From My Tests, the best thermal paste for the Macbook Pro is The Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, which had the best performance. However, it is also the most expensive. Arctic Silver 5 and ARCTIC MX-4 are good value options and offer a good conductivity, viscosity, and thermal resistance balance.
Many Macbook Pro owners choose this product because it quickly dissipates heat with sub-micron particles and enhanced oils and is non-conductive and non-corrosive.
For this reason, I reviewed 12 other thermal pastes that many Macbook owners recommended in my DMs and narrowed the top pick to these seven products.
Best Motherboard for Macbook Pro According to Specs and Price
| Thermal Paste | Conductivity (W/mK) | Viscosity (cP) | Thermal Resistance (mK/W) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Silver 5 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 8.7 | 10 |
| BSFF Thermal Paste | 10 | 10 | 7.5 | 15 |
| GELID GC-Extreme 3.5g | 12 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 15 |
| Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut | 12.5 | 9 | 6.2 | 20 |
| ARCTIC MX-4 | 8.5 | 10 | 8.7 | 10 |
| K5 PRO | 13.8 | 10 | 5.8 | 20 |
| Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut | 73 | 100 | 0.4 | 50 |
Here is a summary of the best thermal pastes for different budgets:
- Budget: Arctic Silver 5 or ARCTIC MX-4
- Mid-range: GELID GC-Extreme 3.5g or Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
- High-end: Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut
It is important to note that the best thermal paste for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. If you are on a budget, Arctic Silver 5 or ARCTIC MX-4 are good options. If you are looking for the best possible thermal performance, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is the best option, but it is also the most expensive.
7 Top Picks on The Best Thermal Paste for Macbook Pro
If you are thinking of the best thermal paste that is safe and reliable to meet up with the heating requirements of your Macbook Pro, I recommend you consider any of these products:
- Arctic Silver 5
- BSFF Thermal Paste, 3.5g With Toolkit
- GELID GC-Extreme 3.5g
- Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
- ARCTIC MX-4
- K5 PRO
- Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut
Arctic Silver 5
This is an outstanding thermal paste option to consider for your Macbook, and you shouldn’t even look away from this product if you want a thermally conductive particle that offers excellent performance and impressive stability.
The Arctic Silver 5 outperforms the brand’s previous compound paste versions regarding cooling performance, allowing it to be used in high-power CPUs.
Formulated with an 8.9 W/mK rating for conductivity, the Arctic Silver 5 stands out from most other pastes on the market, particularly its heat dissipators with silver particles.
In other words, you get a higher level of thermal conductivity. As a plus, you can use this thermal compound in both compressed and liquid-based systems.
What I like about this thermal paste
- The ease of application
- The Arctic Silver offers impressive stability, and it has a high level of density
- No electricity conductivity is provided, which is a green flag.
- It is a step up from the Arctic’s previous thermal paste versions, offered with more super cooling perks.
What I don’t like about this thermal paste
- The only thing I frowned at while testing the Arctic Silver 5 is that it overheated when used extensively for too long.
BSFF Thermal Paste, 3.5g With Toolkit
Another worthy option for your Macbook Pro is the BSFF Thermal Paste, especially if you want something efficient and long-lasting.
One thing I loved about the BSFF thermal paste while testing it on my Macbook Pro is that it’s easy to apply and comes with clear instructions, making it a great option for beginners.
Its viscosity is ideal for easy application and provides excellent results, decreasing temperature significantly even during intensive use.
This one is made of carbon-based micro-particles, making it thermally conductive and effective in dissipating heat from processors. The paste is metal-free, eliminating the risk of shocks or short circuits if it comes into contact with other products.
The 2022 formula of BSFF Thermal Paste enhances its heat dissipation capabilities and has a durability of at least five years. It is versatile and can be used in various applications, such as inverters, IGBT modules, and the Raspberry Pi.
What I like about this thermal paste
- Durability is the keyword used to rate this BSFF Thermal Paste.
- It is available in different grams, so you won’t run out of options regarding quantity preference.
- It is best for gamers.
What I don’t like about this thermal paste
- While trying the BSFF thermal paste, placing a finger on one flaw was difficult. I don’t hope to get negative feedback or experience. But for now, there are no dislikes.
GELID GC-Extreme 3.5g
The GELID GC-Extreme 3.5g comes with a conductivity rating of 8.5 W/mK, which you get from most other high-performance thermal pastes today. But what makes it unique is that it suits anyone who uses it, especially in the area of thermal conductivity.
Heat conductivity is also important. The GELID GC-Extreme 3.5g is always on the lips of overclockers when the topic of the best thermal paste comes up, so it’s no surprise that it makes it to my list, and I firmly believe you’d love it.
In terms of temperature performance, the GELID GC-Extreme is comparable to high-value conductivity thermal paste on the market, and it’s not electrically conductive, so you can assume there’s no risk of short circuits.
What I like about this thermal paste
- The GELID GC-Extreme thermal paste is reputable and user-friendly. So even though I saw a few negative reviews, I gave it the benefit of the doubt, and it lived up to expectations (at least, for MacBook Pro cooling expectations)
- The thermal paste is non-curing, non-toxic, and non-corrosive.
