When I think of quality cooling fans, typically one name jumps to mind first: Noctua.However, Nocuta isn�t just about fans, as they�ve started to branch out into other peripheral products.Today we get the chance to take a look at one such product, the Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compound.Will the Noctua product be able to stand up against the established incumbents in the thermal compound market?Let�s find out.
About Noctua:
Check out their website- http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=produkte&lng=en
Noctua aims at establishing a new level of quality and performance "Designed in Austria" through paying attention to the users' needs in a market burdened with all kinds of frills and furbelows and providing sound-optimised premium components, which serve their purpose in a smart, precise and reliable manner. Noctua arises from a cooperation between the Austrian Rascom Computerdistribution Ges.m.b.H and the Taiwanese Kolink International Corporation and entertains a development partnership with the Austrian Institute of Heat Transmission and Fan Technology (�sterreichisches Institut f�r W�rme�bertragung und Ventilatorentechnik, �IWV). These connections form the key to the achievement of our goal: The partnership with the �IWV permits the application of scientific measurement instrumentation, methods of calculation and simulation technology in the R&D process. Rascom's long, customer-oriented experience in developing and distributing sound-optimised high-end products ensures a clear focus on the users' needs. The use of Kolink's advanced manufacturing technology and ultra-modern production plants allows us to efficiently implement our technical edge and provide solutions of the highest standard in quality and performance.
Features:
Superb thermal performance
Excellent ease-of-use
No "burn-in" time
Outstanding long-term stability
Not electrically conductive
Suitable for compressor cooling
Specifications:
Volume1.4ml (for at least 15 applications)
Specific Gravity2,49 g/cm�
Colourgrey
Recommended storage time (before use)up to 2 years
Recommended usage time (on the CPU)up to 3 years
Peak operating temperature-50�C to +110�C
Recommended operating temperature-40�C to +90�C
The product:
Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures
The Noctua NT-H1 thermal compound comes well-packaged in a clear plastic package with the dual-fan module prominently displayed on the front.The back provides a list of the specification and some typical performance numbers.
Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures
Opening the package, we find a rather large syringe filled with the thermal compound.The syringe comes with 1.4ml of compound, which according to Noctua is enough for at least 15 applications.A large cap keeps the thermal compound in the syringe.
If you look at the features of the product, you�ll notice the long list of �non� features, such as non-conductive, no burn-in time etc.These features aren�t seen but are very important nonetheless, especially the non-conductive nature of the compound.This will prevent accidental shorts and other failures due to excessive thermal compound.
Installation:
Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures
To test out the NT-H1 thermal compound, I applied the compound to both a CPU application and a video card/GPU application.I found the application to be very similar to that of our favorite compound, the Arctic Silver 5 compound, though the Noctua thermal compound was a little more viscous/thick, making it slightly harder to spread and causing me to potentially add more compound than needed.
