[Video Added + Watercooling Results] Replacing the internal IHS TIM of an i7 3770K

I'm still debating whether or not I should be doing that. I started to think about doing it after reading this:

Intel Ivy Bridge CPU's Are Proven To Suffer From Poor TIM Choice

I don't care much about the warranty. I'm planing to replace the original TIM with MX-4.

Any thoughts guys? I haven't seen anyone doing it here so I guess I'm the first guinea pig .

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Do this at your own risk. You might permanently Damage your CPU if you're not careful. I will not be responsible for any possible damage you might cause to your chip.

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Components that mattered:

Maximus IV Gene-Z
3770K
2 x 2 GB Mushkin 1600
H50 (1st Gen)
2 x 3300 RPM Delta
MX-4

Ambient through all tests (25.5 - 25.8C)
Stock Test: Everything on... stock - Memory running at 1333 9-9-9-24
OC Test: 4.2 GHz - 1.27 V - Memory running at 1600 6-8-6-24 (XMP)

Tests are finaly done and here are the results:

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Video:

Part 1:



Part 2:



Part 3:

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Pictures:

Stock Clocks (Unmodded):





Stock Clocks (Modded):





Improvement: 3.75C idle - 2C load


OC Clocks (Unmodded):





OC Clocks (Modded):





Improvement: 1C idle - 5C load

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Decided to Run the chip under water with the IHS removed to see what temps I could get. I had to change some of the components for the watercooling test.

Asus Sabertooth Z77
8 GB Gskill 2400
Silverstone ST1200

XSPC Raystom
XSPC H2O 200 Pump/Res Combo
EK 240 (2 x 120) 45mm thick radiator
2 x Corsair 2600 RPM 120mm (Same as H100 fans)

Here are the results:

Stock Clocks (Under Water):





Improvement: 5.75 (Modified TIM) - 7.75 (Original)

OC Clocks (Under Water):





Improvement: 10.75 (Modified TIM) - 15.75 (Original)


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Summery:

Use a higher quality TIM Intel, or better yet, just solder the damn thing.
Edited by Cyclops - 5/16/12 at 7:55pm

Well damn it. I only have a Z68 motherboard available right now with no SB chip to update the bios with. It's a Maximus IV Gene-Z so I was hoping it had bios flashback which it doesn't.

I already have a Z77 board coming so I guess I have to wait till that one arrives.

What does getting a Hex core have to do with anything? That would mean I'd have to switch the motherboard too and that would cost a hell of a lot more.

Anyways, you don't need to be sponsered to test things out. There is a thermal dissipation problem with these chips. Like the link I provided in the first post, there seems to be a cure.

As for warranty, I don't really care as I've owned dozens of CPUs over the years and not one have ever gone wrong for me to replace.