- Powerful heat conductivity
What I don’t like about this thermal paste
- If you are replacing your Macbook Pro thermal paste, and are mainly concerned with ease of application, then there are better options than this GELID GC-Extreme.
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
For a good balance of affordability and quality, I recommend you consider the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut thermal paste for your MacBook Pro. It is also a popular top choice with thermal conductivity of up to 12.5 W/mK, above the average thermal paste expectation.
The Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut performs cooler and processor optimization better than most other thermal pastes reviewed. It comes with long-term stability (in rival with the BSFF Thermal Paste)
The product is offered in 1 g with a thermal resistance of 0.0032 K/W.
What I like about this thermal paste
- Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut has a solid reputation when it comes to heat dissipation.
- It is an excellent option for long-lasting and strong thermal paste.
- No electric conductivity during usage
- The overclocking feature is a big plus.
What I don’t like about this thermal paste
- The application of the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is pretty smooth, and there are no performance-related flaws. But there’s a thread of complaints about the difficulty of cleaning this paste. That’s something you’d want to consider before buying.
K5 PRO Thermal Paste
K5 PRO Thermal Paste is the best option for your MacBook Pro if you want to replace soft thermal pads. This gummy is the best thermal paste on the market for laptop cooling needs.
I especially like how I can adjust the depth of the paste according to my application, thanks to the adjustable size of this thermal paste.
As you’d expect, the K5 Pros has a high level of thermal conductivity that puts it above the other thermal paste options on the market.
What I like about this thermal paste
- Simplicity of usage
- Safety is guaranteed since there is no electrical conductivity.
- High thermal conductivity
- Budget-friendly option
- The original gummy paste makes it particularly ideal for MacBook devices.
What I don’t like about this product
- There is still no significant downside I’ve noted about this thermal paste (if you’ve used this product and noticed some flaws, this is a fantastic opportunity to share your input in the comment section)
ARCTIC MX-4
The Arctic MX-4 does a great job halting overclocking temperatures with its non-electric conductive compound. The compound paste offers impressive heat dissipation generated by your CPU or your GPU with a thermal conductivity rating of up to 8.5 W/mK
The Arctic MX-4 is carbon-based and has no metal substance, eliminating the possibility of short circuits. One lovable quality of this thermal paste is its versatility. It is compatible with most CPUs and offers a cooling consistency that is ideal for anyone.
What I like about this thermal paste
- Impressive thermal conductivity
- Made with carbon-micro particles
What I don’t like about this thermal paste
- Application of this paste is not as smooth as the other versions offered by Arctic (the MX-2, for example)
Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut
Apart from delivering adequate heat transfer, the Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut offers a decent level of thermal conductivity that will rise to the occasion for your MacBook Pro cooling needs.
This thermal paste’s ease of application and cleaning is one of its distinguishing features. It also does a decent job of dissipating heat generated by the CPU and GPU.
What I like about this product
- Easy to use, making it ideal for beginners
- Super-efficient cooling delivery
- Heat transfer is on point.
What I don’t like about this product
- is that it is incompatible with aluminum.
- Not the best option for high-performance cooling needs compared to the previously reviewed products.
Buying Guide: What to consider when picking thermal paste for your MacBook Pro
The products we’ve reviewed in the above section are all great options, and you won’t regret going for any. However, before you shell out cash for any thermal paste to use on your MacBook or any device, consider the following factors
- Personal preference
- Quantity
- Consider the viscosity and density
- Availability to your region
- Compatibility with your preferred cooling requirements
- Price
Personal Preference
Whenever I purchase products to review, I understand that some users may have a personal preference for a certain brand or type of thermal paste that is different from others.
With this in mind, I recommend my top choice and present other matched alternatives from different brands. If you are used to one brand, you’d like to consider picking from that reputable brand.
Quantity
When buying thermal paste, consider the amount you need and aim to buy it all at once, as its quality deteriorates quickly. For single use on a PC, a 1.5g tube is enough and can last 3-4 years, depending on usage and condition of the CPU or GPU. For multiple systems, opt for a product with a larger quantity.
Consider the viscosity and density.
When applying thermal paste, ensure the solution is dense and viscous rather than liquid. The right consistency will quickly spread and not harm internal parts of the CPU or GPU. Liquid solutions are prone to leaking and damaging the motherboard. Check the density and viscosity of the product before purchasing.
Price
Some thermal pastes may be cheaper than our top pick, Arctic Silver 5. For example, the K5 PRO Thermal Paste is a more budget-friendly option compared to most others on the list. The Price and quantity go hand in hand, but if you see one worth the cash, consider it an investment.
Availability
It would be best if you also considered the availability of the thermal paste before choosing it. Some of the top choices you like may not be readily available in some regions, and you may have to choose a different option due to its unavailability.
Compatibility
You may have specific requirements for your thermal paste, such as being able to withstand high temperatures, being non-toxic, or being safe for use with delicate computer components.
In such cases, you should opt for the product that meets these requirements. Overall, the choice of thermal paste will depend on your specific needs, budget, and preferences.
Do you use a different thermal paste for your MacBook Pro other than the ones reviewed here that would make this list? Let me know in the comments what you consider the best thermal paste for Macbook Pro.
