Delidded CPU survey - Modern Intel CPU's, would you delid just for lower temps?

[Journey]

A post that 8 Pack made earlier tweaked my thoughts, as he stated why would we de-lid non-binned CPU's? Or words to that effect.

Now, I am curious. I have de-lidded CPU's for certain projects, in order to find out if the CPU's could run much cooler without the heat spreader, or with the heat spreader removed, and better internal contact made, with higher quality TIM. Most of the time these were not done for overclocking shock horror! Only to see if I could save some heat generation, and use a smaller case and/or cooling solution.

I'd like to know how many of you have removed your own heat spreaders (or a friend may have done it), to increase your overclock, and what the results were with regards to the temperatures, and the difference between stock OC, and the de-lidded OC (if applicable).

It occurred to me, that in my own findings, just using the CPU delidded, and with new paste I have had some pretty good results, saving upwards of 23c in a 1U system, running an Intel 7700 (non-K).

Even if you are not shopping for a pre-binned chip, is there a market for delidded CPU's with the normal silicon lottery risks, whether you get a good chip or not?

Maybe a mod could do a poll, to ask would you buy non-binned delidded, in order to get those lower temps, and take the risk on getting an average overclock, it's got to be a better result than with the lid on no?

Any how thanks in advance if you do respond, I'm looking forward to the outcome.

 

[pastymuncher]

I have done it on both a 4670k and my 4790k both of which was to lower temps. Max overclock did not change at all. I always stick the IHS back on after cleaning everything up, putting nail varnish over the transisters and applying CLU because I found the temps to be much better with the IHS on than when running with the die naked, even when using the naked Ivy mounting kit for my block. I got 15-18 degrees off my 4670k and a whopping 25 degrees off my 4790k in which the stock Intel paste had set like concrete. I wouldn't pay the hefty premium for a delidded and pre-binned cpu though.

The thing is we shouldn't have to be doing this in the first place as Intel should use decent stuff to start with. They charge a premium for the unlocked cpu's yet they have the same poorly applied, crap thermal paste as all the other cpu's. It's a complete and utter disgrace for the prices they are charging.

 

[Journey]

The thing is we shouldn't have to be doing this in the first place as Intel should use decent stuff to start with. They charge a premium for the unlocked cpu's yet they have the same poorly applied, crap thermal paste as all the other cpu's. It's a complete and utter disgrace for the prices they are charging.

I agree, however I'd like to keep this about the temps, not Intel cheaping out, I hope you understand.

And, thanks for the input, I always replace the IHS also.

 

[McGraw]

Nah, my CPU nudges 80c in gaming and 85c encoding. 75c is about average on the hottest core.

Chances of destroying it with a delid are not worth the potential extra lifespan.

 

[Aa83]

Delid on my CPU brought temps down by around 7 degrees of I recall. As I'm interested in keeping noise levels low, having the most effective way to dissipate heat is crucial. The delid had more effect than ramping up fan speeds or buying a more effective cooler.

 

[Rroff]

I've never personally managed to get any significantly higher overclock from it (the last one I messed about with enabled 2.2% higher frequency which barely registered as an actual performance gain) - not to the point it was worth messing about delidding - even when it enabled a significant temperature reduction. Don't really have wide experience in respect to temperatures though - generally the chips I've had the interface material between the cores and IHS hasn't been terrible in the first place so while the temperature reduction is nice they were already operating in a temperature range that would see lifespans way beyond their useful performance life.

EDIT: There is a certain factor that seems to be being glossed over as well here - see Gamer's Nexus videos on paste application - some people persist on using some types of paste in the wrong way in many cases they'd get great gains just by doing it properly and not hand spreading pastes intended to naturally spread, etc. I was surprise just how bad it can be in some cases as Gamer's Nexus turned up. In my previous experiments it was more like 2-3C differences but they actually found scenarios where it could be 10C differences under load.

 

[Journey]

Nah, my CPU nudges 80c in gaming and 85c encoding. 75c is about average on the hottest core.

