Tested thermal paste: surprising budget performance for extreme builds When it comes to extreme PC builds, every component must rise to the occasion-especially the thermal paste, the unassuming hero often overlooked in the pursuit of speed and power. While high-end options like the Cooler Master CryoFuze 5 Premium Performance Thermal Paste tout premium formulas and premium prices, our tests reveal that budget alternatives can hold their own under the heat. Take the ASUS Dual NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 6GB OC Edition-a mid-tier GPU with a 2-slot design and 0dB fan technology-that still delivers impressive results when paired with a cost-effective thermal compound. Meanwhile, the CableMod E-Series Pro ModMesh Sleeved 12VHPWR StealthSense PCI-e Cable ensures reliable power delivery, and the GPU Brace Support keeps that sagging video card steady. Even the Instapak Quick RT #100 proves that efficient shipping solutions can save time and money, and though the Android Tablet seems unrelated, it adds a modern twist to the build's ecosystem. It turns out, sometimes the best upgrades aren't the most expensive ones-especially when you're chasing performance without breaking the bank.