Considering lapping C2D.

While I'm waiting on the rest of my build to arrive, I was considering lapping my E4300. I'm planning on using this guide, although one thing is irking me. I'm very paranoid about ESD and such, so the fact that he's telling me to touch the pins is severely unnerving. I have no problem voiding the warranty of a used processor, but voiding the operability of said CPU is unacceptable. So I ask you, what is the risk in touching the pins with your fingers or Q-tips? Also, would Arcticlean be a good substitute (vs Alcohol) for cleaning the CPU if I choose to go through with this?

I'm also going lap my Tuniq when it arrives, but I'm not worried about that in the least.

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I lap all my cpu's and have never had a problem with touching the pins..... that said, it's still a good idea not to do that, just leave the black plastic cover over the cpu while you are lapping, that will prevent you from touching the pins if it worries you.

I've never tried Arcticlean... I'm sure it's not any better than alchohol, just another way to get people to spend more money for something they really don't need. Either should work fine if you already have the Arcticlean.

The most important thing in lapping is keeping the sandpaper flat, use a piece of glass or a mirror to lay it on, if it's not laying perfectly flat you will get rounded edges. Also, use sandpaper for automotive use, not the paper for wood. Dipping the sandpaper in water will help a lot, it keeps it from clogging and makes it much easier to keep it laying flat. And like FCG says in that guide, it doesn't have to have a "mirror" finish, 600 or 800 grit will give a good finish. A "mirror" finish may look good, but actually won't work as well as a slightly rougher one.

well to start, flip your processor over and notice that there are no pins to touch.

as long as its not powered up theres very very little danger in touching the gold connection spots. if you want to be extra cautious touch something grounded before you start like a faucet or baseboard radiator. but when you pick up your CPU you will have grounded it to yourself regardless if you touch the top or the bottom.

im not sure what exactly is in arcticlean, probably an alcohol soloution. i would just use plain 91% rubbing alcohol since your not removing any thermal compound which is what arcticlean is for, though either should be fine.

i didnt take the time to read that guide but if you use water to wet sand the IHS, when your done flush the whole CPU top and bottom with alcohol to get any water that might have gotten in any small spaces out. alcohol evaporates much faster then water and isnt as conductive to electricity.

Its not an issue, just handle it carefully. I do my lapping at the sink and can just touch the water faucet to kill any static before I start. You don't even have to worry much about what you get wet. When done clean with rubbing alcohol and let it dry in a sunny window for an hour or hairdryer on low.

They are really pretty rugged and ESD is not the threat it used to be.

I would wait and power it up first, DOA processors are almost unheard of as they are 100% tested at the factory but I guess it has happened.

I agree with the previous posters, the c2d's with the heat spreader and balls is not nearly as delicate as processors in the past. Just be careful and use common sense and you will not have an issue at all.

Oh, copy down all the number off of the top of the CPU, you might want some of that info someday, I put it on an index card, fold it over in half loosely so it will kinda hold itself in and slip it behind/underneath the motherboard

Aon said:

While I'm waiting on the rest of my build to arrive, I was considering lapping my E4300. I'm planning on using this guide, although one thing is irking me. I'm very paranoid about ESD and such, so the fact that he's telling me to touch the pins is severely unnerving. I have no problem voiding the warranty of a used processor, but voiding the operability of said CPU is unacceptable. So I ask you, what is the risk in touching the pins with your fingers or Q-tips? Also, would Arcticlean be a good substitute (vs Alcohol) for cleaning the CPU if I choose to go through with this?

I'm also going lap my Tuniq when it arrives, but I'm not worried about that in the least.

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

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WHY ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT LAPPING YOUR CPU???? Is the IHS damaged or unevern? Is it crowned? Is it convex or something?? If not, there's probably no reason to lap it. Arcitc clean works fine. Clearly alot of people suffer from obsessive compulsive computer disorder..............an insane urge to fix things especially if they arent broken. Very similar to the OC Disorder associated with your computer making any kind of noise whatsoever.

I recommend medication for both disorders and hands off the computer hardware.

My e4400 lapping experience: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1031359067#post1031359067

For the flattest surface you can achieve lapping by hand with basic equipment, always lap in one direction and never rotate the part.

Start at one end of the sandpaper.
Apply even pressure to all four corners and slide it across to the other end.
Pick it up and return to the starting end.
Set it back down, apply the same even pressure to all four corners, and slide it across to the other end again.

If you do any sort of back and forth or swirling motion, the surface of your CPU will be somewhat convex. You may not see it very well with the naked eye, but it will be.