on the cpu.

I recently took the CPU cooling fan off the CPU on my computer, to clean all the dust out of the cooking fins, so I decided to get fresh thermal paste to put it back together. This worked perfectly. The kit had everything needed, it was easy to apply, and now the fan is keeping the CPU temperature down, without having to run at full speed.

Easy to apply, spreads evenly, and keeps CPU temps nice and low. I noticed a clear improvement right after reapplying it. The included cleaning wipes are a great bonus and make the job super easy. Reliable performance from a trusted brand!

I've known about Arctic for awhile but only recently became a customer after purchasing a tube of MX-5 and then a P12 fan, shortly after. My experience of applying another company’s paste on an install is limited to only a couple of other brands as thermal paste application isn't exactly one of my pastimes, so I'm going to compare & contrast this w/ MX-5, which this is not only the successor of but also the replacement. This review will also discuss what seems to be the consensus "best" paste by overclocking enthusiasts, YouTubers, and "influencers", etc. A product which despite its YUGE following and noteworthy sponsorship, has a FAR too little discussed caveat (a dealbreaker, IMHO, which has significant implications for the IHS/die it's been applied on, and even includes the potential for post-install 'maintenance'). Also, I don’t have any info in regards to performance data (CPU upgrade so unfortunately no baseline), so if you're looking for metrics, you'll have to look elsewhere (Tom's Hardware is a good start). If you'd like to go straight to the review, then skip the following paragraph. After researching way too many thermal paste comparison tests, MX-5 was at or near the top of just about every single one it was included in and for those that it wasn't (due to being too new), MX-4 consistently ranked as one of the better pastes but when taking into account its age, durability, value and how much newer the products it was competing against were, MX-4 was a solid competitor and offered a compelling package at an affordable price. A couple of contenders at the top included Thermal Grizzly's Kryonaut, and the two offerings from Noctua (H1/H2). Personally, the main appeal to Arctic's formulas for me was its longevity, which they claim lasts as long as 8 years, with the only option coming close to approaching that long being Noctua. Even then, (while still impressive) they could only reach 5 years. It's no coincidence these two belong to what I consider to be the top three cooling companies in the industry, IMO. The third is Scythe (in no chronological order), a Japanese company known for making EXCELLENT heatsinks and tremendous case fans, and whose Fuma 2 happens to be the cooler I chose in this case (no pun intended), which sat on top of these pastes in my build. While I am def not gonna pay Thermal Grizzly's ridiculous prices ($10/gram for an application, maybe 2 if conservative) out of priniciple, most importantly was for every 5 star review of Kryonaut (including its appropriately named "EXTREME" version) by someone claiming they achieved their lowest recorded temps with it, there would be a few 1-2 star reviews complaining about it drying out, and even turning hard after removing the heatsink. What was most concerning tho, was the fact that this was happening in under a year, usually within months. Their own product page states "Kryonaut uses a special structure, which halts the drying out process at temperatures of up to 80° Celsius", while also mentioning "that this thermal grease was created especially for cryogenic applications." So yeah, even tho they admit this crucial detail themselves, to say that this is a frequently overlooked aspect (judging by the consistent surprise in negative reviews, yet still seeing it recommended by others all too frequently) would be putting it kindly. I don't mind paying a few extra bucks for a quality product as evidenced by MX-6's price increase, particularly compared to MX-4 (at launch this was $10 for the 4g tube of MX-6 + 5 wipes), but there is certainly a limit, and ESPECIALLY so if the product has to be replaced at least ONCE a YEAR. Ain't nobody got time for that. While I can unequivocally say that this is better than MX-5, that is a pathetically low bar and hurdle to pass, one that is more indicative of its predecessor’s failures than anything else. I’ve already mentioned why I’m unable to measure performance, but what I CAN compare are the physical characteristics, especially as it pertains to MX-5, and to a lesser degree MX-4. This MX-6 seems almost like a hybrid of MX-5 and MX-4, but leaning significantly more towards the former. It's still very sticky, just not AS sticky, which helps with the application. MX-4 was much more akin to a normal paste, smooth and easy to move around. This is a THICK paste, substantially thicker than its predecessors, but still stringy enough to spread around unlike MX-5, yet not nearly as easy as MX-4 (but at least still doable, and can be achieved with some time). It’s hard to gauge MX-5 because it’s simultaneously viscous and watery, which I believe is due to the separation (and reason for its recall) if