Help with my HSF!!! Or isn't my CPU flat.

jonny13

Senior member
Feb 16, 2002
440
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I just got a Thermaltake Dragon 478 last week and it performs like sh*t. I get temps that are 3 degrees warmer under load than the Intel HSF. After taking it off and replacing it with the Intel one again, I noticed that it looked like only the corners of the CPU are actually touching the heatsink. Is this a bad CPU or a bad heatsink. Since the Intel HSF performs better, it makes me think the surface of the CPU is not flat. Can I lap the CPU heatspreader or is that not a good idea? Or should I just RMA it back to newegg and get a new one? Here is a pic of the bottom of the HSF.

http://www.gac.edu/~jmontagu/HSF.JPG

Jonny
 

fell8

Senior member
Nov 12, 2001
533
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Check each with a straight-edge, probably the Thermaltake. It looks like it may take a little more than lapping, doable but maybe not worth the trouble. A thermal pad may work, though people aren't crazy about them.
 

DongTran

Platinum Member
Jan 2, 2001
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wow contradicting information. according to the boys at hitechmods, the D478 is better than the stock HSF. check out their review.

At least it doesn't have a pressed piece of copper in the base like the V6cu or the V7. Anyhow I highly doubt your CPU doesn't have a flat surface - try to find another D478 and try it out....