Thermal grease and thermal pads are both essential in enhancing CPU cooling and optimizing the thermal performance of the CPU fan. But what's the difference between the two, and which one is more effective?

Key Differences Between Thermal Grease and Thermal Pads:

1. Application Convenience:

   • Thermal pads are typically used in situations where applying thermal grease is not feasible, such as in the power supply section of the motherboard. Since components like MOSFETs are uneven, spreading thermal grease can be challenging, making thermal pads the ideal solution.
   • On the other hand, thermal grease is more commonly used for CPU or GPU cooling, but when it comes to parts of the graphics card where multiple sections must be in contact with the heat sink, thermal pads offer a more convenient alternative.

2. Heat Dissipation:

   • Thermal grease offers better thermal conductivity, filling even the smallest gaps between the CPU and the heat sink, maximizing heat transfer.
   • Thermal pads, though easier to apply, may not achieve the same level of thermal conductivity as grease, but they are perfect for larger gaps or uneven surfaces.

Which One Is More Effective?

• Thermal Grease: Provides superior thermal performance due to its ability to fill micro gaps and offer high thermal conductivity. It is ideal for use with high-performance CPUs and GPUs that require maximum heat dissipation.

• Thermal Pads: Offer ease of use, making them a practical solution for areas where grease is not suitable, such as the motherboard power supply or specific sections of a graphics card.

While both have their strengths, the choice depends on the application. For extreme performance, thermal grease is often the go-to, but for practical, large-surface applications, thermal pads are more convenient.

Difference between thermal grease and thermal pad:

	Thermal Pad	Thermal Grease
Thermal  conductivity	12W/m⋅K	5W/m.K
Insulation	It has good insulation performance, and the 1mm thickness of  H48-6G thermal pad has an electrical insulation index of over 13,000V.	Thermal grease is poorly insulated due to the addition of metal powder.
Form	sheet	paste
Use	It can be cut at will, removed from the protective film and applied directly, with tight tolerances and cleanliness.	It needs to be spread carefully and evenly (it is not easy to apply to large size hardware), which can easily stain the surrounding devices and lead to a short circuit and scratch electronic components.
Thickness	As a gap-filling thermal material, thermal pad has a thickness ranging from 0.2 to 20mm and is widely applied.	As a gap-filling thermal material, thermal grease is limited.
Effects of thermal conductivity	To achieve the same thermal conductivity, the thermal pad must have a higher thermal conductivity than the thermal grease.	Thermal grease with the same thermal conductivity is better than thermal pad because the thermal resistance of thermal grease is lower.
Convenience	It is easy to reinstall.	It is not easy to reapply after disassembly.
Price	It is used in thin and delicate electronic products such as laptops and LED lighting, and are slightly more expensive than thermal grease.	It is commonly used and is relatively low-priced.