Lapping the GeminII?

[Elysium]

OK, so I decided that I am going to lap my E4300. I am going to order a sandpaper kit from Easy PC Kits. I'll definetly post some pics of the whole process.

[sean126]

Like they say....I'd put some folded up paper with tape over the top of your cpu to prevent any metal shavings getting in there.

The way i did mine (after putting tape on it) I tried doing it wet...and dry. I found that doing it dry was much faster and better. That's only my opinion though. I bought a cheap 5x7 picture frame, took out the glass, tape the glass onto my counter top (or old table or something) then taped the sandpaper onto the glass. The paper never moved or tore on me.

Be sure and get the black wet-to-dry kind of sand paper, the brown is for wood.
You don't need to push down or apply pressure, just enough to sand it. You'll get the feel of it once you start.

I found the best way was to use both hands with my middle finger and thumbs holding the edges of the cpu when I sanded. I seemed to get a much more even sand that way. I went in a straight line, horizontal and in circles and rotate 90 degree's and in a different direction after every 50-75 strokes or so. I learned to take a black marker and mark the bottom of it every so often to see if I was sanding evenly or not (after I got down to the copper finish).

I started with 320 I think. I know it was 3 something. I bought a pack that had different grit in it.

As they said...it isn't necessary to get a mirror finish on it. That's just for looks (that you'd never see). 800 is good enough.

I just followed the guides on the internet. I looked at 2 or 3 of them I think. To me...it's not as hard as it looks. Just time consuming...and scarey at first.

[Elysium]

Thank you very much, Scott. This will help a TON. Props to you, man!!!

BTW, do you have any pics of your CPU after lapping?

[sean126]

Nah. It looks like everyone else's. I did get it pretty shiney though and then I thought...."what am I doing?" This is only for looks at this point. actually the zalman was easier to lap. I basically let the weight of the thing do the work for me. I still used my middle finger and thumb on the edges technique along with scribbling with a black marker on the bottom of it and rotating 90 degree's.

I'd say the weight of your cooler will be about the same for you. The hardest part is keeping equal pressure with your fingers and thumbs...so you don't make a cock-eyed cpu cooler with a 45 degree angle base.

I was scared to death at first....but after you start, you don't freak out about it.

[halutzparilla]

i was scared to death when i did that to my old Zalman 9500, man, i messed that HS so bad i can see visually the cresses right smack in the middle... then i tried to fix it using dremel then i totalled mess... lol i was totally n00bed by that thing... but maybe if i try again in a different HS i might get it right this time...
well i get a time to do it...

[sean126]

Damn dude!!!! Was you trying to lap using your feet? LOLOL.

Just joking...

[gvblake22]

You can follow HardwareLogic's very own Heatsink Lapping Guide too...

(also moved this thread to the Cooling section)

[Capper]

Personally, lapping is a complete waste of time unless you have damages on the surface of the IHS or heat sink. I've seen people remove the IHS, people lap the JHS and heatsink for a 5-6C temp difference.....which might seem like a loot, until you consider the actual max temps of processors.

The truth of the matter is, unless you are pushing your hardware to the very wedge, theres no sense in voiding your warranty or risking destroying your new processor.

[halutzparilla]

actually when i did the Lapping in my 9500 i increased the temp instead of dropping it... it went to 5C more than the usually...

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by Capper

Personally, lapping is a complete waste of time unless you have damages on the surface of the IHS or heat sink. I've seen people remove the IHS, people lap the JHS and heatsink for a 5-6C temp difference.....which might seem like a loot, until you consider the actual max temps of processors.

The truth of the matter is, unless you are pushing your hardware to the very wedge, theres no sense in voiding your warranty or risking destroying your new processor.

I aleady voided my warrenty when I decided to OC. The E4300 is a relativly cheap chip, so I won't feel that bad if I mess it up. Just another little project.