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Heatsink Lapping

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  • Heatsinks
  • Surface
  • Tuniq
  • Overclocking
  • Product
Last response: in Overclocking
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July 4, 2007 2:50:30 AM

I want to lap my Tuniq Tower because I can see the striations on the surface, but my dad wont let me cuz he says that there's probably a surface treatment on it that prevents rust and corrosion. How can I prove that lapping it is a perfectly safe thing to do and wont cause rust and corrosion?

More about : heatsink lapping

July 4, 2007 3:04:54 AM

Ok, so I thought of something:
Yes, the copper will oxidize over time, but perhaps the thermal paste will prevent that once the heatsink is attached to the CPU. Does anyone know the chemical composition of Arctic Silver 5 or any thermal grease that qualifies it as being the protection against oxidation? Also, can anyone help prove that the thermal grease will prevent air from getting to the heatsink, thus proving that oxidation is impossible?
July 4, 2007 3:19:17 AM

UH..... Do you want to know what's the composition of Arctic Silver 5?
Guess what it's Silver!

Copper oxides very slowly, 3 years+ for its top layer to become copperoxide. By that time, you could just re-lap it again. There isn't any surface treatment on Tuniq tower. Free free to lap the heatsink.

Lapping Tuniq tower isn't an effective way to lower temperature because the base is already pretty flat. You'll need to lap the Cpu to lower your temp to a noticeable degree.

Quote:
but my dad wont let me

You really have a caring dad. My dad won't even care if i smash my computer, all he cares is that I do my job in maintaining his computer and give him tech support when he needs it.
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July 4, 2007 3:31:30 AM

I just lapped my heatsink and CPU yesterday and I found that the heatsink was convex and the CPU was concave. After doing it I noticed a 7-8 degree drop in temps. Lapping either will void your warrenty so that might be what your dad is worried about. I would just show him some of the sites that give you a walkthrough of it and show him how easy it is.
July 4, 2007 3:35:31 AM

Quote:
UH..... Do you want to know what's the composition of Arctic Silver 5?
Guess what it's Silver!


It's a bit more complicated than that. Last time I checked, silver was a solid, not a paste.

Quote:
Copper oxides very slowly, 3 years+ for its top layer to become copperoxide.


Did you get that info for Cu clamped to a plated IHS with thermal grease between them while accounting for typical thermal cycles? If not, forgetabout it.

To the OP: you really don't need to worry about Cu oxidation in this situation. How many pennies have you seen that had oxidation issues? I've got 100+ year old Cu coins that are tarnished and that's about it.
July 4, 2007 3:43:24 AM

Well.. who cares about warranty if putting an aftermarket cpu cooler voids it?

On arctic silver's site, it says it's more than 98% silver.

Quote:
Copper oxides very slowly, 3 years+ for its top layer to become copperoxide.


Did you get that info for Cu clamped to a plated IHS with thermal grease between them while accounting for typical thermal cycles? If not, forgetabout it.


Yes... of course I was talking about taking 3 years for it to oxide when its clamped down onto CPU with thermal paste. Besides, if the OP didn't peel off the plastic sticker that sticks to the base of the HSF, it will take 10000 years to rust.
July 4, 2007 3:54:05 AM

Quote:
Well.. who cares about warranty if putting an aftermarket cpu cooler voids it?

On arctic silver's site, it says it's more than 98% silver.


Yea, and that 2% other stuff can have a big effect on the oxidation situation.

I got a funny feeling that you don't have a strong background in oxidation... I'm much more than 98% certain of that.
July 4, 2007 4:07:40 AM

Well my dad says its OK probably cuz he wants me to stop bugging him.

Quote:
UH..... Do you want to know what's the composition of Arctic Silver 5?
Guess what it's Silver!

Quote:
On arctic silver's site, it says it's more than 98% silver.

The AS website say that AS5 "contains 99.9% pure silver".
To me, it's completely rational to interpret this in two ways:
1) The paste is composed of 99% silver OR
2) The silver in the paste is 99% pure

According to Wikipedia (which I find a reliable source, unlike my high school teachers), "Consisting mainly of aluminium oxide, zinc oxides and boron, it does contain some silver." and "The little silver it does contain is "over 99% pure" (although since it is mixed with oils and other metals, the purity is moot)."

