Igor's Lab gets a +1 for introducing this world-first database of thermal pastes.

Some people like them runny and others don't. It can be frustrating to purchase a new CPU, or CPU cooler, and then have to choose from the dozens thermal pastes available. It's just a paste, for goodness sake.

Igor's Lab just launched "the world's first interactive database of thermal paste". This isn't a collection of stats from manufacturers (although some are included in the comparison pages). This database compares data from Igor's Lab's testing of thermal compounds in real-world conditions.

Igor says that "our database is based upon real laboratory values which we have painstakingly determined in accordance with industry standards". Igor continues, "Our database is based on real laboratory values that we have painstakingly determined according to industry standards".

Igor's figures should be of the highest quality, based on a recent discussion we had with him about how far he went to test all these pastes.

The measurements should "not reflect only the overall performance values, but also allow an assessment of the pastes' suitability for specific areas of application (layers thicknesses, surface) as well as taking into consideration the individual capabilities of each user".

Igor says that some of the data could be used to assess possible durability of paste. However, he will not accept responsibility for this. If we want to infer the durability, it's our job.

The database allows you to filter it according to your skill level and application. If you are a beginner you will want a less thick (more runny), paste. If you want to re-paste your GPU, you will want a compound with a layer thickness between 25 and 100 mm.

Once the filters are in place, you can order the list by the manufacturer, the name, the thermal conductivity rating and the viscosity.

You can also click on two thermal pastes and compare them. This will take you to a page that explains the differences between the two compounds. It includes information on the manufacturer, but also graphs comparing real-world temperatures.

I love objective testing that is broken down into digestible list comparisons for the readers' benefit. There are still some bugs to be worked out, like the table that spans more than one page and the viscosity columns ordered alphabetically instead of viscosity. I'm ready to go.

It's true that thermal paste is "just" a paste. But not all pastes work for every build. And while most are good for most builds, you still want to make sure you are using the best paste for your budget.

I think that adding a column for price and perhaps one for price to thermal conductivity would help users quickly assess the value of the database. Most people purchase based on budget and not performance.

These additions may come in the future, but for now this is a great resource for those who are interested in building or upgrading their PC. +1 for sure.