How flat is the q6600?

[r_j_k_p]

i've currently got a thermalright 120 extreme and notices the base of it isn't really that flat or smooth.

As a result i've decided that i will probably go ahead and lap it.



This got me thinking, if the q6600 is flat or not? as i may lap the cpu as well but if it is already machined flat or anything, then theres no point.
If both surfaces are nice and flat, that should mean that there is maximum contact between the two and more heat exchange occurs, therefore lower temps..

[Webby]

The TRUE should be flat already (it may just have a grain) so it will only require very light lapping to polish off the surface the Q6600 will be far from flat get a razor blade or a stanley knife blade and place it on the top corner to corner in an / shine a torch from the other side if you see light then the spreader is not flat and would benefit from lapping.

And your supposition is correct 2 flat surfaces (or at least as flat as humanly possible by hand) will give you better heat transfer and will require less thermal paste, unless the cooler and IHS happen to be exactly the same shape in which case they are already doing a really good job not likely though is it

[magneticman]

no the true is slightly concave*/or convex, whichever one is right haha

[Fraz]

I thought that TRUEs were renowned for not being very flat or polished? Pretty poor really, considering how well the rest of them is put together. There's a good thread here:

http://forums.hexus.net/help-technic...-all-flat.html

[r_j_k_p]

I thought that TRUEs were renowned for not being very flat or polished? Pretty poor really, considering how well the rest of them is put together. There's a good thread here:

http://forums.hexus.net/help-technic...-all-flat.html

ye that thread was one of the reasons i want to lap.

[r_j_k_p]

btw, is it worthwhile to lap my next cpu (q6600) or is it pretty much flat already?

[looney]

^ you'll have to check it yourself as Intel are not exactly reknowned for making perfectly flat cpus consistently,

[Pob255]

the flatness of the cpu will be luck of the draw pritty much.
I did a light lapping on my e6600 and found it to be very flat, but I know others have had to do a bit of lapping to get rid of the curve.
My old pentium D was very badly concave (goes in at the middle) and needed quite a bit of lapping to get it flat.

My thermalright ultima90 was ok again I gave it a light lapping to check annd there was no major issue.
However there has been problems with the thermalright ultra and ultima for flatness, it may or may not be flat luck of the draw same as the cpu.
Actually checking back It did need a bit of lapping to get it flat, it was slightly curved as many seem to be, but not as much lapping as my pentium D required

Stright egde test will show up the worst of it, a very light lap will show it in more detail by the wear pattern, if it's flat it should get all over wear by the abrasive paper, if convex the middle will be worn but not the edges if concave then the middle will not be very worn but the edges will.

EDIT: should add, not concerning a thermalright cooler, but other makes,
If you have a cooler with an exposed heatpipe base, do NOT lap it, you will puncher/colapse the heat pipe making it useless.