Deliding an ivy bridge cpu [tutorial]

[Coaxialgamer]

Before i start this guide , you should know that I am not responsible for any damage to your cpu if you decide to attempt this project .

Those who have seen my previous posts know that i accidentally damaged my cpu will trying to delid it.
I was using the vice method ( a popular deliding method ) . The cpu went flying , which in turn , damaged the pins on the back :

 

The cpu wouldn't post at first , but after re soldering the pins on the back , it worked. This would have probably made anyone stop cold and abandon the project . Not me ( though I wonder why not ).

It is well known intel used cheap thermal compound on ivy bridge and haswell cpu's ( do not attempt this on anything prior to ivy bridge , or on any enthusist grade cpu on socket lga 2011)

In fact , the better TIM was one of the main selling points for devil's canyon cpus like the 4790k.

Before trying anything , i stressed tested the cpu in order to get a baseline for temps .

At 4.6 ghz , 1.32V (VID , vcore set to 1.325v in bios ), the cpu would reach 90C on the hottest core using intel burn test ( at the "maximum" preset ).
Ambient temps are 20C; with idle temps sitting around 23C
This is pretty high , and prevents extra overclocking.

There are two methods for deliding: the vice method and the razor method.
The vice method , despite seeming dangerous in theory , is supposed to be the safest.But because of my bad experience with it , i chose the razor method .

My specs : i7 3770k @4.6ghz
CM nepton 240 aio cooler with stock fans in "push"
r9 290x tri x
ecs z77h2 a2x deluxe 2.0 motherboard.
cx 750m

Step 1 :

First of all , find a clean , clutter free work space to do this.
Make sure to ground yourself before removing the cpu.
remove the old thermal paste using isopropol alcohol .

Step 2 :

Use a clean razor to do this .
Push the razor firmly under a corner of the IHS. Make sure not to cut the PCB . Do not perform a cutting motion , as this will damage the PCB .

Be sure to be careful and not touch the die with it .
Be patient. You DO NOT want to mess this up.

Repeat for every corner and the sides until you have removed the IHS.

Note : on haswell , be also careful about the VRM's on the PCB.

Step 3 :

 

After removing the metal heat spreader , you will see the die .

 

 

We can see the cheap thermal paste used on the die , as well as the black gasket that used to keep the heat spreader onto the PCB .
Clean off the old TIM until the die is perfectly clean.
Next step is removing the gasket.

Use a credit card or a flat screw driver to remove it ( i used a screwdriver , just be sure not to scratch the PCB , so be careful )
Once that is done , you should be left with something like this :

 

Step 4 :

The next step is to reapply thermal paste on the die.

A popular choice for delidded CPU's is CL liquid ultra , a liquid thermal paste with excellent heat dissipation .
I had none on hand , so i used plain old noctua NT H1 ( still much better than stock TIM)
This is where you have to decide whether you want to go " naked" ( cooler has direct contact to die ), or to put the IHS back on .
I put it back on . While this can yield slightly higher temps , it is safer and needs no additional equipment to make the die make contact with the cooler..

Do not apply too much thermal paste and put the IHS back on .

 

Step 5 :

Put the cpu back in the socket , while making sure the IHS is in its correct position .
Apply thermal paste and put the cooler back on .
This is the moment that will determine if you have correctly done this ,n and if you damaged you cpu.

 

Aftermath :

Sure enough , the computer booted up just fine.
I got to the desktop , and used the same stress test as before .
Temps did not exceed 70C !
That's a massive 20 degree difference !

The cooler temps also made it possible to set the vcore to 1.22V , while remaining stable.

This made the temperature drop by a few more degrees ( about 65C on the hottest core )

It did not , however , give me extra OC headroom , as i had already hit a power wall , and could not go any higher , without adding a LOT more votage.
To end this guide, i will say i found it worth delidding my cpu.

