Liquid metal vs thermal paste: which does your console need?

When I re-paste a console, there are two options for the compound that sits between the chip and the heatsink: standard thermal paste or premium liquid metal. Both do the same job — move heat away from the chip — but they're not equal.

Standard thermal paste

A good-quality paste is the right choice for the vast majority of consoles. It's reliable, safe on every model, and combined with a proper dust clean it fixes the overheating, noise and shutdowns almost every time. For most people, this is all you'll ever need.

Liquid metal

Liquid metal transfers heat significantly better, so it can drop temperatures further and keep a hard-working console (a PS5 that runs hot, for example) that bit cooler and quieter. The trade-off: it's electrically conductive and has to be applied with great care and proper insulation around the chip — it's skilled work, not a DIY job.

Which should you choose?

• Standard paste — perfect for the everyday overheating clean-and-repaste. Quiet, cool, sorted.
• Liquid metal — worth it if you want the lowest temperatures possible, or the console still runs warm after a normal re-paste.

Either way, it's done properly

My console service is a flat £50 with fresh paste, and liquid metal is available on request. I'll give you an honest recommendation for your specific console — see the console repair page, or read why a clean and re-paste fixes overheating. Book a repair when you're ready.