IC Diamond Thermal Compound Review

Introduction

What helps a good thermal compound to become a great product? In the younger days of computing one would have automatically have said ‘lower temperatures’ and that would be that. However the industry has matured, as such consumers are demanding more and more applications for their money. For example conductivity is a question; ergo will it conduct an electric current?  Next is viscosity, how liquid is it? Is it suitable for delicate tasks such as PWM and GPU applications? These and many other questions need to be asked for all contenders to the throne of ‘Thermal Compound king'. 

Innovation Cooling have used a rather unique method by using neither silver nor a form of ceramic, but instead synthetic diamond. You have read correctly; seven carat synthetic diamond! A rather unique method of using crushed diamond into a paste which is then applied directly to the CPU or component in question.

Innovation cooling is a privately held company, established in 2007 with a an extensive background knowledge of electronics cooling disciplines related to air cooling, water cooling, phase change cooling, and materials and manufacturing. Innovation Cooling's principle objective is to develop cost effective, competitive performance products and transition them from lab to market. IC Diamond is the first of a series new products. Other products that are in the pipeline for release are two new compounds that will be introduced Q3 & Q4 this year. This is in addition to a new type of phase change heat sink in Q2 2010."

Before going further in this review, this article would never have taken place if it were not for Lee at watercooled-pcs.co.uk. He provided gilgameshreviews with the review samples. For those in the Uk whom wish to purchase this product then try www.watercooled-pcs.co.uk .

Specifications 

Each tube of IC Diamond Thermal grease contains 7 carats of micronized diamond with diamond particle loadings @ 94% by weight. Material loading above 90% is recommended as the best combination of rheological and thermal properties to minimize interface pump out due to thermal cycling.

• Excellent thermal impedance
• Tight particle distribution
• 40 u maximum particle diameter
• Silicone free
• Lower Viscosity
• Greater stability
• Non capacitive or electrically conductive

(http://innovationcooling.com/ICDDatasheet.htm last accessed 15/8/09) 

IC Diamond comes in a 1.5 gram tube, which in theory is good for at least nine installations. The actual weight though is not specified on the sringe, rather the weight was obtained from visiting the innovationcooling website.