I think Arctic Silver did a good job fooling everyone that it is made up of 99% silver, when in fact it is just the purity of the silver.

But who cares, really? It's still one of the best thermal grease around.
July 4, 2007 4:11:55 AM

Quote:
Well my dad says its OK probably cuz he wants me to stop bugging him.

UH..... Do you want to know what's the composition of Arctic Silver 5?
Guess what it's Silver!

Quote:
On arctic silver's site, it says it's more than 98% silver.

The AS website say that AS5 "contains 99.9% pure silver".
To me, it's completely rational to interpret this in two ways:
1) The paste is composed of 99% silver OR
2) The silver in the paste is 99% pure

According to Wikipedia (which I find a reliable source, unlike my high school teachers), "Consisting mainly of aluminium oxide, zinc oxides and boron, it does contain some silver." and "The little silver it does contain is "over 99% pure" (although since it is mixed with oils and other metals, the purity is moot)."

I think Arctic Silver did a good job fooling everyone that it is made up of 99% silver, when in fact it is just the purity of the silver.

But who cares, really? It's still one of the best thermal grease around.

Yea, Wiki does have value as long as you engage the brain before dropping the clutch. Look at it this way: how much would it cost to make As5 if it was 98% silver?

Good work.
July 4, 2007 4:44:53 AM

Quote:
how much would it cost to make As5 if it was 98% silver?


Silver = about $12.50 an ounce
Tube AS5 3.5 grams
1 oz = 28.35 grams
$12.50 / 28.35 = .44
.44*3.5 = $1.54
3.5 gram tube of AS5 costs $5.99

And yes I have too much free time.
July 4, 2007 5:14:52 AM

Quote:
how much would it cost to make As5 if it was 98% silver?


Silver = about $12.50 an ounce
Tube AS5 3.5 grams
1 oz = 28.35 grams
$12.50 / 28.35 = .44
.44*3.5 = $1.54
3.5 gram tube of AS5 costs $5.99

And yes I have too much free time.

No, I didn't ask for just the cost of one component of AS-5. You need to look at the cost of silver that has the right particle size distribution. Then add the cost of the other ingredients, the production cost to do the formulation, the syringe, the packaging, the advertising, shipping, etc. I assume that AS also does some QC/QA analytical, which is pricey.
July 4, 2007 5:31:04 AM

Sorry that was really just for me. After you asked the question I wondered what the cost would be if it was truly 99.9% silver. I am aware of the other costs involved I just wonder how much actual silver there is in that syringe.
July 4, 2007 5:31:28 AM

I would try using Artic Silver's Thermal Remover on it. It has to be the BEST stuff to use to clean HSF and CPU's with. I had a friend come to me for help, he was getting really bad temps in these hot summer days so I decided to dust out this machine because he had enough dust in there to cover a state :p  lol..... I removed his HSF and used some of this stuff on it. Before it looked very tarnished on the base there was fingerprint smudges on it and everything. After this the bottom looked brand new bright and shiny. Also according to a few sites I read quite some time ago it helps keep the surface clean and protect it. I can not currently find any website with actual tested proof so I am not 100% about that. But IMO it is some of the best stuff to use to clean and help keep your HSF base and CPU clean like the day you got it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
July 4, 2007 5:39:31 AM

Quote:
Sorry that was really just for me. After you asked the question I wondered what the cost would be if it was truly 99.9% silver. I am aware of the other costs involved I just wonder how much actual silver there is in that syringe.


Sure, I follow your logic. But getting the right particle size and formulating it such that it will disperse and thin properly probably adds q fair amount to the cost.
July 4, 2007 6:38:21 AM

sorry for the dumb question, but whats heatsink lapping?
July 4, 2007 6:49:25 AM

Quote:
sorry for the dumb question, but whats heatsink lapping?


Basically, it's grinding and polishing with fine to very fine sandpapers. Do some Googling for more details and realize the WRT the lapping of CPU IHS's and HSFs, there's more BS on the web than fact. Look at some of the non-PC literature and you'll find more truth.
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