6700k Delidding... Fun With Knives

[Smffy]

So lately I've been quite unhappy with the temps on my 6700k, its in a full loop and actually currently treated to 720mm of radiator all on its own... But despite that over time the temps had got progressively worse, a thread below is describing quite a spikey performance which is now in part resolved:

CPU Thread:
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18745418

Since I installed it back in December 15' alongside a 980Ti in the loop my temps were great, 22-23 idle and never really more than 55-60 at load with my 4.5ghz OC. I could run at 4.7 but opted for a little lower and cooler running. Over about 10 months it got progressively worse, to the point where it would be sitting at about 32-33 idle... Load we were hitting 70+ and 80c at times. Not Good enough. Solution, surgery.

I'm sure you all know what delidding is but here are some pictures of my effort, its not without risk but my CPU lives on and the outcome... Well my idle is back to 23c and things are normal once again. I'm going to guess that the cheap **** Intel use under the IHS got progressively worse as it dried out. Below what I replaced it with:

Directly on CPU/under IHS:
Liquid Ultra (Coollaboratory) - this stuff is MENTAL.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/coollaboratory-liquid-ultra-thermal-paste-th-013-cl.html

CPU block compount:
Gelid Extreme
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/geli...ing-edge-thermal-compound-3.5g-th-000-gd.html


Prepping the patient, it came off easier than expected so just be patient and start with the loosest corner and work round slowly:

The EK Block was a bit tarnished after cleaning off the old compound:

Polished off with some 2500 grit finishing paper, looks grained but its super smooth - you can see the difference in colour near the screws:

Sterling job of throwing **** at expensive hardware by intel:

Cleaning it up so its nice and shiny ready for the insane mental paste:

At this point the photo of the Coollabs stuff came out really badly, sorry no pics of that on the die! Lapping the IHS back to copper to improve its heat transfer... This took a lot of effort, then I realised the Coollabs had a nice metal sanding sponge in the page. Face palm.

Lapped the centre contact underneath, FYI I used some black instant gasket seal to reattach the IHS although I know you can leave it free on the old glue:

And the entire top surface back to shiny copper, I don't know why they insist on coating it... Looks so good

And that was it, back in the loop and as I said i've shaved off about 10c from my temps comfortably - probably even more under load!

 

[BluD]

Looks like they've made it much better on the 6700k, on the 4790k they finished the chip about 2mm from the edge of the IHS and put aload of caps on the front right up against the edge of the IHS which i found out after i had knocked half of them off with my knife

At least seeing this people know theyve got a nice margin for error, glad its got ya temps back down, i wonder why your temps went up over time, did the paste feel quite thick on the Die? Maybe it wasnt pushed on hard enough when it was stuck down and it wasnt getting decent contact.

 

[Smffy]

At least seeing this people know theyve got a nice margin for error, glad its got ya temps back down, i wonder why your temps went up over time, did the paste feel quite thick on the Die? Maybe it wasnt pushed on hard enough when it was stuck down and it wasnt getting decent contact.

Massive margin for error yes, its pretty safe to do now and admittedly I could have taped off the blade to stop it going in deep...

I seemed just quite crappy the paste, flakey, overly 'dry' and far too thick. I'm not sure why it got to such a point over time but its good to know that its back on track. The lapping to the copper probably isn't essential either but its pretty easy to do.

 

[BluD]

Yeah, well i have reinstalled mine that many times that eventually it does end up been copper without been intentional as the coating is so thin anyway. Last time i installed it the copper was starting to come through so i just sanded a little extra than needed to get it all copper.

 

[whiterabbit]

Great post and very informative.

 

[Jumper118]

they coat the cpu copper lid so that went they sell the cpu's in humid countries the copper doesn't become that green colour. It also would be very good for the writing on the lid of the cpu if it was corroded off.

 

[Smffy]

they coat the cpu copper lid so that went they sell the cpu's in humid countries the copper doesn't become that green colour. It also would be very good for the writing on the lid of the cpu if it was corroded off.

Yeah I also know from my own photos it fades over time. Stupid thing is you never usually see it again once installed for most people

Great post and very informative.

Hope it helps, I was a little nervous about doing it but just being patient and careful seemed to be the best thing.

 

[Jumper118]

Yeah I also know from my own photos it fades over time. Stupid thing is you never usually see it again once installed for most people



Hope it helps, I was a little nervous about doing it but just being patient and careful seemed to be the best thing.

that is true, but it might not even last going through transport and sitting in a shop. also its would be much harder to sell.

 

[Smffy]

that is true, but it might not even last going through transport and sitting in a shop. also its would be much harder to sell.

Probably only a few degrees if that for the bare copper anyway ey... I'm surprised the extreme chips don't come like it though, probably tells you its not that worthwhile.

 

[BluD]

Hope it helps, I was a little nervous about doing it but just being patient and careful seemed to be the best thing.

Yeah been patient is the main thing, i got a little overconfident after i had done quite a few and rushed one and ofc thats the one i ended up having to fix.

Yeah I also know from my own photos it fades over time. Stupid thing is you never usually see it again once installed for most people

Yeah they could always stick a sticker on it if they think its gonna go green, after all they do that with copper heatsinks. I guess they just dont think it looks as good as we do