Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut (Liquid Metal/80+ W/mK/Electrically Conductive/Experienced Builders Only)
- Compound Type:
- Liquid Metal (Gallium-based)
- Thermal Conductivity:
- 73 W/mK (brand-stated)
- Electrical Conductivity:
- Conductive (short-circuit risk)
- Package Size:
- 1g syringe
- Recommended Use:
- Delidded-Direct-Die (experienced builders only)
- Reapplication Interval:
- Long-lasting but requires careful reapplication
- Safety Notes:
- Reacts with aluminum
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Manufacturer: Thermal Grizzly Last updated: September 10, 2026
Description
Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut is a liquid metal thermal compound offering dramatically higher conductivity than any traditional paste, at over 80 W/mK compared to the 8-15 W/mK range typical of silicone, carbon, or metal-oxide compounds. This isn't a mainstream upgrade path; every current buying guide consistently frames liquid metal as a specialist tool for experienced builders working on delidded CPUs or direct-die cooling setups, not a drop-in replacement for a standard paste application.
Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut is a liquid metal thermal compound offering dramatically higher conductivity than any traditional paste, at over 80 W/mK compared to the 8-15 W/mK range typical of silicone, carbon, or metal-oxide compounds. This isn't a mainstream upgrade path; every current buying guide consistently frames liquid metal as a specialist tool for experienced builders working on delidded CPUs or direct-die cooling setups, not a drop-in replacement for a standard paste application.
Thermal Performance and Conductivity
At 80+ W/mK, this compound's raw conductivity number dwarfs even the strongest traditional pastes like Thermal Grizzly's own Kryonaut, a real and substantial thermal advantage that matters most in extreme scenarios: delidded CPUs, direct-die contact cooling, or sub-ambient overclocking where every fraction of a degree genuinely counts toward pushing clock speeds further.
Compound Type and Composition
As a liquid metal compound rather than a traditional paste, Conductonaut behaves fundamentally differently from every other product in this comparison: it's a genuinely liquid, flowing metal alloy rather than a viscous paste, which is both the source of its exceptional conductivity and the source of its handling risks.
Application and Consistency
Liquid metal application requires meaningfully more precision and care than a standard paste: because it's electrically conductive and genuinely liquid rather than viscous, a small spill or excess amount can migrate to unintended areas of the CPU package or surrounding motherboard components during handling or cooler mounting.
Electrical Safety
This is the critical consideration with Conductonaut: it is electrically conductive, meaning any contact with motherboard circuitry, RAM slots, or other exposed components can cause permanent, often catastrophic damage. Current guides are unanimous and direct on this point: liquid metal should only be used by builders who fully understand the risks and have experience with precision application, and it should never be used on a GPU specifically because of how closely packed the surrounding components are. It should also never be used on aluminum components, since it reacts with and corrodes aluminum on contact, a real chemical incompatibility distinct from the electrical conductivity risk.
Longevity and Pump-Out Resistance
Liquid metal compounds don't experience pump-out in the way traditional pastes can, since they remain in a liquid state rather than gradually drying and cracking, though this same property is part of what makes migration during handling a genuine ongoing consideration rather than just an application-time risk.
Comparison to Sibling Products
Against Thermal Grizzly's own Kryonaut, covered elsewhere on this site, this Conductonaut delivers roughly six to seven times the raw conductivity, but trades away Kryonaut's electrical safety and straightforward application entirely, a trade only worth making for the specific extreme use cases where liquid metal is actually recommended. Against Arctic MX-6, also covered elsewhere on this site, the practical gap for a typical build is enormous on paper but largely irrelevant in practice, since MX-6's non-conductive safety profile makes it the correct choice for the overwhelming majority of builds regardless of the conductivity numbers on a spec sheet.
Who This Paste Is Actually For
**Experienced overclockers working with delidded CPUs or direct-die cooling.** This is specifically the use case liquid metal is built for and where its conductivity advantage genuinely matters. **Builders who fully understand and accept the electrical short-circuit and aluminum-corrosion risks.** This product demands real technical confidence, not just a willingness to follow instructions once. **Not for GPU application under any circumstances.** Every current guide is specific and unanimous on this point given how closely packed GPU components are. **Not for first-time builders or anyone applying thermal paste for the first time.** Arctic MX-6 or Noctua NT-H2, both covered elsewhere on this site, deliver strong, safe performance without this product's genuine handling risks. **Not for use anywhere near aluminum components.** The chemical reaction with aluminum is a separate risk from the electrical conductivity concern and applies regardless of application care.
Specifications
| Brand | Thermal Grizzly |
|---|---|
| Model | Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut , Conductonaut |
| Compound Type | Liquid Metal (Gallium-based) |
| Thermal Conductivity | 73 W/mK (brand-stated) |
| Electrical Conductivity | Conductive (short-circuit risk) |
| Package Size | 1g syringe |
| Recommended Use | Delidded-Direct-Die (experienced builders only) |
| Reapplication Interval | Long-lasting but requires careful reapplication |
| Safety Notes | Reacts with aluminum; do not use on bare aluminum coldplates or near exposed components |
Expert Review
Rated by the Consumercarts editorial team, not by users
Best for
- Experienced overclockers working with delidded CPUs or direct-die cooling. This is specifically the use case liquid metal is built for and where its conductivity advantage genuinely matters.
- Builders who fully understand and accept the electrical short-circuit and aluminum-corrosion risks. This product demands real technical confidence, not just a willingness to follow instructions once.
Not for
- Not for GPU application under any circumstances. Every current guide is specific and unanimous on this point given how closely packed GPU components are.
- Not for first-time builders or anyone applying thermal paste for the first time. Arctic MX-6 or Noctua NT-H2, both covered elsewhere on this site, deliver strong, safe performance without this product's genuine handling risks.
- Not for use anywhere near aluminum components. The chemical reaction with aluminum is a separate risk from the electrical conductivity concern and applies regardless of application care.