For the past three years, Arctic has been working behind the scenes on improving its thermal compound formula, and it’s now launching the seventh iteration of its MX paste, naturally dubbed MX-7. This new grey goo promises improved thermal performance that could make it the new go-to paste for DIY PC builders.
The biggest changes from the previous formula are lower thermal resistance and higher cohesiveness. These qualities together should deliver better temperatures and a longer lifespan for all applications. Arctic is confident such improvements will apply to all use cases, whether you’re considering the compound for your next CPU installation or GPU repaste. You could even use it to refresh an older game console.
Note, however, that Arctic explicitly discourages applying MX-7 with a spatula on account of the compound’s low adhesion and high viscosity. Instead, the brand recommends adopting the cross method during application.
I’m usually an advocate for the line or blob method. However, following Arctic’s instructions while using MX-7 for our Ryzen 5 7500X3D vs. Ryzen 7 7800X3D guide proved fruitful, with pleasingly low temperatures from each chip.
Putting MX-7 up against a meatier chip, like Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K, Arctic claims its new formula handily outperforms its prior-generation paste. A difference of 2.3°C may not seem like much in real terms, but it’s major in the world of thermal compounds. Regardless, everyone with a gaming PC can get behind the principle of lower temperatures.
I’m curious to see how differences manifest on a more unruly chip, such as an Intel Core i9-14900K, but I’d settle for AMD’s top-performing Ryzen 9 9950X3D as well. Club386 contributor Krzysztof plans to put MX-7 through its paces in a classic showdown here soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that coverage when it lands.
| SKU | Amazon UK price |
|---|---|
| MX-7 2g | £5.79 |
| MX-7 4g | £6.19 |
| MX-7 4g w/ 6pcs MX Cleaner | £7.29 |
| MX-7 8g | £7.39 |
You can pick up some MX-7 for your own system starting today. While you can buy your new goo from Arctic directly, the brand is selling the compound much cheaper via Amazon UK, starting at £5.79 for a 2g tube. If you need more paste, 4g and 8g capacities are available too.
For extra peace of mind, you can check the authenticity of your Arctic MX-7 online. Simply scan the QR code on your tube’s retailing packaging, or enter its code manually, to make sure you’ve got some genuine grey goo.
If you’re hungry for more talk of thermal paste, processors, and other hardware gossip, make sure you’re following the Club386 Google News feed for all our coverage.
