The Steam Deck is an amazing handheld gaming PC, beloved for its portability. Running on Steam OS (a Linux-based operating system), it supports a lot of games. But like any gaming PC, heat management is crucial and it becomes even more so here, because of its compact, handheld nature. Changing the stock thermal paste and using one of the best thermal paste for Steam Deck can get you cooler temperatures, improved performance, and a greater lifespan for your device. So, if you’re ready to take your Steam Deck’s temperature down a notch (or more), here are the top-tier choices for thermal pastes you should go for.
List of Best Thermal Paste for Steam Deck
Choosing the right thermal paste for your Steam Deck is extremely important. You need to make sure that you aren’t going for a thermal paste with too much susceptibility for pump-out.
Note: One of the best recommendations for Steam Deck is the PTM 7950, which is a thermal pad, not a thermal paste. With the Honeywell PTM 7950, you don’t need to worry about pump-out, which can become a problem in mobile devices, and repasting is not required as often.
But if you want to go for a thermal paste, these are the best thermal paste for Steam Deck.
1. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme is a favorite among gaming PC enthusiasts, whether you’re talking about gaming PCs like Acer Nitro 5, Acer Predator Helios 300 or handheld PC, like Steam Deck. When it comes to Steam Deck, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme can get amazing results, shaving off several degress off the operating temperature. Even the climb to the highest temperature you get with this paste (which is lower than the original you’ll start with) is a slow climb – the slowest of all the pastes.
The only trouble with using this paste is that it is prone to pump-out when using with the Steam Deck, so it will not remain stable for too long and you will need to repaste it. Moreover, it’s also a little bit on the expensive side, which not everyone can afford.
2. Gelid GC Extreme
Gelid GC Extreme is another beloved thermal paste that delivers amazing cooling performance, almost similar to the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme, but at almost half the price. Moreover, when it comes to choosing a paste for your Steam Deck, Gelid GC Extreme is a top choice because it doesn’t suffer as much from the pomp-out effect.
So, it will last longer and you won’t need to repaste it as often as you will need to with the Kryonaut Extreme. But when comparing performance with the Kryonaut Extreme, the temperatures climb faster to high degrees in the case of Gelid GC Extreme.
So, honestly, the choice will boil down to your preference – whether you prize the slightly high performance of Kryonaut Extreme or the longevity of Gelid GC Extreme! However, do remember that a thicker consistency means that it can be difficult to apply, especially for beginners.
3. Arctic MX-6
Arctic MX-6 is another great thermal paste that you can choose; it is one of the best thermal paste for Steam Deck out there. It has great thermal conductivity and shouldn’t suffer too much from the pump-out effect as well because of its moderate consistency. So, if you’re a beginner who is afraid that they can’t handle the thicker consistency of Gelid GC Extreme but don’t want to splurge on the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme, this strikes the perfect chord between performance, affordability, consistency, and longevity.
However, the paste has a potential for separation when stored for long periods of time.
Final Words
To get the best performance and to make sure that high temperatures don’t damage the device, you need the best thermal paste for Steam Deck. But make sure you follow the proper application method for the thermal paste to get the best results.
