If your gaming PC, workstation, or console heats up in Indian summers, a good thermal interface material makes a big difference. Whether you play AAA titles for hours or run heavy rendering work, the right thermal paste or liquid metal keeps your CPU and GPU cooler, helps maintain performance, and reduces fan noise. Many stock coolers and pre-applied compounds dry out after a couple of years, which is why upgrading the thermal material is one of the simplest performance tweaks you can do at home.
When you pick a thermal paste or liquid metal, you need to think about conductivity rating, ease of application, safety with your specific hardware, and how often you plan to repaste. In India, you also need to keep in mind high ambient temperatures, dust, long power-cut sessions on inverter, and access to after-sales support. The list below focuses on products that are widely available in India, work well for Indian conditions, and give strong value without you worrying about customs or warranty drama.
ATOMDOTS M79 Liquid Metal (Stage 2, 1 g)
High conductivity liquid metal aimed at serious overclockers who want aggressive thermal performance on CPUs, GPUs, and consoles.
Pros
- Very high thermal conductivity rating of 79 W/m*K
- Suitable for overclocking and heavy gaming builds
- Subzero Overclocking branding with included alcohol wipes
- Up to three applications from a single syringe
Cons
- Conductive and risky if applied near exposed SMDs
- Not suitable for aluminium heatsinks
- Needs more prep time and experience than normal pastes
- Warranty risk on laptops and consoles if service notices liquid metal
ATOMDOTS M79 Stage 2 targets enthusiasts who push their hardware hard. With a rated thermal conductivity of 79 W/m*K, it sits in the top bracket of liquid metal products that serious overclockers prefer. For Indian gamers in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai where room temperatures stay high for long months, this level of thermal performance helps keep boost clocks stable during long gaming or productivity sessions.
The kit includes semiconductor grade alcohol wipes, which is helpful if you are repasting for the first time and do not already keep cleaning supplies. One gram is enough for around three careful applications on typical desktop CPUs or a mix of CPU and GPU dies. The formula uses a high indium concentration, which contributes to performance but also means you must avoid aluminium heatsinks to prevent corrosion.
Service and support for ATOMDOTS is more niche than big global brands, though the brand has gained traction in Indian enthusiast groups. That means you should rely more on community guides, YouTube demos, and your own care than on brand hand-holding. For desktop users who understand the risks of liquid metal and who want low temperatures in tough Indian weather, M79 Stage 2 gives strong value and strong results, as long as you take safety precautions like masking surrounding components with tape or nail polish.
Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut 1 g
Premium liquid metal with a strong reputation among experienced PC builders who want extreme thermal performance.
Pros
- Thermal conductivity around 73 W/m*K
- Trusted brand among overclockers worldwide
- Syringe format is easy to control for thin application
- Well documented guides and community experience
- Good for large heatspreaders and custom cooling setups
Cons
- Expensive compared to standard pastes
- Conductive and risky around laptop VRM components
- Not recommended on aluminium surfaces
- More maintenance effort than thick pastes over long term
Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut has strong brand recall among overclockers and custom loop builders. With a quoted thermal conductivity of 73 W/m*K, it stays in the top tier of liquid metals used on desktop CPUs and high-end GPUs. For Indian users who run high refresh gaming or heavy productivity on unlocked Intel or Ryzen chips, Conductonaut often helps shave several degrees off core temperatures compared to good standard paste.
The 1 gram syringe makes application more controlled, which is important when you are dealing with electrically conductive material near tiny SMD components. You still need to prep the area carefully, clean with isopropyl alcohol, and protect nearby parts on laptop dies. Conductonaut works especially well under big tower air coolers and custom waterblocks, where the rest of the cooling chain can take advantage of the lower thermal resistance.
Thermal Grizzly has a strong global presence and good reputation in India among PC modders and boutique system builders. Genuine stock is widely sold through big marketplaces. That said, support for user mistakes is limited, so you need to know what you are doing. For a desktop overclocker who wants a proven liquid metal with extensive online guides, Conductonaut is a safe technical choice, as long as you respect the risks and accept that repasting inside OEM laptops or consoles might impact warranty.
ARCTIC MX-4 (Grey, 4 g variant line)
Carbon-based, non-conductive thermal paste that balances performance, safety, and ease of use for most Indian PC and console users.
