Overclockers get ready for the new batch. The makers of most overclockers favorite thermal compound Arctic Silver have done it again with a new formula. It isn't called Arctic Silver III for good reason, it's not silver based but instead "ceramic-based". The new stuff is called Arctic Alumina and it contains no silicone or silver. "The suspension fluid is a proprietary combination of advanced polysynthetic oils." Here's a quote from their site:

Arctic Alumina is the first thermal compound engineered for controlled triple phase viscosity. The complex polysynthetic oils work together to provide three distinctive functional phases. As it comes from the tube, Arctic Alumina's consistency is optimized for application in a thin, even layer. During the CPU's initial use, the Arctic Alumina compound thins out slightly to enhance the filling of the microscopic valleys and insure the best physical contact between the heatsink and CPU core. Then the compound slowly thickens over the next 20 to 100 hours of use to its final consistency designed for long-term stability.

Arctic Alumina Compound cleans off easily from CPUs and heatsinks. The complex polysynthetic oils work together to provide three distinctive functional phases. As it comes from the tube, Arctic Alumina's consistency is optimized for application in a thin, even layer. During the CPU's initial use, the Arctic Alumina compound thins out slightly to enhance the filling of the microscopic valleys and insure the best physical contact between the heatsink and CPU core. Then the compound slowly thickens over the next 20 to 100 hours of use to its final consistency designed for long-term stability.

Arctic Alumina Compound cleans off easily from CPUs and heatsinks.

"Arctic Alumina Compound cleans off easily from CPUs and heatsinks." Now that's the part I like as will anyone who got Arctic Silver II on things they didn't wish it was on like that tender cpu core and trying to remove it. Wasn't easy was it. This removes very easily. In more specifics about the new formula, this from the insert they sent along with the samples:

The compound uses a layered composite of aluminum oxide and boron nitride. Since ceramics are thermally conductive fillers, the new Arctic Alumina Compound is an electrical insulator and is neither electrically conductive nor capacitive.

"Arctic Alumina Compound will have a suggested retail price in the USA of $3.95 per tube."

You heard that right, actually cheaper than Arctic Silver II. Since it has no silver that does make sense now that you think about it. But, how good is it and is it as good or better than the dependable AS II? Let's find out.