With the Maxtor CTG10, I am testing a really good paste today, which unfortunately once again reflects the current shortage of good and affordable pastes. It has barely been tested when it is no longer available. The Savio Glacier TG-04 is virtually identical and has also been on the rise in terms of price since I tested it. However, it is always worth taking a look at Mindfactory, where it was even available for less than 6 euros in the Mindstar. Nevertheless, it is worth dedicating a separate test to the CTG10 and including its cheaper sister, the Maxtor CTG8, in the test. After all, they are the originals. And where the CTG10, as a rather viscous paste, does require some skills, the CTG8 is much more beginner-friendly. Of course, it’s no secret that this also has disadvantages, but if you don’t want to use a high-end CPU, it’s definitely a good alternative. Incidentally, I bought today’s test samples straight away.
Maxtor CTG10 is a high-quality thermal compound that has been specially developed for use in cooling computer processors and other electronic components. According to the marketing, it has a thermal conductivity of 14.5 W/m-K, which is of course the usual fairy tale of an unrealistic bucket measurement. The paste has a grey color, a density of 2.8 g/ml and a viscosity of 95,000 mPa-s. The temperature range in which the Maxtor CTG10 works reliably ranges from -50 °C to 280 °C. It is available in different packaging sizes, such as 2 g or 4 g, which makes it suitable for different application scenarios. Typical applications include the cooling of CPUs and GPUs in high-end desktops, workstations and servers, but also in LED lamps and other devices that require effective heat dissipation. Says the manufacturer.
Maxtor CTG8 is an upper mid-range thermal compound that has been specially developed for cooling computer CPU chips. With a marketing thermal conductivity of 12.8 W/m-K, it ensures efficient heat transfer between processor and heat sink, even if the real value is significantly lower. But, just like the CTG10, you can of course get the exact values here and now – exclusively. The gray paste has a density of 2.8 g/ml and a viscosity of 85,000 mPa-s. It is electrically non-conductive and works reliably in a temperature range from -50 °C to 250 °C. Available in various packaging sizes, such as 4 g, it can be used for a wide range of applications.
The Maxtor CTG10 thermal compound is also marketed by various brands under different names. One example is the Savio Glacier TG-04, which in tests shows a striking similarity in technical data and performance with the Maxtor CTG10. This suggests that this is the same product sold under a different brand name, although it is not clear who bottled this paste. It is quite common for manufacturers to supply their products as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to various companies who then sell them under their own label. Therefore, the Maxtor CTG10 may be available under different brand names, but the basic properties and performance of the paste remain identical.
With the Maxtor CTG8, the Xynetic CTG8 comes to mind, especially as the Xynetic CTG9 already tested here is extremely similar to the Maxtor CTG9. The identical model name is probably anything but a coincidence. For users, this means that they should pay attention to the technical specifications when buying thermal compounds, as identical products can be offered under different names and at varying prices. Incidentally, this also includes the Polartherm X10 from Thermal Grizzly, which is so strikingly similar to the Maxtor CTG8 that it is perhaps no longer a coincidence.
| Test setup and methods | Material analysis and microscopy | Basic knowledge |
 Here you can find out why effective thermal conductivity and bulk thermal conductivity can be completely different in practice, what role the contact resistance between the surfaces and the paste plays and how thermal paste can be measured accurately. There is also a detailed description of the equipment, the methodology and the error tolerances. |
 You will learn how laser-induced plasma spectroscopy works and the advantages and limitations of the measurements. There is also high-resolution digital microscopy and analysis of particle sizes. This information is also used to estimate the long-term stability of a paste. |
 Anyone who has always wanted to know what is or is not in a paste and how these pastes are produced will find what they are looking for here. The basic article provides a better understanding of what is often sold for far too much money and sometimes with adventurous promises. |
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