Pros
- Non-conductive and non-capacitive, safer for beginners
- Good thermal performance for gaming and productivity
- Easy to spread and does not need curing time
- Long-standing popular choice with wide availability in India
Cons
- Not as thermally aggressive as liquid metal
- Performance difference between versions can confuse buyers
- Needs reapplication after some years in hot and dusty setups
- Syringe tip can dispense more than needed if you press hard
ARCTIC MX-4 uses carbon micro-particles to deliver strong thermal performance while staying electrically non-conductive. This gives you peace of mind if you are new to repasting or working on cramped laptop motherboards where a small spill could otherwise short a component. For most Indian users who want better temperatures on a mid-range gaming PC, office workstation, or old PS4, MX-4 hits a sweet spot between safety and performance.
The paste spreads easily, either with a pea-sized drop or with a small card or spatula, and it does not require a curing period. That works well when you are repasting in quick windows between work or during a short power backup period. MX-4 handles Indian ambient temperatures reasonably, though like any paste, long exposure to heat, humidity, and dust inside cabinets shortens its best performance window. Many users prefer to repaste every couple of years, especially if they live in coastal areas with high humidity.
ARCTIC as a brand has a solid presence in India through various distributors, and MX-4 has been popular for years among local assemblers and service technicians. There is plenty of community feedback and temperature comparison data online. If you want a hassle-free paste for your first repaste job, where you worry more about safety than squeezing the last 2 or 3 degrees, MX-4 is a sensible choice that works across CPUs, GPUs, and console APUs without stressing you out.
ATOMDOTS M79 Liquid Metal (Standard, 1 g)
High conductivity liquid metal tuned for maximum thermal performance on CPUs, GPUs, and consoles with support for overclocking.
Pros
- Listed thermal conductivity rating in the 79 to 90 W/m*K band
- Designed for overclocking and heavy workloads
- Compatible with PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox when applied correctly
- Promotes long-term thermal stability under demanding loads
Cons
- Electrically conductive, so mistakes can damage hardware
- Unsuitable for aluminium coolers due to possible reaction
- Application process is slower than normal paste
- Support network is smaller than huge global brands
This ATOMDOTS M79 variant aims at users who want the maximum possible thermal performance out of a 1 gram liquid metal syringe. The brand quotes a conductivity in the 79 to 90 W/m*K range, which puts it in direct competition with well-known imports. For Indian PC enthusiasts who tune their systems for benchmark numbers or high FPS at high resolutions, that extra performance headroom can help stabilise temperatures during stress tests in hot rooms.
The compound is marketed as suited for microprocessors and heat sinks in desktops and consoles alike. That flexibility is attractive in India where one family might use a shared console and a single high-performance PC for study, work, and gaming. One syringe supports roughly one to three die applications depending on how generous you are and the size of the chip. As with all gallium-based liquid metals, you must avoid aluminium surfaces and use only on nickel-plated copper or bare copper contact plates.
ATOMDOTS has a smaller support footprint compared to big international brands, but enthusiasts in Indian forums have started to treat it as a locally accessible option with strong raw specifications. You should still depend on thorough guides and take safety steps such as taping or painting around the die, especially on laptops and consoles. For a user who is confident with repasting and wants performance close to the best-known liquid metals without worrying about long import times, this M79 version is practical and performance focused.
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut 1 g
High performance non-conductive paste suited for gaming PCs, laptops, and consoles where you want strong cooling with less risk than liquid metal.
Pros
- One of the strongest non-conductive pastes in enthusiast space
- Good choice for high TDP CPUs and GPUs
- Safe for aluminium and copper heatsinks
- Popular in India with many temperature comparison tests online
Cons
- Smaller thermal advantage over MX-4 in average systems
- Can dry faster under very high sustained heat
- Relatively high cost per gram in small pack size
- Not ideal for beginners who apply a thick layer
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut targets users who want near top-tier thermal performance without using liquid metal. It is non-conductive, so small spills on surrounding components are far less risky. For Indian users with gaming laptops that already run hot due to slim chassis and hot climates, or for compact SFF desktops, Kryonaut offers temperature improvements that help prevent aggressive thermal throttling under load.
The 1 gram pack works well for one or two careful applications. Kryonaut has a relatively soft consistency, which helps spread out under mounting pressure from the cooler. That said, many beginners tend to over-apply premium pastes. A pea or small line in the centre generally works better than trying to manually spread a thick layer. Kryonaut is comfortable with copper and aluminium surfaces, so it fits older budget coolers that ship with aluminium blocks and fins, common in many Indian budget builds.
Thermal Grizzly as a brand enjoys strong recognition among Indian PC assemblers and serious hobbyists. Many local stores and online sellers stock genuine packs, and you can find independent tests on Indian YouTube channels and forums that compare Kryonaut against cheaper pastes. If you game long hours in hot rooms and want a safer alternative to liquid metal, Kryonaut gives strong temperature drops, though you may want to repaste again if you run heavy loads daily in non-air-conditioned spaces for years.
