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ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad, 100 x 100 x 1.5 mm (Stackable to 2.0 mm Without Performance Loss), 1 Piece - High Performance, Particularly Soft, Ideal Gap Filler, Bridging Gaps
ARCTIC

ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad

Bottom line: The ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad: 100 x 100 x 1.5 mm sheet cuts to any pad size, no pre-cut kit needed; main trade-off: low hardness makes installation more demanding, per ARCTIC's own note.

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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

  • ✓ 100 x 100 x 1.5 mm sheet cuts to any pad size, no pre-cut kit needed
  • ✓ Stackable to 2.0 mm with no performance loss, per ARCTIC
  • ✓ Very soft compound compresses into height gaps between adjacent chips
  • ✓ No metal particles, electrically insulating and non-capacitive for safe handling

Cons

  • ✗ Low hardness makes installation more demanding, per ARCTIC's own note
  • ✗ Single 1.5 mm thickness only, so thicker gaps need stacked layers
  • ✗ One piece per pack, which limits multi-card or repeat repad jobs
  • ✗ Also vibration-damping and mouldable, meaning it tears easily when peeled

Manufacturer description

The ARCTIC TP-3 thermal pad is a 100 x 100 x 1.5 mm silicone-based gap filler built for the awkward spaces between a heat source and its heatsink. It is deliberately soft, which is the point: the low hardness lets the pad compress into height differences between closely spaced chips, and ARCTIC notes the pad can be stacked to 2.0 mm without performance loss. Because thermal resistance drops as the pad thins under pressure, that compression is what does the cooling work. The sheet is fully cuttable, so you size it to VRAM modules, VRM banks, chipsets, or laptop and console ICs rather than…

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 PC & gaming hardware category. ARCTIC's PC & gaming hardware 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 PC & gaming hardware 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 thickness is the ARCTIC TP-3 and can I stack it?

Each sheet is 1.5 mm thick and measures 100 x 100 mm. ARCTIC states the pad is stackable to 2.0 mm without performance loss, so you can layer it for slightly deeper gaps.

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

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

What can I use this thermal pad on?

ARCTIC lists RAM, chipsets, and ICs in PCs, laptops, consoles, and graphics cards. The sheet is mouldable and cuts to size, so you shape it to whatever component needs a gap filled.

Is the TP-3 hard to install?

ARCTIC notes that the extremely low hardness of the pad makes for a more demanding installation, and directs users to the included manual. Plan on careful handling when peeling and placing it.

What thermal conductivity does the TP-3 offer?

ARCTIC describes it as a silicone and special-filler compound that outperforms high-performance pads where closely spaced chips sit at different heights. Check the product listing for the current published conductivity figure.

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
Dimensions100 x 100 x 1.5 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 LxWxH‎3.94 x 3.94 x 0.06 inches
Full listing titleARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad, 100 x 100 x 1.5 mm (Stackable to 2.0 mm Without Performance Loss), 1 Piece - High Performance, Particularly Soft, Ideal Gap Filler, Bridging Gaps

Ready to buy?

ARCTIC TP-3: Premium Performance Thermal Pad, 100 x 100 x 1.5 mm (Stackable to 2.0 mm Without Performance Loss), 1 Piece - High Performance, Particularly Soft, Ideal Gap Filler, Bridging Gaps 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, 100 x 100 x 1.5 mm (Stackable to 2.0 mm Without Performance Loss), 1 Piece - High Performance, Particularly Soft, Ideal Gap Filler, Bridging Gaps
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