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3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H vs ID-Cooling Frost X25: Comparison
3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface vs ID-Cooling Frost X25: the thermal conductivity difference
Expect a near tie. The closest thing to a difference is thermal conductivity, 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface 2.08 W/mK against ID-Cooling Frost X25 10.5 W/mK. There is a split on conductivity source as well, https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/920112O/3m-thermally-conductive-acrylic-interface-pad-5590h-technical-data-sheet.pdf on the 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface versus https://www.idcooling.com/product/detail?id=286 on the ID-Cooling Frost X25. They differ on paste segment too, Pad on the 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface versus Standard Paste on the ID-Cooling Frost X25.
3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface vs ID-Cooling Frost X25: which one fits your build
The 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface is the one to take for silicone-sensitive assemblies near optics, displays or connectors and power electronics and battery gap filling, though it is not built for high-end GPU memory or VRM cooling. Avoid it for builds where silicone pads are acceptable and higher conductivity is wanted. Buy the ID-Cooling Frost X25 for mainstream gaming CPUs under air or AIO coolers and ID-TG15 users wanting a documented step up, though it is the wrong buy for overclocked or high-wattage CPUs, where Frost X45 fits better and extreme overclocking or direct-die cooling. It is equally the pick for buyers who want viscosity and density data on the spec sheet. Our rating of the 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface (6.6/10): an industrial acrylic interface pad from an established materials manufacturer, aimed at OEM and repair use rather than enthusiast builds. Our rating of the ID-Cooling Frost X25 (7.5/10): A capable mainstream paste from ID-Cooling's well-regarded Frost line, offering most of X45's benefit at a lower price.
Frequently asked questions
Do the 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface and ID-Cooling Frost X25 differ on compound type?
Yes. Compound Type reads Acrylic Pad on the 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface versus Silicone-Based on the ID-Cooling Frost X25.
Is the Electrical Conductivity the same on the 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface and ID-Cooling Frost X25?
It is. Both are listed at Insulating, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
- 3M
- ID-Cooling Frost X25
- ID-Cooling
Compound Type
- 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
- Acrylic Pad
- ID-Cooling Frost X25
- Silicone-Based
Model
- 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
- 5590H
- ID-Cooling Frost X25
- Frost X25
Thermal Conductivity
- 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
- 2.08 W/mK (ASTM D5470)
- ID-Cooling Frost X25
- 10.5 W/mKBest
Electrical Conductivity
- 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
- Insulating
- ID-Cooling Frost X25
- Insulating
Package Size
- 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
- Sheets and die-cut shapes, 0.5/1.0/1.2/1.5/2.0mm thick
- ID-Cooling Frost X25
- 2g or 4g syringe
Recommended Use
- 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
- Battery cooling, power electronics and HMI displays (general electronics gap filling)
- ID-Cooling Frost X25
- Mainstream CPU/GPU
Conductivity Source
- 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
- https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/920112O/3m-thermally-conductive-acrylic-interface-pad-5590h-technical-data-sheet.pdf
- ID-Cooling Frost X25
- https://www.idcooling.com/product/detail?id=286
Viscosity
- 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
- Firm, tacky acrylic polymer sheet
- ID-Cooling Frost X25
- 560 Pa-s
Paste Segment
- 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
- Pad
- ID-Cooling Frost X25
- Standard Paste
Which one should you pick?
Choose 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose ID-Cooling Frost X25 if you want the higher thermal conductivity (10.5 W/mK vs 2.08 W/mK (ASTM D5470)).
Price comparison
| Retailer | 3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H | ID-Cooling Frost X25 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Newark | View on Newark |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
3M Thermally Conductive Acrylic Interface Pad 5590H
6.6 / 10 Expert Rating
An industrial acrylic interface pad from an established materials manufacturer, aimed at OEM and repair use rather than enthusiast builds.
ID-Cooling Frost X25
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A capable mainstream paste from ID-Cooling's well-regarded Frost line, offering most of X45's benefit at a lower price.