not entirely then at least partially, which made it weird to spread and resistant to emulsify. Spreading it with the spatula was almost like dipping a recently used paintbrush in water, then attempting to paint a clean surface with it. Or, like using a basting brush (aka pastry brush, TIL), the ones that come with BBQ sauce in those gift sets, to glaze meat but w/ barely any sauce left. And that’s if you’re even able to spread at all (it’s somewhat doable, depending on your experience ofc, but you’ll def need a tool like a spatula or credit card and a lot of patience, along w/ time). Another difference is the color. MX-4 is the typical gray, while MX-5 was like a light, almost turquoise blue. MX-6 returns back to the (more pleasant if not dull) gray, a welcome change IMO. Something I noticed and thought was interesting is that Arctic advertises this by stating it has 20% better performance than MX-4, although this could be simply due to MX-5 no longer being in production means the former is the closest product in their lineup to compare with. One aspect different from its predecessors is that it does NOT come with the spreading spatula for some reason. Due to the chiplet design of Ryzen on AM4, I used that tool to spread a very thin layer, referred to as the "spread method", predominantly around the edges of the IHS. Then, I use a miniaturized version of the "X" method, that doesn't go all the way to the edges. Another way to achieve a similar result (either in conjunction with or instead of) is to simply blot the corners on the X with a dot, as thick as necessary (for Ryzen on AM4, slightly thicker than the line). Finally, I place a decent sized blob (aka the pea method) in the center. I have no scientific knowledge or verifiable proof that this works best, and you could remove one (if not two) of the three options and still obtain good coverage. Everyone has their own little quirks, routines, opinions and even philosophies on thermal paste, but due to the processor design I find this is what works for me and after taking off the heatsink, all of my previous applications have had complete coverage. AMD actually recommends a pentadot, which helped form the basis of mine after seeing how it provided decent outer coverage. If it were an Intel (Alder/Raptor Lake) or even a Threadripper, I'd prolly just use the X method due to the rectangular shape and call it a day. Actually, a technique comparable to what I mentioned a few lines above that could really be beneficial for Intel's processors in particular, is in addition to the "X", place a dot in the center of each side where huge gaps of empty space remain (esp on the longer sides) due to its square shape. It's kinda hard to explain via text but think of it as placing a dot at the end of each line of a "+" sign, and what you're left with (including the existing "X") almost looks like a symmetrical "*". Does that makes sense? I hope it does. Anyway, most people seem to prefer and recommend the pea method by itself which is fine too. Whatever floats your boat, or tickles your fancy. Back to the MX-5, which was like straight up glue, even during application, and ESPECIALLY AFTER. During the install, it didn't take long for me to realize that what I feared most wasn't getting it on: rather, it was getting the paste OFF. I ran stress (torture) tests, specifically Prime95 until my processor reached 95C and stayed there for about 30 minutes before shutting down and then was very careful removing the cooler, making sure to twist it side to side while pulling. Yet despite all that, it still took the CPU off with it, so after removing the cooler, I was still unable to separate the CPU using anything, including dental floss (both Glide and regular), eventually warming it with a hair dryer for about five minutes or so (a heat gun should obv work, just be careful w/ the distance at very high temperatures and constantly move it around). I gave it another try w/ the regular floss and finally, I was able to remove the CPU w/o any bent pins. While I'm mentioning all this in case anyone else reading this used glue (aka MX-5) or is stuck in a similar situation, it's also for those considering the wipes for this purchase. So if you’re contemplating wondering whether you should purchase 5 of them for about a buck (esp if worried about stuck thermal paste glued onto your cooler), then it likely — although not necessarily — means you have a use for it, and so if this is true, then my answer would be an emphatic YES! They're pretty large and good sized once removed from packaging, have plenty of liquid that won't immediately dry out so you have a few minutes, and each one goes a long way. Just be warned they have a weird and pugent smell. Personally, something as minor as that is never a reason for me to avoid a product if it performs better than a non-smelling product, but I keep seeing this mentioned in reviews and even being a dealbreaker, so thought it should be noted. A single wipe goes a long way, which is why I believe that if you have a need for it, it's worth purchasing due to the value provided for a single dollar and some change. Anyway, if you made it all the way here to the end, then I hope this was helpful. Good luck on your install. Cheers