Chances of destroying it with a delid are not worth the potential extra lifespan.

Yeah, my title might need changing. The main query is to see if people would buy non-binned, de-lidded so mitigating the risk.

 

[Doobedoo]

Yes I would and to be honest I would like to have a go at it one day. The downside being the extra cost involved but if it really made a difference then why not.

The only other thing being that if people are going to still go out on mass and buy them regardless of the tim issue, then you can pretty much guarantee you will not be getting solder on a Intel cpu ever again.

Just to add would I buy a pre binned/delidded cpu? Depends on the premium really, If It's too much then I'll just do it myself and save the money.

 

[Rroff]

Yeah, my title might need changing. The main query is to see if people would buy non-binned, de-lidded so mitigating the risk.

I tend to buy retail boxed these days as many places seem to have quite a high churn of OEM ones returned and put back into stock I suspect partly due to people going through a load trying to find a good clocker. Non-binned de-lidded probably same story.

 

[Doobedoo]

I tend to buy retail boxed these days as many places seem to have quite a high churn of OEM ones returned and put back into stock I suspect partly due to people going through a load trying to find a good clocker. unbinned delidded probably same story.

I think I made the mistake of buying Oem with this 4670k which is pants. Will defiantly be buying retail in the future.

 

[8 Pack]

Rubbish OEM I have found many world record cpu's for sure retail not better. All.the same chance to get good.

 

[Doobedoo]

No doubt but all those cherry picked cpu's by you guy's and others like you, reduces the chance for others to get a decent one.

I may well of been unlucky but this 4670 brought from overclockers has to be in the lowest performing bracket. I thought I remember you saying that all those binned that don't make the grade goes into the oem pile.

 

[Rroff]

Rubbish OEM I have found many world record cpu's for sure retail not better. All.the same chance to get good.

Not saying there aren't good OEMs - but seems increasingly there is a not inconsiderable chance of getting an OEM CPU that someone has returned likely due to being a poor clocker - certain companies are definitely worse for it than others as well.

No doubt but all those cherry picked cpu's by you guy's and others like you, reduces the chance for others to get a decent one.

I may well of been unlucky but this 4670 brought from overclockers has to be in the lowest performing bracket. I thought I remember you saying that all those binned that don't make the grade goes into the oem pile.

In the past they've claimed that the binned CPUs that go into systems or sold as binned are ordered and kept separately to CPUs sold individually - can't speak for OcUK but I know that sure ain't the case at some other companies.

 

[Doobedoo]

My understanding is retail boxes are untouched meaning no one can potentially test them other than Intel before sealing and distributing. That to me that is the definition of a silicone lottery and that is how I will purchase my next cpu.

 

[8 Pack]

Our cpu's are on a totally different code for system stocks which is the only one we bin.

I am just stating a fact which unless you tested several hundred cpu's you can't comment on.

I held all world records with oem cpu's and they where every bit as good a clockers as retails.

 

[voidshatter]

Yes, unbinned CPUs are still worth the trouble delidding. That's why silicon lottery has found a market for delidding service.

 

[Journey]

Yes, unbinned CPUs are still worth the trouble delidding. That's why silicon lottery has found a market for delidding service.

Which is what I thought, even non-OC chips should have the option to add the service for say £20-30? All they need to do is, delid, then test it still works.

 

[bimbleuk]

I de-lidded an i5-3570K but didn't try to go over 4.2 which was done by simply changing the turbo multipliers. The result was up to 10 Deg C improvement when benchmarking but in general use it wasn't so noticeable as the CPU never went over 50 Deg C anyway with a large Noctua cooler and mostly stayed in the low 40s.

I used Liquid Metal under the IHS and 5 years later it was still fully liquid when I finally sold it to another happy Ebayer.

 

[jaffveyda]

I would expect to buy product that is optimized for usage, unlocked version of CPU should have better cooling capabilities, in perfect world.

 

[Bluntwrapped]

If you have a good/great cooler delidding will always be worth it regardless of the bin. Else what is the point in owning a good cooler in the first place.