Lapping E6600

[Zahriya]

Well, I decided to lap my e6600, after almost a week of trying to get my temps below 40c. My question is, for optimal results, must I lap until there is a mirror like finish to the cpu? Im looking to drop temps, not really worried about how the Cpu looks. How much lapping *needs* to be done to achieve a decent temp drop? Ive read multiple guides where the OP spent 2 hours lapping his CPU, I really dont want to spend that much time if I dont have to. Thanks in advance.

 

[AmberClad]

Is 40C your load temps? Or idle? OC, or non-OC?

 

[jmmtn4aj]

Till it's flat, then you work on the finish. The better the finish, the bigger the temp drop, but making sure the surface is flat is what gets the biggest temp drop.

 

[Zahriya]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Is 40C your load temps? Or idle? OC, or non-OC?

40C is my Idle temp, non-OC @ Room temp. My HS is a Zalman 9500 in an Antec 900 so im sure air flow is fine. Ok so the biggest temp drop is how flat the CPU is, that's what I figured. Ill see how I feel about the finish. Thanks!

 

[AmberClad]

Hmm, something doesn't seem quite right.

I have the same CPU as you, non-OC, non-lapped. The heatsink is the Zalman 7000, which I assume is smaller than your 9500. It's never reached 40C at idle. It's usually 25C to 35C, depending on whether I have the Zalman FanMate at low-speed or normal settings.

I'm actually not the original owner of my Zalman 7000 (bought it off of someone in the FS/FT forum), so I don't know if the previous owner lapped the HSF. Btw, what thermal paste did you use?

 

[Zahriya]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Hmm, something doesn't seem quite right.

I have the same CPU as you, non-OC, non-lapped. The heatsink is the Zalman 7000, which I assume is smaller than your 9500. It's never reached 40C at idle. It's usually 25C to 35C, depending on whether I have the Zalman FanMate at low-speed or normal settings.

I'm actually not the original owner of my Zalman 7000 (bought it off of someone in the FS/FT forum), so I don't know if the previous owner lapped the HSF. Btw, what thermal paste did you use?

This is why Im considering lapping my chip. Ive litteraly tried resetting the heatsink about 50+ times, each time with fresh AS5, so I dont know what else the issue can be. My final thought is maybe the cpu is not shaped correctly, making me trying lapping as the last resort. Thanks for the inputs!

 

[AmberClad]

I meant lap the Zalman heatsink . Or do both the heatsink and the CPU heatspreader.

I used AS5 too (single drop in the center + smoosh the heatsink down on top), so I guess we can rule that out.

 

[imported_cambit69]

the real question is whats your ambient temp.

 

[Zahriya]

My ambient temp is roughly room temp. right around 70-75F. During the night I crack open the window and my temps drop about 5-7 degrees, but considering temps are around 50F at night, I would think my Cpu would get down to low 20's in temps. I dont think it is my heatsink, only because I have tried another zalman 9500, and currently Im actually using a TT CL-P0370 and still getting the same temps.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: Zahriya
My ambient temp is roughly room temp. right around 70-75F. During the night I crack open the window and my temps drop about 5-7 degrees, but considering temps are around 50F at night, I would think my Cpu would get down to low 20's in temps. I dont think it is my heatsink, only because I have tried another zalman 9500, and currently Im actually using a TT CL-P0370 and still getting the same temps.

Room temperature is meaningless if your case temperature has a much higher delta. More to the point, what is your case temperature? Add 10c+ case temp to get your realistic idle temperature. Thus, if your case is 33c, then your idle will be around 43c (+/- 3) and load will likely be another 15c on top of that. You will NOT see idle temperatures below case temperature +10c, it won't matter if you undervolt, underclock or purchase a heatsink the size of of 24 pack of soda. The only way you are going be lower than CT+10C is if you use TEC.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
I meant lap the Zalman heatsink . Or do both the heatsink and the CPU heatspreader.

I used AS5 too (single drop in the center + smoosh the heatsink down on top), so I guess we can rule that out.

The thermal paste that Zalman ships with all there heatsinks is as good or better than AS5 incase people did not know that!

Also nowadays most heatsink manufacturers ship with there heatsink a top qiality thermal compound!!


IMO it`s excessive to lapp your CPU!!
I would tend to think you have an airflow issue or you are not lapping your heatsink properly!!

I have over 50 hatsinks and have never had to lapp any of them!!

Peace!

 

[Zahriya]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777

Originally posted by: Zahriya
My ambient temp is roughly room temp. right around 70-75F. During the night I crack open the window and my temps drop about 5-7 degrees, but considering temps are around 50F at night, I would think my Cpu would get down to low 20's in temps. I dont think it is my heatsink, only because I have tried another zalman 9500, and currently Im actually using a TT CL-P0370 and still getting the same temps.

Room temperature is meaningless if your case temperature has a much higher delta. More to the point, what is your case temperature? Add 10c+ case temp to get your realistic idle temperature. Thus, if your case is 33c, then your idle will be around 43c (+/- 3) and load will likely be another 15c on top of that. You will NOT see idle temperatures below case temperature +10c, it won't matter if you undervolt, underclock or purchase a heatsink the size of of 24 pack of soda. The only way you are going be lower than CT+10C is if you use TEC.

Well, Im sure it's not case temps, only because when I turn my PC on first thing in the morning the CPU already is reading 39C. This makes me believe the heatsink and chip are not touching all that well. I could be wrong though. Im planning on lapping this weekend, unless I find the reason why temps arent as low as I would like. Thanks for the inputs.