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Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste vs Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad: Comparison
Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste vs Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird: the thermal conductivity difference
Expect a near tie. The closest thing to a difference is thermal conductivity, Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste 6.7 W/mK against Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird 3 W/mK. Viscosity is not the same on both, 130 Pa-s on the Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste versus Soft, compressible silicone elastomer sheet on the Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird. Recommended use is not the same on both, High-end CPU/GPU on the Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste versus Laptop-Thin-GPU, Mainstream CPU/GPU, M.2 SSD cooling on the Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird. There is a split on conductivity source as well, https://shop.alphacool.com/en/detail/index/sArticle/22025 on the Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste versus https://www.laird.com/products/thermal-interface-materials/gap-fillers/tflex-hr600 on the Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird. There is a split on paste segment as well, Standard Paste on the Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste versus Pad on the Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird.
Who each one is for
it is not built for buyers who specifically want liquid-metal-level conductivity. The same goes for high-end CPU and GPU builds, overclocking rigs, workstations and servers wanting Alphacool's current-generation paste. It is the wrong buy for anyone needing a confirmed silicone/carbon base disclosure, which Alphacool has not published for this formula. The Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird suits M.2 SSD heatsink contact and laptop GPU/VRAM cooling, though it is the wrong buy for high-power desktop CPU/GPU dies needing >3 W/mK. Our rating of the Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste (6.7/10): A high-end Alphacool paste with a solid published conductivity figure, though independent review coverage is thinner than bigger paste-specialist brands. Our rating of the Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird (6.2/10): an industrial-grade gap filler pad from an established materials brand, cuttable to size for M.2 and laptop use.
What Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste and Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, electrical conductivity included, so the decision does not turn on any of those.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
- Alphacool
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Laird
Model
- Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
- Alphacool Apex 2
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Tflex HR600
Thermal Conductivity
- Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
- 6.7 W/mKBest
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- 3 W/mK (ASTM D5470)
Electrical Conductivity
- Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
- Insulating
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Insulating
Package Size
- Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
- 2g syringe
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- 229 x 229mm sheet, 0.5mm-3.0mm thickness options; also sold pre-cut for M.2 SSD/laptop use
Recommended Use
- Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
- High-end CPU/GPU (developed with Halnziye for CPUs, GPU hotspots, overclocking systems, workstations and servers)
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Laptop-Thin-GPU, Mainstream CPU/GPU, M.2 SSD cooling
Safety Notes
- Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
- Causes serious eye irritation; toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. Wear protective gloves and eye protection and wash hands thoroughly after use.
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Non-conductive silicone elastomer; no special handling precautions required
Conductivity Source
- Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
- https://shop.alphacool.com/en/detail/index/sArticle/22025
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- https://www.laird.com/products/thermal-interface-materials/gap-fillers/tflex-hr600
Viscosity
- Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
- 130 Pa-s
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Soft, compressible silicone elastomer sheet
Paste Segment
- Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
- Standard Paste
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Pad
Which one should you pick?
Choose Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste if you want the higher thermal conductivity (6.7 W/mK vs 3 W/mK (ASTM D5470)).
Choose Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste | Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad |
|---|---|---|
| Alphacool Shop (EU) | View on Alphacool Shop (EU) | |
| Laird / Laird Performance Materials | View on Laird / Laird Performance Materials | |
| Farnell | View on Farnell |
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
Alphacool Apex 2 Thermal Paste
6.7 / 10 Expert Rating
A high-end Alphacool paste with a solid published conductivity figure, though independent review coverage is thinner than bigger paste-specialist brands.
Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
6.2 / 10 Expert Rating
An industrial-grade gap filler pad from an established materials brand, cuttable to size for M.2 and laptop use.
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