Heatsink Lapping Guide

Dud3! · Posted: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 02:04:59 Post Subject:

My thoughts --^

I'll get pix and such when I do it.

**Spire** · Posted: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 02:41:08 Post Subject:

NOOOOO, that chip has been my best friend through thick and thin. It was my first ebay victory almost a year and a half ago with a bid of $18.00!!!! (Is it wrong to get attached to computer crap???)

Dud3! · Posted: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 18:32:09 Post Subject:

Relax! I'm doing it to a dead 750 first! Laughing

And I'm attached to my battle worn Slot A Athlon 700 and Epox KX133 chipset mobo, so I understand. Razz

spudea · Rated PG Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 1

Very nice article! Hey maybe after you practice on that duron maybe you could do it on your 1700+? Because what I want to know is if both surfaces are brought to a mirror finish following this guide is there a need for any TIM at all?? No TIM=LOWEST TEMPS POSSIBLE!!!! Thats what I would like to see.

Edit: Oh and from other lapping guides i've read they all recommend to lap in a figure 8 pattern. While yours is the first to say to lap in a lateral motion. I see the nice results of your method but what is the difference?

P.S: I repeat this is the best lapping guide i've read and will use it for all my future heatsinks.

Dud3! · Posted: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 16:36:50 Post Subject:

Thanks.

The reason is quite simple, you end up with less scratches. Sanding in a circular motion is great for removing material quickly, but not for getting the best finish you can.

kimme · Posted: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 15:29:43 Post Subject:

Thanks forthis guide as I'm dying to overclockmy AMD XP-, and with this guide I can lower my temp with my motherboard. Smile

TheG · Rated PG Joined: 03 Jan 2005 Posts: 1

Nice article.

I just acquired a Tower112 heatsink by Thermaltake. Ya know, the snap-mobo-in-half-due-to-excess-weight thing. The base is rough, so I looked up some lapping information to see if it differs in method from other metal polishing.

Same thing. I've been polishing aluminum on vehicles for a while (200 hours on a single piece! Yikes

).

Just a note regarding initial sanding. To achieve a mirror polish on aluminum, when you're sanding with higher and higher paper grades, go at right angles to the previous direction of sanding. This brakes the ridges easier and faster, is easier to observe your work and sometimes sanding in the same direction with a higher grade paper can mask a lower grade ridge. I've seen this plenty on aluminum when working in a confined area where you can't get at right angles to the previous work. The lower grit line then shows up when buffing the area.

Also, that other argument mentioned earlier in the thread, my opinion is that best heat transfer is metal to metal. 2 smooth surfaces can also allow better spread of heat. Best heat dissipating is across large surface area, a cast surface texture has more surface area than a smooth one.

As for lapping a CPU... best use a rasp file. Sorts anything out. Smile

**Jason** · Posted: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 18:26:34 Post Subject:

Had to updated and redirected Dud3!'s masterpiece to the new template! 3 down, about 40 to go... Bang Head

cyborg939 · Rated PG Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 4

How would I lap a beast of a HSF such as a Tuniq Tower 120?

**Jason** · Posted: Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:51:39 Post Subject:

Hi... Welcome. Wave

I guess you have two options... 1) Grab that big thing and hold on tight! 2) Take the copper base off and just work with that. Once you put it back together you might be able to improve the contact between the heatpipes and base by upgrading the thermal paste and maybe its application.