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Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK vs Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad: Comparison
Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK vs Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird: the thermal conductivity difference
These two are close on paper, and thermal conductivity is the only measure that separates them at all: Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK 17.8 W/mK against Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird 3 W/mK. There is a split on viscosity as well, 0 Pa-s on the Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK versus Soft, compressible silicone elastomer sheet on the Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird. They differ on recommended use too, High-end CPU/GPU on the Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK versus Laptop-Thin-GPU, Mainstream CPU/GPU, M.2 SSD cooling on the Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird. Conductivity source is not the same on both, https://shop.alphacool.com/en/shop/thermal-conductant/thermal-pads/waem-alphacool-apex-thermal-pad-soft-18w/mk-120x20x1mm on the Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK versus https://www.laird.com/products/thermal-interface-materials/gap-fillers/tflex-hr600 on the Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird.
Which should you buy, Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK or Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird?
Take the Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK for high-end CPU/GPU, VRM/MOSFET, and memory-module cooling wanting the highest independently-measured W/mK figure among this catalog's pads. It also earns its place with builds needing a documented electrical safety spec sheet (volume resistance, dielectric breakdown) rather than a generic non-conductive claim. Avoid it for buyers who specifically want Eisschicht's softer, more paste-like conforming fit for delicate uneven surfaces. The Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird suits M.2 SSD heatsink contact and laptop GPU/VRAM cooling, though it is not built for high-power desktop CPU/GPU dies needing >3 W/mK. Our rating of the Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK (6.8/10): A soft, high-conductivity pad aimed at high-end builds, though it lacks the independent review base of the paste side of Alphacool's lineup. 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 Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK and Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, compound type, electrical conductivity and paste segment included, so the decision does not turn on any of those.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- Alphacool
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Laird
Compound Type
- Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- Silicone-Based Pad
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Silicone-Based Pad
Model
- Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Tflex HR600
Thermal Conductivity
- Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- 17.8 W/mK (ASTM D5470)Best
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- 3 W/mK (ASTM D5470)
Electrical Conductivity
- Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- Insulating
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Insulating
Package Size
- Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- 120 x 20 x 1.5mm sheet
- 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 Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- High-end CPU/GPU
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Laptop-Thin-GPU, Mainstream CPU/GPU, M.2 SSD cooling
Conductivity Source
- Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- https://shop.alphacool.com/en/shop/thermal-conductant/thermal-pads/waem-alphacool-apex-thermal-pad-soft-18w/mk-120x20x1mm
- 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 Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- 0 Pa-s
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Soft, compressible silicone elastomer sheet
Paste Segment
- Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
- Pad
- Laird (Laird Performance Materials) Laird Tflex HR600 Series Thermal Gap Filler Pad
- Pad
Which one should you pick?
Choose Alphacool Apex Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK if you want the higher thermal conductivity (17.8 W/mK (ASTM D5470) 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 Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK | 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 Thermal Pad Soft 18W/mK
6.8 / 10 Expert Rating
A soft, high-conductivity pad aimed at high-end builds, though it lacks the independent review base of the paste side of Alphacool's lineup.
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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