Fixing Ivy Bridge CPU temps: IHS removal (DIY)

[najiro]

Hi!
I'm new here and I just wanted to start sharing interesting stuff.
I found something interesting the other day.
A video about replacing the stock thermal compound used in ivy bridge processors which is currently blamed for the heat issues these processors have.

It did gave interesting results:
Pros: Lowered temperatures, better overclocking capabilities
Cons: Will void warranties



ivy processor users might want to try this.

[PP Mguire]

This is pretty well known to those that have the testes enough to do it. It doesn't warrant clocks that are that much higher though as Ivy still runs warmer natively than Sandy.

[peti1212]

I remember reading at Anandtech that some users replaced the TIM under the IHS and it didn't do anything to lower temperatures, or the difference was minimal. Some people did it even without the IHS. A lot of people ruined their warranties with no gain. Though I might be wrong. Interesting video najiro, thanks for sharing.

[PP Mguire]

People to fail to realize that Sandy is made the same way. Ivy is just a hotter chip due to the new tech.

[werty316]

Ivy is hotter because all of transistors are compacted into a smaller die when compared to Sandy.

[PP Mguire]

The shrink usually leads to less TDP, more performance, and a cooler chip. The 3d transistors are what does it. I bet IB-E will be hotter than SB-E as well for the same reason. It's why taking the IHS off doesn't do much.

[najiro]

A lot of people ruined their warranties with no gain.

yeah that's the worst thing that could happen. I was wondering of the same thing of removing the IHS completely and mount the heat sink directly to the processor die. I remember pentium IIIs don't have IHS. I'm guessing in theory it should be cooler since it would be directly cooled by the cooler without the IHS right?

[PP Mguire]

Yes it would be slightly cooler but you risk crushing the cores with too much pressure.

[peti1212]

Yep, you would have to come up with your own mounting mechanism because the socket mounting would not work anymore, because the socket bracket pushes on the IHS.

[James86]

I would be too worried to do that with my CPU. $200+ for a new cpu would scare me too much. good luck to all that try this and hope it works for you.

[rrplay]

Thanks for posting the video, and can honestly say that I would not attempt this. just to risky for me to consider.would have to agree similar to James86 in the above post best of " luck to all that try this and hope it works for you."

[Figit090]

interesting post, I wouldn't want to try it simply for the small performance gains. if you drop the price of a bricked processor (possible but if you're careful I suppose not a huge risk) into cooling upgrades and get air flowing correctly through your case that will yield more of a drop in temperature. I seem to have lowered temps either from switching my CM hyper 212 Evo from push to pull (single fan no push now), either that or additional case fans helped, or my thermal compound has broken in, if possible, like mentioned in this IHS removal thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2260582


Again it seems that thermal efficiency gains are close to insignificant. a better cooler and better fans, in my opinion, is a lot better spent and if you fry your processor overclocking (with intel's OC warranty!) you can just get a new one for $25 or however many pennies it is.

[Figit090]

wow I spoke too soon before seeing those temp changes, I didn't realize he had a core that was so much higher than the other two, thankfully my cores are quite even but if I had no warranty, and enough people had done this without damaging the core, I might just have to give it a try.

I'd only worry about the tolerances changing without the IHS glue being there, there could be extra pressure on the CPU because of that. It could be a good thing, however...not sure how delicate it really is.

[MeSleepyOne]

Thanks for sharing. I have herd of people doing this but the first time seen it done.