Lapping i7

[exe163]

This is my first time lapping. I got the lapping kit from PPC; it comes with 4 small sheets of sand paper of different variations. I rubbed the i7 (0 pressure) against 220grit sand paper for more than 30 mins and only the corners showed a small sign of copper. Is this normal? Am I suppose to get a full surface of copper for best perfromance?

[AngryArtichoke]

Yes, it is normal. Because the surface is uneven, different parts of the heat spreader will be exposed at different depths. It took me a long while to lap my CPU as well, but you should get a full copper surface eventually. Also, you might consider pressing down a bit harder when you are lapping to speed up the process. Naturally, copper is a better thermal conductor than aluminum, but the main purpose of lapping is to flatten out the contact surface. Ideally, you will eventually have a flat, shiny copper surface when you are finished.

You should continue using the 220 grit paper until you have a completely visible copper surface. From there, you will move up to finer grits to polish the surface.

[warriorpoet]

This is my first time lapping. I got the lapping kit from PPC; it comes with 4 small sheets of sand paper of different variations. I rubbed the i7 (0 pressure) against 220grit sand paper for more than 30 mins and only the corners showed a small sign of copper. Is this normal? Am I suppose to get a full surface of copper for best perfromance?

Please tell me you are doing this on an absolutely dead flat surface. Pretty please.

[dan7777]

i7 lap already lol madness

[theseeker]

Please tell me you are doing this on an absolutely dead flat surface. Pretty please.

You beat me to it! This is very important.

[tool_462]

Please tell me you are doing this on an absolutely dead flat surface. Pretty please.

I'd hope so, I think the lapping kits come with a small pane of glass.

[warriorpoet]

You beat me to it! This is very important.

Scary thing is, when you're not lapping perfectly flat the corners usually lap first

[exe163]

I lapped it on both the glass comes with the kit and my wood desk (). Maybe I done something wrong . Now that I am out of sand paper I will go shop for bigger ones which will no longer fit on the small glass that come with the kit. Do you think I can use a marble desk for lapping? I consider it pretty flat but I cannot be 100% sure. Just realized I have a glass desk also.

[YukonTrooper]

Marble or glass would be perfect. I just hope you don't start seeing silicone on one side of the chip!

[exe163]

After some more sanding ( on glass ), this time I put some pressure in the middle of the chip using my index finger while thumb and middle finger holding the black bracket comes with the CPU, bits of copper started to appear in the middle of the chip. Is this normal or am I putting too much pressure in the middle?

[dan7777]

After some more sanding ( on glass ), this time I put some pressure in the middle of the chip using my index finger while thumb and middle finger holding the black bracket comes with the CPU, bits of copper started to appear in the middle of the chip. Is this normal or am I putting too much pressure in the middle?

this is normal mate

[exe163]

Thanks now that all my low grit sand papers are all out I guess I have to wait until I get new ones.

[dan7777]

Thanks now that all my low grit sand papers are all out I guess I have to wait until I get new ones.

good luck man if ya carful shud be all good.

[andersson.j]

I prefer Graystars method because I belive that most other methods will give you a convex surface and not a flat one. With that said I'm not convinced that flat yields better temps than convex, but I like flat.

• Start with pretty rough grit, 150-220 and stop at 600-800. Finer grit will give you a shinier finish but it won't lower temps.
• No rotation, no pull, no circular or figure 8 motions. Only push the CPU, lift it back to the starting position and push again.
• Use a magic marker so you can see high and low spots more easily.
• The front part of the IHS will probably get sanded off first. Adjust your pressure backwards to compensate. Because of this phenomenon all rotations or circular motions of the CPU will give you a convex surface.
• Find a comfortable grip, because once you've found the right pressure distribution you don't want to loose it.

[dan___92]

i7 lap already lol madness

x2 lol