Noctua launches $25 NT-CP1 carbon nanotube thermal pad for AMD AM5 and AM4

Noctua has launched the NT-CP1, a carbon nanotube thermal pad designed for AMD AM4 and AM5 processors that promises to eliminate the mess and maintenance of traditional thermal paste. The pad uses vertically aligned carbon nanotube forests reinforced by an aluminum backbone, the same technology Carbice employs in satellites, combined with a nanoscale polymer coating that helps keep the pad in position during installation. Unlike conventional thermal pastes that dry out and lose performance over time, Noctua says the NT-CP1 actually improves its cooling performance across the first few hundred to several thousand thermal cycles as the carbon nanotubes gradually conform to microscopic imperfections on the CPU and cooler surfaces. Once this break-in period is complete, the pad can supposedly maintain stable performance for several years without requiring replacement.

The NT-CP1 comes in a pre-cut 33 x 33 mm format with an ultra-thin 90-micron profile and installs using a simple "peel, press, peel" technique that eliminates the guesswork of applying the right amount of thermal paste. Noctua says there's little room for error in application and no risk of uneven coverage from too much or too little paste. However, like thermal paste, you'll need an entirely fresh application if you swap out your CPU or cooler. The pad is available now for $24.95 or £20.95 from Amazon, with availability via other retailers coming soon.

The $25 price tag represents a significant premium over high-quality thermal paste tubes that cost less and provide enough quantity for multiple CPU installations. According to Wccftech, the NT-CP1's biggest advantage is its long-term stability rather than its raw thermal performance. Noctua has not announced plans for a version compatible with Intel's LGA1851 socket, though Club386 speculates the company may be targeting LGA1954 for any future Intel offering.