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Cpu And Heatsink Lapping


Baulten

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Hey folks,

 

I'm considering lapping both my heatsink and the IHS on my CPU to gain some extra cooling. I can't seem to find much info on how safe/unsafe CPU lapping is, so that's what I'm here to ask. Has anyone done it, and, if so, had any trouble?

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I would not advise lapping that phenom II unless you want to void the warranty. But i guess the warranty has already been voided as a result of overclocking. It really depends on how smooth your surface contact area already is.

Edited by Timmy94

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Well, that's my thinking. I've voided the warranty twice already (Using a custom heatsink (Though I'll give AMD credit: The one they included IS very nice for a stock heatsink) and overclocking), and I doubt I'll be trying to RMA it with AMD at this point.

 

I'm just looking for opinions on CPU lapping. Is it safe? Or risky and dangerous? If it's too dangerous (High chance of royally screwing up the CPU) I'm most definitely NOT going to pursue it. However, if it's relatively safe, I may give it a go. Under full load I'm hitting 60C (though in reality, I never even come CLOSE to full load with this), so I'd like to drop that. Lapping seems like a good way to drop it 5-10C. If it's safe.

 

Yeah, but how will they know?

 

I do believe he was referring to my voiding the warranty via OCing and using an aftermarket heatsink.

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I do believe he was referring to my voiding the warranty via OCing and using an aftermarket heatsink.

 

Yeah, that's what I meant, sorry for the confusion Smith. Using an aftermarket heatsink doesn't void your warranty does it?

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No, but overclocking does. They cant really check so they just base it on honor. You could easily tell them it randomly stopped working and you would get a new one, but your honor goes down the drain along with your karma (not that I believe in karma).

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I've seen tests showing anywhere between a 2 and 10C drop in temp after lapping the CPU. I guess it depends on how well it is done and how bad the CPU was at first. Mine isn't bad, though obviously not perfect.

 

On the topic of heatsink, *grabs his AMD warranty manual*...

 

2. Use only the heatsink/fan provided. Use of any other heatsink/fan will void the warranty.

 

So, yeah, using an aftermarket sink does void the warranty, at least on Phenom IIs and Athlon X2s. Not sure about Intel procs and other AMDs.

 

Ironically, it mentions NOTHING about physically "changing" the processor. EG: smoothing the IHS via lapping. I do doubt they would honor it if it were lapped, though.

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Well, AMD CPUs are already pretty flat. At least more than the Intel Core 2s. The Zalman 9500 is, if I remember well, pretty flat too, so I don't think you'll get a big difference, if ever you get one.

 

Ok now I just verified on my Phenom I, and yes it's already flat. I would not lap it.

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From what I have seen/heard lapping barely decreases temps 1 or 2C even if you are lucky.

That's not accurate at all. Lapping my XP-120 in my Opteron 148 system got me 3-4 degrees. Lapping my Q6600 and TRUE got me about 10.

 

Ccokeman got about 11c with just doing his cpu.

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