Alpha PAL8942, Does it Need Lapping?

[Krk3561]

I just got an alpha 8942 heatsink and it has a bunch of curves on the bottom part. I was wondering if I should lap it or just leave it the way it is. Thanks!

EDIT: It's brand new

 

[Bad Dude]

If you got it new then no need for lapping. I am running mine and it's fine.

 

[Noid]

It should have a mirrored surface.
Lines are grooves, which means no contact on the low spots. (bad)
Athough it will work, it would work better lapped.

I lap all my heatsinks when I buy them.
You'd be suprized how unlevel they really are.

 

[Yourself]

There is a LOT of copper there, copper is soft and prone to scratches, gouges and grooves. I lap mine about every 5th or 6th install.


Self

 

[Wingznut]

I'll bet that you wouldn't notice a difference at all (between lapped and not lapped.)

 

[LED]

Originally posted by: Wingznut
I'll bet that you wouldn't notice a difference at all (between lapped and not lapped.)

Sure you do...if not by a couple C's then by looks

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: LED

Originally posted by: Wingznut
I'll bet that you wouldn't notice a difference at all (between lapped and not lapped.)

Sure you do...if not by a couple C's then by looks

Ok, you got me there!

 

[Blain]

Yes, all heatsinks need a good lapping before you install them... PERIOD

 

[RalfHutter]

This guy lapped his 8942 to the best finish I've ever seen and had no improvement in temps. That's been my experience with any decent heatsink as well. The 8942's have quiet good finishes on then, right out of the box. Those "curves" you see are fly-cutter marks from the milling machine. They won't affect your temps at all.

 

[Krk3561]

Originally posted by: RalfHutter
This guy lapped his 8942 to the best finish I've ever seen and had no improvement in temps. That's been my experience with any decent heatsink as well. The 8942's have quiet good finishes on then, right out of the box. Those "curves" you see are fly-cutter marks from the milling machine. They won't affect your temps at all.

The heatsink's actually pretty shiny out of the box but not that shiny, but I'm not wasting 2 hours on if it does nothing. Seems like the opinions are split.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Blain
Yes, all heatsinks need a good lapping before you install them... PERIOD

If you are serious, you are also SERIOUSLY overreacting. I can all but guarantee that lapping a high quality heatsink (such as the Alpha) will have zero effect. Heck, I'd stake the same claim on the Intel retail heatsink, and probably 90%+ of the rest of the P4 heatsinks out there...

 

[Yourself]

Originally posted by: Yourself
There is a LOT of copper there, copper is soft and prone to scratches, gouges and grooves. I lap mine about every 5th or 6th install.


Self

After you install it 5 or 6 times you WILL get a couple deep scratches/gouges that correspond to the edges of the heatspreader on your P4. When I see those, it's time to lap.


Self

 

[Lizardman]

I have that heatsink installed in my system now. I didnt lap it becuase it had a good finish on it when i got it.

 

[Bluefront]

My 8942 was pretty smoth, but there was a little gouge on the surface, so I lapped it. Actually the top of my celeron 2.0 needed to be lapped the most. There was a definite low spot in the center....that took the longest to fix(lap).

 

[Blain]

"If you are serious, you are also SERIOUSLY overreacting."

No... Tweakers are never satisfied with "out of the box" parts.

 

[willeyummmm]

reviving this thread.. i was wondering what fan you guys used with this heatsink... i want something to keep my overclocked 1.8A cool. i was wondering if the Vantec Tornado 80mm High Output would work?? 84.1 CFM seems pretty cool

 

[Lizardman]

i use this fan because its quiet and pushes enough air.

Fan me

 

[hmsrolst]

I use an 8942 with a C1 stepping 2.0 o/c'd to 3.0, and it's fine with a Panaflo L1A--that is, it depends a lot on the chip.

 

[slag]

Originally posted by: Blain
Yes, all heatsinks need a good lapping before you install them... PERIOD

I disagree.

 

[rommelrommel]

I worked my way down to 1500 wet with my SLK-800 and didn't see a damned change...

 

[EXman]

the answer is no IMO

 

[aldente]

I just bought an 8942 today, will install on 4/17/03. Do you recommend using artic silver between the HS and CPU? Or just screw it in tight?

 

[EdipisReks]

my alpha 8942 was pretty rough, and a nice lapping got me an additional 1*C load. however, my brand new Swiftech MCX4000 is a mirror, so i'm not gonna touch it.

I just bought an 8942 today, will install on 4/17/03. Do you recommend using artic silver between the HS and CPU? Or just screw it in tight?

dude, yes! put some thermal compound on!