Lapping the CPU IHS

Introduction

I have been overclocking CPUs, motherboards, and video cards for quite a while now. The need to drop my computer components a few more degrees has become a necessity. Especially since I like to push my CPUs, motherboards, and video cards to their absolute maximum clock speeds possible, and hold it there. The cooler we run our components the higher the overclock we can achieve, or the longer that component will last. One specific area we can tweak our cooling a bit more is lapping the IHS (Intergrated Heat Sink).

Lapping an IHS on a CPU is not as hard as most think. It does not require hours of work, and there is none of this, "You have to do this way, and only this way for perfect results." Contrary to popular belief lapping the IHS can be done in a matter of minutes and still get a seriously high polish out of it.

I have heard of many different ways on doing this simple little task. Some are time consuming, others are so over engineered it takes this task to a whole new level. I could list the ways I have heard of, but I like to finish this guide before my great grand children start having grand children of their own.