Lapping an ATI GPU?

[JayDee1]

I have a Sapphire 9800pro and I was wondering if there is anyone out there brave enough to have lapped the GPU. I have found a google on lapping an Nvidia chip that is much larger than the ATI and had a slight copper heatspreader. I realise that if it is POSSIBLE to lapp the ATI there will be a small margin of error and I want to be sure of what to look for BEFORE I get out the sandpaper .

Is there a copper layer under the shiny surface?
I'm at least going to lapp off the raised white lettering on the chip = I hate that stuff. If it is possible to go deeper I'd like to.
Also what, if any, benefit would there be to lapping? I have a VGA Silencer and OCZ copper BGA ram heatsinks as well.

JayDee

 

[stardust]

Don't lap it, it isn't covered by a heatspreader, that IS the core.

Unless you want to see what it's transistors look like dead.

 

[gotensan01]

Something about lapping the GPU sounds terrible...

 

[coinz]

Originally posted by: gotensan01
Something about lapping the GPU sounds terrible...

I totally agree with you lol

 

[Spikesoldier]

actually i think there were people that have done this despite how reckless it sounds. but the OP still seems to be in a different ballpark than what we are talking about.

 

[jiffylube1024]

If you get rid of the lettering on top of your GPU then kiss your warranty goodbye...

It's not a very smart idea, IMO - the gains will be minimal and the risk is pretty high.

 

[thelanx]

Um look at how shiny the core is, do you think you can do better with some sandpaper? If if you could, the benefit would be minimal. Invest your time and money into better coolers or a better video card.

 

[PumpActionWalrus]

If you want to lap it, just use a dremel, a aoft wheel, and jewelers rouge, but if you are going that far, lap your heatsinks to 200 then polish with the rouge, I did this on my 3200+ with a volcano 9 and was getting load temps of 110 F at 2.5 ghz

 

[Lithan]

200? Most people go to at least 600.

And yeah. Last ati card you'd want to ever lap was the 8500 iirc.

 

[JayDee1]

Lol... Thanks all

Seems like the concensus is "VERY BAD IDEA" and I don't need to get hit over the head with a hammer so I think I'll pass on lapping the GPU...

JayDee

 

[Tiamat]

yeah lapping is definately not recommended. It is only done by those who can deal with a lost product, and purchase a replacement without second thought. The most I have seen is somebody lapping the Northbridge of the ABIT NFS-7 ver.2

 

[Lithan]

Abit nf7-s version 2 has a heatspreader. 9800pro is bare core. It's the difference between lapping an A64 and lapping an Xthlon XP.

 

[BW86]

i wouldnt try it if i were you, even if the temps go down 2 degrees it isnt worth the void in warranty.

 

[JayDee1]

Originally posted by: thelanx
Um look at how shiny the core is, do you think you can do better with some sandpaper? If if you could, the benefit would be minimal. Invest your time and money into better coolers or a better video card.

Yeah the chip is shiny but that is the problem = it is a stainless steel (AFAIK) which isn't very heat conductive at all... I'm not going to Lapp it though as it is too risky. I lapped my A64 3400+ and my Thermaltake SLK-948U to 1500 grit then used a 5000-10000 grit polish with a felt dremel to get a finish but alas I havn't the courage to do the GPU after posting here = Thanks for the input