Temps dropped drastically , and I was able to appy less voltage , thanks to the fact that cooler running chips need less voltage.



For more information , you can also check out the numerous guides and youtube videos covering the topic.
 

Edited January 14, 2016 by Coaxialgamer

[FloRolf]

pretty sure some pics fucked up

[Coaxialgamer]

pretty sure some pics fucked up

Yep, fixing that up...

[Snooli]

Interesting topic, I am looking at SB/IB CPUs on ebay. I think it's a great time to get one and delid+OC.

[Coaxialgamer]

upVote

 

Interesting topic, I am looking at SB/IB CPUs on ebay. I think it's a great time to get one and delid+OC.

I wpuldnt delid sandy bridge, as the IHS is soldered

[Snooli]

I wouldn't delid sandy bridge, as the IHS is soldered

 

Is it?

 

Edit:

It is! Well, at least it doesn't "need" it like IB does.

[The_Stig]

Nice guide, but why

 

all

 

the

 

spacing

 

between sentences? I feel like you could make this a bit more organized/easier to read.

[Coaxialgamer]

Nice guide, but why

 

all

 

the

 

spacing

 

between sentences? I feel like you could make this a bit more organized/easier to read.

fixed that. Was on mobile , and it messed up my post

[The_Stig]

fixed that. Was on mobile , and it messed up my post

Looks much better now, typing on moblie can be a pain

[TheRandomness]

OMG YOU FIXED YOUR CPU Nice

[EpIcPoNaGe]

I remember seeing your post about soldering back the pins and I was like "pfft good luck dude". But damn you were actually able to do it! Nice job! Do you have pictures of your CPU after it was fixed? I'm pretty curious to how you were able to just solder it and get it working again.

[Coaxialgamer]

I remember seeing your post about soldering back the pins and I was like "pfft good luck dude". But damn you were actually able to do it! Nice job! Do you have pictures of your CPU after it was fixed? I'm pretty curious to how you were able to just solder it and get it working again.

I'll see what i can do about pics, but basically my father (i have almost no soldering skills) put soldered the pins back VERY carefully. It looks like the pins at that spot have become grey.

[FireFox]

Interesting topic, I am looking at SB/IB CPUs on ebay. I think it's a great time to get one and delid+OC.

 

Remember SB is soldered although you can delid them apparantly but you need extra equipment to heat up the IHS and also since it is soldered you don't even need to attempt it.

[Litargirio]

do not attempt this on anything prior to ivy bridge , or on any enthusist grade cpu on socket lga 2011

 

Why?

[Coaxialgamer]

Why?

because they use solder instead of thermal compound as TIM .

 

If you attempt to delid a cpu using solder as TIM , removing the IHS will likely damage the die , breaking the cpu in the process.

 

I read it is possible if you have the proper equipment , but not very useful , as soldered TIM is one of the best solutions anyway.

 

The main reason intel is now using thermal compound instead of solder is mainly due to the fact that the dies are getting smaller , and solder can damage small dies. Many people also say it is because of price ( which honestly is probably the reason for the bad ivy bridge and haswell TIM in the first place ).

[FireFox]

because they use solder instead of thermal compound as TIM .

 

If you attempt to delid a cpu using solder as TIM , removing the IHS will likely damage the die , breaking the cpu in the process.

 

I read it is possible if you have the proper equipment , but not very useful , as soldered TIM is one of the best solutions anyway.

 

The main reason intel is now using thermal compound instead of solder is mainly due to the fact that the dies are getting smaller , and solder can damage small dies. Many people also say it is because of price ( which honestly is probably the reason for the bad ivy bridge and haswell TIM in the first place ).

 

I think people have delidded Sandy Bridge and SB-E as a proof of concept because there is no benefit from it

[Coaxialgamer]

I think people have delidded Sandy Bridge and SB-E as a proof of concept because there is no benefit from it

Well you need special equipment to melt the TIM without damaging the due...