Buying Guide
1. Set your goal and budget first
Before you pick a thermal paste or liquid metal, decide what you want from your system. If you run a basic office PC in a reasonably cool room, a mid-range paste like ARCTIC MX-4 is enough. If you push a high-end CPU or GPU with overclocks in peak Indian summer, a high-end paste or liquid metal might be worth the effort. Factor in the cost of rubbing alcohol, cleaning materials, and maybe new thermal pads if you open up a laptop or GPU. Treat this like a maintenance upgrade, not a glamour part like RGB fans.
2. Know the different types of thermal materials
Broadly, you will see two types here. Standard pastes, often ceramic, carbon, or silicone based, and liquid metal compounds based on gallium or indium. Standard pastes are safer, non-conductive, and easier to handle. These suit most Indian users, especially beginners or those working on cramped laptops. Liquid metal products like Conductonaut or ATOMDOTS M79 offer higher thermal conductivity and lower temperatures, but they conduct electricity and react with aluminium. Those are better for confident builders working on desktop CPUs or carefully prepared consoles.
3. Thermal conductivity ratings and what they mean
Every product advertises a thermal conductivity value in W/m*K. Higher numbers indicate potential for better heat transfer, but real-world results also depend on your cooler quality, contact pressure, and ambient temperature. For normal users, a good paste in the mid-range already takes care of throttle issues in most Indian climates if the rest of the cooling system is decent. Liquid metal with ratings above 70 W/m*K mainly benefits users who have strong coolers and need every degree of headroom for high clocks or silent fan curves.
4. Compatibility with CPUs, GPUs, and consoles
Most non-conductive pastes work fine with desktop and laptop CPUs, GPUs, and console APUs, and they are safe for both copper and aluminium heatsinks. Liquid metal should only touch nickel-plated copper or bare copper surfaces. On many budget Indian coolers, the base is aluminium, so liquid metal is a bad match. In laptops and consoles, exposed SMD components around the die increase the risk when you use a conductive material. Before buying, check your cooler base material and search for guides for your exact laptop or console model.
5. Performance needs in Indian climate
High ambient temperature in many parts of India means your cooling system always works harder. A paste that performs fine in cooler countries might age faster in rooms that sit near 30 degrees for long months. If your PC runs in a non-air-conditioned room, plan for both good paste and strong airflow. Dust filters, periodic cleaning, and good case fans help more than spending only on expensive paste. For users in cooler hill regions, a mid-range paste is usually enough unless you chase benchmark scores.
6. Application difficulty and safety
Ease of application matters a lot. ARCTIC MX-4 and Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut are straightforward, even for first-time users. A small pea or line in the centre, careful mounting, and you are done. Liquid metal demands patience and steady hands. You need to clean surfaces till they shine, sometimes lightly polish them, apply a tiny volume, spread it properly, and insulate nearby components. A mistake can short your motherboard. If you are not confident, start with a safer paste and gain experience before trying liquid metal.
7. Durability, maintenance, and repasting frequency
All thermal materials age due to repeated heat cycles, dust, and humidity. In many Indian homes, cabinets stay under desks close to the floor, so they gather more dust and hair. Non-conductive pastes like MX-4 and Kryonaut usually stay effective for a couple of years, sometimes longer in clean, cooler rooms. Liquid metal tends to offer stable performance for long periods when applied correctly, though some users prefer to check contact every year on laptops and delidded CPUs. When you see temperatures rising over months with no other change, it is time to inspect and consider repasting.
8. Warranty, service network, and availability in India
For desktops, repasting rarely affects component warranty if you do not damage anything, though always read the brand policy. For laptops and consoles, many authorised centres in India treat liquid metal applications as tampering, and sometimes even third-party paste as grounds to decline free service. Popular brands like ARCTIC and Thermal Grizzly have better recognition among local technicians. Smaller brands like ATOMDOTS are still more common among hobbyists. Buy from trusted sellers to avoid counterfeits, and keep your bill and packaging if you need to raise any issue.
Feature Importance
| Feature | Importance |
|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity rating (W/m*K) | High |
| Electrical conductivity (safe vs conductive) | High |
| Compatibility with cooler material (copper vs aluminium) | High |
| Ease of application for beginners | Medium |
| Durability in high Indian ambient temperatures | High |
| Brand reputation and availability in India | Medium |
| Suitability for laptops and consoles | Medium |
| Price per gram of compound | Medium |
| Included extras like cleaners or applicators | Low |
| Support resources, guides, and community feedback | Medium |
