Lapping my Q9550 CPU & HSF base

[Itshondo]

I've been working on getting the temps down on my Q9550, so I decided today that I'd lapp the CPU and the base of my HSF. I also thought I'd document how I did it.

First I used a piece of glass as the lapping area. I taped it's corners to the table -

Then I tape the corners of the sandpaper to the glass, making sure that it is flat & taught -

My plans for lapping will be in 4 grit stages - 220, 320, 600 & 1500.

Now I needed to mount my 9550 to a piece of foam. This will do 2 things -

- provide a nice base to grasp the cpu,
- protect the bottom of the cpu from the metal removed from the cpu's heatspreader.

Here's the foam & cpu -

Sitting on the foam with the edges carefully taped to keep the 2 pieces together -

My cpu's Identification, pre lapping -

The HSF had been previously lapped but this raw cpu put corner indentations into the base -

I used the "Figure 8" method to lapp the cpu on WET sandpaper. I sprinkle & spread a little bit of water on the paper to help lubricate the paper & prevent metal dust from getting airbourne.

After the 220 grit -

the 320 -

the 600 -

and the 1500 -

And a "screen shot" -

Not quite a mirror finish but a VERY flat & smooth one that will ensure that maximum heat will be transfered to the HSF.

 

[Itshondo]

Tomorrow I'll be installing a new Prolimatech Megahalems heatsink & a 120 mm fan- I hope that it's base is flat.

 

[MisterAutomatic]

Why not go up to 2000 grit?

 

[Itshondo]

Why not go up to 2000 grit?

I figured that 1500 was enough. The ACE had higher grits but I was really over it, as I had a sneaking suspicion I was in for a new CPU cooler anyways.

 

[liquidfluidity]

Looks good. I usually start with 600 - 800 - 1000 - 2000. Leaves a mirror finish and 600 doesn't quite scratch as bad as the lower grits. The main thing is flatness - not reflectivity , though.

 

[Riccochet]

Looks good. Always like a good lapped processor.