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ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad, 120 x 20 x 1.0 mm (4 Pack)
ARCTIC

ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad, 120 x 20 x 1.0 mm (4 Pack)

Bottom line: The ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad: Four 120 x 20 x 1.0 mm strips per pack, enough for a full GPU VRAM and VRM re-pad.

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By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014, focused on GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference. Synthesises community benchmarks, manufacturer specs, and public forum data into actionable buying guides.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Four 120 x 20 x 1.0 mm strips per pack, enough for a full GPU VRAM and VRM re-pad
  • ✓ 1.0 mm thickness keeps thermal resistance low versus thicker pad stock
  • ✓ Metal-free, electrically insulating and non-capacitive, safe against exposed traces
  • ✓ Soft silicone compresses into height differences between closely spaced chips

Cons

  • ✗ Price, stock, shipping and returns are set by the retailer and may have changed since this page was last updated

Manufacturer description

The ARCTIC TP-3 thermal pad set gives you four 120 x 20 x 1.0 mm sheets of silicone-based thermal interface material for roughly the cost of a single premium tube of paste. Built on a soft silicone carrier with a specialized filler, TP-3 compresses readily into uneven gaps, which is exactly what you need when closely spaced chips sit at slightly different heights on a graphics card PCB or a laptop VRM bank. ARCTIC positions it above standard high-performance pads for precisely that scenario. Because the material contains no metal particles, it is electrically insulating and non-capacitive…

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the cooling & fans category. ARCTIC's cooling & fans lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for cooling & fans of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size are the ARCTIC TP-3 pads?

Each strip measures 120 x 20 x 1.0 mm, and the pack contains four of them. The material can be cut to size with scissors or a blade for RAM, chipset, and IC coverage.

Is the TP-3 safe to use near exposed circuitry?

Yes. ARCTIC states the pad contains no metal particles and is electrically insulating and non-capacitive, so contact with electrical parts will not cause damage.

Can I use these pads on a graphics card or a laptop?

Yes. ARCTIC lists RAM, chipset, and ICs in PCs, laptops, consoles, and graphics cards as intended applications. The pad is also mouldable and vibration-damping.

Is the TP-3 difficult to install?

ARCTIC notes the pads have extremely low hardness, so a more demanding installation is to be expected. The company recommends reading the user manual before you start.

How does TP-3 compare to standard thermal pads?

ARCTIC says the silicone-and-filler formulation outperforms high-performance pads, particularly where closely spaced chips sit at different heights and need gap-filling compression.

Key Features

  • PLEASE NOTE: Due to the extremely low hardness of thermally conductive pads, a more demanding installation is to be expected. Please refer to the User Manual
  • MINIMIZATION OF THERMAL RESISTANCE: The thinner the pad, the lower the thermal resistance. Thanks to its good compression properties, the very soft heat conduction pad is particularly a good heat conductor
  • HIGH PERFORMANCE: Based on silicone and a special filler, TP-3 also outperforms high-performance pads, especially when height differences of closely spaced chips
  • VERSATILE APPLICATIONS: Heat-conducting, vibration-damping, mouldable, electrically insulating - can be easily cut to size. Ideal for RAM, chipset, IC in PC, laptop, console, graphic cards
  • SAFE HANDLING: The pad contains no metal particles, is electrically insulating and non-capacitive. Handling is therefore safe, as contact with electrical parts will not cause damage

Full Specifications

Brand‎ARCTIC
Color‎blue
Dimensions120 x 20 x 1.0 mm
PLEASE NOTEDue to the extremely low hardness of thermally conductive pads, a more demanding installation is to be expected. Please refer to the User Manual
CompatibilityPC
HIGH PERFORMANCEBased on silicone and a special filler, TP-3 also outperforms high-performance pads, especially when height differences of closely spaced chips
Vibration/RumbleYes
Item Dimensions LxWxH‎4.72 x 0.79 x 0.04 inches

Ready to buy?

ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad, 120 x 20 x 1.0 mm (4 Pack) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

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ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad, 120 x 20 x 1.0 mm (4 Pack)
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