Lapped CPU Q6600 +

jennidc · 4 Sep 2008 at 22:32

After Lapping my CPU (Q6600) and cooler (Tuniq Tower 120) today I was amazed with the results (especially considering the Artic Silver is fresh on so should get even better)

The best OC which was Prime 95 stable previously was 3.2Ghz (356x9)

I can now stably run 1.5+ volts with the temps staying below 75C in Prime95. Anoyingly I haven't managed to get 400x9 stable yet - but I will oh yes.

Currently I have managed 389x9 = 3500 ish with 2 full loops of blend Prime 95 with temps never going above 65C.

For anyone in the UK planning a lapping job I managed to get fine wet/dry from halfords.

The technique I used was -

CPU - Started at 600 Grit with the sand paper taped to a sheet of glass (taken from an old picture frame). Rubbed the CPU up and down 30 times - rotated 90degrees and repeated (rotating 3 times). Did this again on the same grit paper (so twice @ 600 grit and for each subsequent).

Then moved on to the next grade up - in all I used 600, 800, 1200 and 1500 paper.

Tuniq - followed the same process as above - but as I had some marks on the base I started at lower grit - so I did in all 200,400, 600, 800, 1200 and 1500.

By the time I had finished my arm was ready to drop off but it was worth the effort and really unleashed greater OC potential so far I have gained 10-15C on each core (some of this could be attributed to pointing the TT in different direction to get push / pull air flow) and 300mhz in OC (aiming for 3600 stable tho - come on AS hurry up and dry)

I couldn't find anywhere that sold Iso Proprolyn (or whatever its called) so I just blew on the chip after each 30 strokes and each time I changed sand paper - rubbed the top of the cpu/cooler base with loo roll to remove any particles of dust.

After using 1500 grit a few times both the tuniq base and the cpu were reflecting back quite nicely - when I held them upto my monitor I could read back DELL in reverse perfectly.

I'm amazed how much difference this simple process has made - for anyone thinking of doing this I highly recommend it - its easier than you think - just read a few guides and a few YouTubes and then reap the rewards.

I'm over the moon :cool:

bimboles · 4 Sep 2008 at 23:24

Thanks for the info. I'm thinking of doing the same to my Q6600 and Noctua NH-U12P. I am currently struggling to get it much over 3.0ghz as it is kicking out too much heat.

Did you make a note of the chips batch number. As it sounds like it performs similar to mine? Mine is L 8 09B068.

Tim

tigerstyle · 5 Sep 2008 at 00:31

Isopropyl Alcohol from good chemists or similar, it helps to remove all the junk of the die/hs you can't see

and good work too, lapping's always worth it

lord filbuster · 5 Sep 2008 at 03:03

Is it worth it on the newer Q9xxx quads? The Isopropyl alcohol might be sold as surgical spirits or rubbing alcohol in the chemist.

jennidc · 5 Sep 2008 at 09:12

q6600 batch number

Sorry I didn't make a note of the batch number. If it helps though it was bought from overclockers on 21st August - its one of the OEM ones.

I'll try and get it to 3.6 in a week or so once the AS has hardened. I would
really like to get 400x9 so the memory is matched 1:1

I'm going to download the folding client and leave it going for a few days just to thoroughly test the 3.5 OC (I figure I may as well do something useful with it whilst its on).

jennidc · 5 Sep 2008 at 09:17

Bimboles - if you are using one of the ASUS P5Q Boards have you tried Ketts modded BIOS's from XtremeSystems - they made overclocking much easier for me.

Lord Filbuster - You will gain performance from any chip through lapping as your chip will run cooler alowing extra overclocking

Greebo · 5 Sep 2008 at 09:35

Good results so far but you still may not get to 3.6Ghz.

I only need 1.55v for 3.8Ghz - that was a major leap from 3.6Ghz which needed 1.45v and 3.4Ghz runs fine at 1.35v. Even 1.7v won't get me past 3.8GHz (i'm watercooled so heat is not an issue)

Although heat is a killer with overclocking, sometimes the cpu is just not a good overclocker.

I would suggest that yours may be one of them

All credit for getting the best out of a bad chip though

jennidc · 5 Sep 2008 at 15:29

OCing

Cheers Greebo

3.6 @ 9x400 does boot Vista an gets to about test 5 in Prime - so it might just need either a few more notches of voltage or the PPL upping a notch to get it stable. At the moment I'm happy with 3.5 but will test it when I have time. But I hear what you are saying - I have a 1.1Ghz OC from stock for minimum cost (£35 Cooler+£110 Quad CPU + £5ish on sandpaper) so Im happy with that if thats my top overclock.