Tech-Boy

Hey everyone!

Today I am going to show you how I lapped my Phenom II x4 940 processor!

I know that is much more common to lap Intel cpu's than it is to lap amd cpu's. The two main reasons for this is because amd processors usually already come flatter than an Intel cpu and the other reason is simply because the people that are most likely going to lap a cpu (people looking for extreme performance) are more likely to buy an Intel cpu. I myself have always used Intel processors, in fact this is not only my first lapping job but also my first time going with an amd processor.

Dangers of lapping:

-You will Void your warranty
-You are removing the protective nickel layer on top of the cpu
-You may bend one of the pins during the lapping process

Lapping Precautions:

-Do not apply much or any downward pressure on the cpu
-Protect the cpu's pins with the foam or plastic that comes with the cpu
-Take your time

Ok enough of the boring stuff lets take a look at the lapping process

All you need to lap the cpu is:

-The cpu itself
-A mirror or piece of glass
-400 (optional), 600, 1000 (optional), 2000 (optional) grit sandpaper / You only really need the 600grit for a complete lapping, the 400grit make things go faster and the 2000grit cleans up the scratches
-Some electrical tape
-And up to 5 hours of spare time (don't rush)


Now that you have all the materials lets start lapping.

Here is the stock Heatsink and CPU before any lapping.







I made five small markings on the cpu to help see my progress, however it did not really work to well so I do not think it is necessary to do this.



Here is the sand paper taped down on top of the mirror.



There are many different methods for lapping the cpu however I just lapped ten times back a forward in a straight line then rotated the cpu 90 degrees and repeated all the way around.

Here is the cpu starting with the 400grit sandpaper and five minutes of work. As you can see (as it is with most amd cpu's) the edges of the cpu are higher than the middle of the cpu, thus the cpu is concave. I am going to tell you now that this cpu was very concave and it took me over 6 hours of work to get the finished product (I like to take my time). t1cable:



After 20minutes it is clear that the cpu is concave.



After two hours of slow meticulous work I am hitting the center, however the nickel platting around the center and inside the rim of the cpu remains untouched.



Here she is 3 hours latter still on the 400grit working slowly away, you can clearly see the four most concave areas on the cpu.



Here she is 4 and a half hours latter. You can see the corner with still a little bit nickel on it, this is the most concave (lowest area) area of this cpu.



5 hours in all the nickel is gone and the cpu is much flatter, simply moved up to the 600grit for 5minutes to get a few of those scrachets out, next 2000grit.



Ok so you want shinny, but it is going under that big heat sink whose going to care? Ok fine shinny it is:

I used 2000grit sandpaper for 20minutes to get this





Its probably hard to make it out but that is a reflection of the Thermaltake SopranoRS case which is going to be this cpu's home as soon as that motherboard and gpu gets here



Here is the Heatsink and cpu all done. I used the exact same process to lap the heatsink however it was alot quicker because it wasn't near as concave and because it is a lot heavier.



I still have not received my motherboard or gpu so I cannot post any before and after difference. I figured that I wouldn't have the patience to lap the cpu once I got the rest of the computer parts. However as soon as I get the rest of the parts (should be some time next week) I will post my overclocking results and temps with the lapped cpu and stock heatsink on this thread.

Update: I finally got all of my parts in yesterday afternoon!

Still need to install more programs and drivers, but so far here are my temps:

X4 940 Stock 3.0ghz lapped
stock heatsink
artic silver 5
Ambient Temp is 38c (very hot were I live)

Idle (windows desktop) 38c

Load (prime 95 for 20min) 45c

I am very satisfied with these results with just the stock heatsink, and because of the high room temperature.

Update 2: Ok here are my oc Results and some more pics!

Remember the cpu and gpu are currently being cooled with there stock heatsink!

Overclock results:

Cpu @ 3.5ghz 1.392v / Temp idle = 41c / Load 100% = 49c

Gpu @ Core = 760/ Shader = 1530 / Memory = 1045
Temp idle = 49c / Load (folding) = 62c

North bridge is at 2.4ghz vs 1.6ghz stock with 1.4volts

Everything is 100% stable at these settings; I am getting a xigmatek cooler soon for the lapped x4 940 hope to reach 3.9ghz.

Picture Time:







Cable management was the best I could do with the case. I am very pleased with the case, but it is very hard to do cable management with it.

I plan on making a another thread later with benchmarks showing performance gain when overclocking. I will be benching Vantage, COD5, Crysis, Crysis Warhead, Far Cry 2, Flight Simulator X (not many benchmarks on this game), Forged Alliance, Hawx and Grid. I will bench each game/program on my system first at stock settings, then will overclock to the max stable with stock cooling and bench again. This will help show people the performance gain they will get by overclocking there computer!

Hope you found this helpful

Bartmasta

wow that's really nice man

why do you need glass or a mirror though?

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Cdpkook132

To get a truely flat surface. That is what you tape the Sandpaper to. Looks great! I am waiting a lil to do my 720 but my 9850 turned out great!

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Tech-Boy

Yep, what Cdpkook123 said. The surface needs to be as perfectly flat as possible, so that the cpu becomes as flat as possible. Which is what you want as there will be more contact with the heat sink.

elito

lucikly my dining table is glass.. *drools* heh heh.i hope i wont break it when i lap mine. - mom will be piss~!

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NickOulton

wrap those http's in [IMG][/IMG]

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-Muggz-

but how are you going to do that? dont you need the glass to back the sandpaper to make sure its very flat? I mean I know you need to set it on a flat surface, but you should also use a flat object to back it....

That'd be odd to pick up a glass top from a table LOL

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Tech-Boy

@ NickOulton Done

Thanks for the tip, I wrapped it in URL /URL at first because that was what I would use at another forum I come from.

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Bullant

Hi Tech Boy

Just wondering is it ok to lap my copper heat sink ,its a thermaltake liquid cooling one?

Tech-Boy

Sure you could give it a go. Although I have never tried lapping a water block.

But I do not think you will see near as big results as lapping the cpu, as almost all the heat sinks already come fairly flat. Even the Stock heat sink I lapped for the x4 940 was almost perfectly flat however, as you can see from the pics, the cpu was not.

Good Luck Bullant,
It is much easier and safer to lap the heat sink or water block over the cpu, but your results will be not as great.

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