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Thread: Lapping the Heatkiller 3.0 [Top tip: DON'T DO IT!]

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  1. #1
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    Lapping the Heatkiller 3.0 [Top tip: DON'T DO IT!]

    It came up in a thread somewhere that the Watercool HK 3.0 has an un-lapped, unpolished base while several other blocks like the Apogee GTZ or the Koolance CPU 350 have polished bases.

    This, of course, begs the question whether a lapped and polished surface will provide improved temperatures.


    Only one way to find out...





    Before lapping

    Here are some pics of what the HK 3.0's base looked like before lapping:



    There are some scratches on the base because it's already seen almost a dozen mounts. Also, sorry for the dust on the base on that second pic.
    As we can see on the third pic, the base does have something of a mirror-shine to it.

    Anyway, let's get the sandpaper out.


    During lapping

    After a few minutes of lapping I had a first look at the base and was a bit surprised. See for yourself:



    EDIT: The pic is actually a bit misleading. The darker spots is where the block made contact with the sandpaper, the brighter areas are the concave ones.

    We are clearly looking at a bowed base here. The area in the middle is making contact with the sandpaper, as are the edges, but there is a "ring" around the middle that isn't toughting sand yet.

    Nickel020 checked the base of his HK 3.0 and reported that it was completely flat, as far as I recall. So what's with the base of mine? This is a retail-sample, by the way, so no need to come up with conspiracy theories.

    I don't know if this has to do with the fact that this is a used block or if it's coincidence or whatever. Seeing that the block is bowed and that I am basically flattening out that bow makes me guess that I won't be doing this block's performance any good. But I started it, so I might as well go through with it.


    After lapping

    Here are some pics of what the base looked like after lapping and polishing:



    Not perfect, but I guess it can pass.


    Temperatures before and after

    The block is currently on it's second mount after lapping.
    I'll post the results when they come in.


    Okay, results:
    All temps are the difference between CPU and water temperature.


    Average temperature of all mounts before lapping: 30.4

    Temperature after lapping, Run 1: 31.7
    Temperature after lapping, Run 2: 31.7
    Temperature after lapping, Run 3: Well, what's the point, really?


    Conclusion

    As expected, the performance suffered from lapping down the bow. Though I never expected it to suffer this much!

    What did we learn?

    - The HK 3.0 has a slightly bowed base.
    - It's nice to see your reflection in a block's base but not necessarily a good thing.
    - Shane is willing to wreck his stuff in the name of science...

    Cheers,
    Shane

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