lapping cpu cooler

[saleen385]

Hi, first try building a pc. I've seen some websites that talk about lapping the contact surface of the cpu cooler. Does anyone have first hand experience with this, is it worth while? I'm going to use the Gigabyte rocket cooler pro. The contact surface looks pretty smooth but I could make it like a mirror. Has anyone tried to do the cpu?Text

 

[Nessism]

Lapping won't make any difference unless the surface is rough and uneven to begin with. I've done it but don't recommend it since you can do more harm than good if you're not careful.

 

[TRUMPHENT]

I am using the same heatsink, Gigabyte 3D Rocket Cooler. The heatsink surface is pretty good from the factory. I buffed mine out with some brass polish on a flat piece of glass to make sure there was no gum residue from the protective tape.


It shined up nicely and the ammonia based brass polish washes off with water.

I am using A.S. Ceramique on an XP2500+ running at 2.2Ghz. It works great.
Instead of using a finger wrapped in a plastic baggy, I put some thermal compound down on the glass and rubbed it in there.


Don't do a thing to the cpu except clean the top surface with a recommended solvent.

I have lapped other heatsinks. Some were warped, others were deeply scored.

Taking care to mount the heatsink properly with the correct amount of compound is critical.

Which processor are you using?

 

[saleen385]

TextI'm using a P4 3.4HT on an Asus P5AD2E-Premium board.

 

[TRUMPHENT]

I am gettng at idle and fan on low speed, temps that are 1-2 degrees C above the mainboard temp. Under load, the difference increases to about 5 degrees C. You might have to spend more time with higher fan speeds than I.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how well a heatpipe heatsink acutally works. I'm surprised that Intel hasn't started using them with their boxed processors.

 

[Navid]

It is not worth the trouble unless the sink surface is really bad. Don't do it.

 

[Spike]

Even the Alpha PAL8045 I have has a slightly rough surface (if you look very close) but I decided not to do anything based on others who had tried and made it worse. My temps are awesome as it is so I am not so worried. I would not lap it unless it is very rough and mose decent coolers these days are not so you should not have to worry.

Just for reference I run a AXP 2500+ @ 2.2Ghz using an Alpha PAL8045 with a YS-Tech 80mm running at 7v and Arctic Silver 5. Currently Idle temps @ 32-34c Load temps @ 38-40c

-spike

 

[ribbon13]

Swiftech lapping is unbeatable. Too bad the dominator pro waterblocks are so much better.