The thermal paste is quite thick, because of this I used a lot of it thinking I would need it, in any case, it works very well, my temperatures dropped quite a lot and have remained stable. The cleaning wipes are amazing, they simply destroy the old thermal paste, even if it is hard and stuck to the CPU/Cooler. The complaints about the smell are a bit exaggerated if you compare it to how well the product works, in my case the smell only lasted about a day, it is indeed relatively strong but it just smells like cleaning products. I recommend that you dispose of the wipes in a bag that you then close to properly dispose of them and the smell, that little wipe WILL keep the smell for quite some time (people are probably throwing the used wipes in a nearby bin and that's why they can't get rid of the smell)

The MX-6 thermal paste performs very well in heat transfer and paste application. Temperature drops were noticed immediately under load and re pasting the CPU was very simple as the paste has a slightly higher viscosity compared to MX-4. Spreading the paste for full coverage was fairly simple and quick. The MX cleaning wipes are a double edge sword compared to iso propyl alcohol. While it does a great job breaking down the old paste for clean up, it also makes the paste very runny. It does not affect any clean up per se but it does get a little messy and stain a lot of things like automotive anti seize. Finally as noted by many people in the review section, the odor of the cleaner is definitely strong. I highly recommend this job be done somewhere ventilated and throw the wipes directly in the outside trash can.

Die ARCTIC MX-6 ist eine leistungsstarke Wärmeleitpaste, die ich für meinen Gaming-PC mit einem Ryzen 7 9800X3D und einer be quiet! Light Loop 360mm AIO verwendet habe. Nach einigen Tests und Erfahrungen kann ich sagen: Diese Paste ist absolut hochwertig - wenn man sie richtig anwendet! --Verarbeitung & Anwendung - Keine Spatelverteilung nötig!-- Ein häufiger Kritikpunkt in den Bewertungen ist die hohe Viskosität der Paste. Ja, die MX-6 ist dickflüssiger als andere Pasten, aber genau das ist beabsichtigt! Sie bleibt stabil auf der CPU, verläuft nicht und sorgt für eine langlebige, gleichmäßige Wärmeübertragung. Wichtige Klarstellung hierzu: Diese Paste ist nicht dafür gedacht, mit einem Spatel verteilt zu werden! Der beste Weg ist die Erbsenmethode: Einfach einen kleinen Punkt in die Mitte der CPU setzen und den Kühler mit normalem Anpressdruck darauf montieren. Die Paste verteilt sich dabei von selbst perfekt. Nicht mit einem Spatel verstreichen! Das kann zu ungleichmäßiger Verteilung oder Luftblasen führen. Durch die hohe Viskosität bleibt sie dort, wo sie hingehört, ohne sich bei der Montage zu verflüssigen oder auszulaufen. Ich habe die Paste genau so aufgetragen und meine Temperaturen sind absolut top: ✔ Idle: 35 - 40°C ✔ Gaming: 40 - 60°C ✔ 3DMark/FurMark/Prime95 Stresstest: Unter 80°C Das zeigt, dass die Wärmeübertragung einwandfrei funktioniert und die Paste perfekt aufgetragen wurde. --Reinigungstücher - Effektiv, aber geruchsintensiv-- Die mitgelieferten MX Cleaner Tücher haben ihre Aufgabe gut erledigt: Sie entfernen alte Wärmeleitpaste problemlos und hinterlassen eine saubere, fettfreie Oberfläche. Ja, sie haben einen starken chemischen Geruch, aber das ist normal für alkoholbasierte Reinigungstücher. Alternativ könnte man auch Isopropanol (90%+) verwenden, aber die mitgelieferten Tücher sind eine praktische Lösung. --Fazit - Exzellente Wärmeleitpaste für die richtige Anwendung-- ✔ Hohe Wärmeleitfähigkeit & exzellente Kühlleistung ✔ Langfristig stabil dank hoher Viskosität - kein Auslaufen oder Austrocknen ✔ Ideal für High-End-CPUs, Grafikkarten & Laptops ✔ Richtige Anwendung (Erbsenmethode) sorgt für perfekte Ergebnisse X Nicht mit einem Spatel verstreichen - das ist nicht nötig! X Reinigungstücher haben einen chemischen Geruch, aber funktionieren gut Klare Empfehlung für alle, die eine High-Performance-Wärmeleitpaste suchen - aber sie richtig anwenden!

Good thermal paste The best on the market quality price Good added cleaning papers.

exactement conforme à mes attentes. Livraison rapide et soignée. Je recommande !

Muito boa pasta térmica, funciona como esperado, e as toalhitas são muito boas para limpar pasta que tenha que retirar, muito bom pack..