Delidded AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D runs 23 degrees cooler
Alternatively, you can squeeze 9% better performance using 73% more power.
PC overclocking and hardware expert Roman ‘Der8auer’ Hartung has shared his before-and-after AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D delidding test results. His conclusion: enthusiasts can expect up to 10% higher performance with direct-die cooling, but the cost will be significantly higher power consumption. Alternatively, Der8auer observed that users could run the delidded CPU at stock settings and enjoy far lower temperatures, around 23 degrees Celsius lower in this case, plus improved efficiency. A comfortable compromise might be found between these sampled extremes.
In the above video we see Der8auer introduce the awesome AMD Ryzen 9950X3D, then establish a baseline performance / thermal profile, before the delidding operation. Subsequently, he used the same liquid cooler, settings, and benchmarks to see what benefits the delidding process could deliver.
During the delidding process, Der8auer provided some sage advice. He used the still-compatible Delid-Die-Mate Ryzen 7000 device for the 9950X3D. Please take your time ‘wiggling’ the HIS, perhaps up to 100 times, “until it falls off by itself,” plead the overclocker. An example of a rush job he shared (reproduced below) should be warning enough for would-be delidders to be patient.
The overclocking expert published two charts with the before and after delidding performance and power consumption on show. In the Cinebench R23 multi-thread tests chart, which we embedded below, you can see a key takeaway: the delidded Ryzen X3D chip could deliver up to 9% better performance in this productivity benchmark. However, it is questionable whether the 73% increase in power consumption would be worth it. Der8auer also tested Counter Strike 2 4K during his video, and provided a similar chart.
If you buy the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D but don't feel driven to wring every-last-ounce of performance out of it – Der8auer notes that the delidded CPU can run much cooler at stock settings. He seemed impressed that his sample could run at 65 degrees Celsius under load – which is a temperature reduction of 23 degrees Celsius compared to the CPU as shipped from AMD with IHS ‘octopus’ attached. This modded chip also ran at 290W under load, using about 20W less power than the original chip.
If you are interested in more 9950X3D delidding news, we recently retold the hair-raising tale of an ‘amateur’ delidding one of AMD’s best CPUs for gaming using some fishing line and a clothes iron - plus nerves of steel.
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Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.
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Dementoss Given that a 9950X3D costs around £700 here in the UK, there's no way I would risk trying delidding.Reply -
JimboCA Imagine if AMD sold delidded CPUs for a small premium. It would take the risk out of it.Reply -
thestryker Reply
TG is selling delidded CPUs with a warranty for a price premium and I think that's likely the best we're going to see even though I agree completely.JimboCA said:Imagine if AMD sold delidded CPUs for a small premium. It would take the risk out of it.
https://www.thermal-grizzly.com/en/blog/new-the-tg-delidded-cpu -
Rpmolloy86 Reply
Honestly, for the price he is charging, it is a an absolute steal of a deal. The labor is practically free when you take in to account the warranty it comes with. The temp drops alone are worth the price. That's a substantial amount of degrees.thestryker said:TG is selling delidded CPUs with a warranty for a price premium and I think that's likely the best we're going to see even though I agree completely.
https://www.thermal-grizzly.com/en/blog/new-the-tg-delidded-cpu -
drivinfast247 Reply
To maintain compatibility with am4 cooling products.jackt said:WOW, why AMD do this to itself ? -
stuff and nonesense Reply
No comment on the temps, the IHS provides mechanical protection to the silicon die. The first socketed Athlons were bare die, people managed to damage them by installing their coolers with uneven pressure. As for the current design.. yes it provides compatibility with AM4 coolers as @drivinfast247 says.jackt said:WOW, why AMD do this to itself ?
It’s a compromise, good enough performance/cost/customer goodwill. -
doomtomb so these companies spend extra money to put these heatspreaders on all their die packages, but it actually decreases thermal performance, even when no one runs this without some sort of fan/heatsink solution. Genius.Reply -
ilukey77 Reply
Ive noticed there selling TG de lidded 9800x3d here in AUS $1200aud basically if you add the de lidded TG heat spreader which is recommended ..thestryker said:TG is selling delidded CPUs with a warranty for a price premium and I think that's likely the best we're going to see even though I agree completely.
https://www.thermal-grizzly.com/en/blog/new-the-tg-delidded-cpu
Unless you go the TG direct die water block for custom loops ..
Cool idea for sure but not 100% sure on its over all purpose unless your playing games at 1080p and MAYBE 1440p there may be some gains with a cooler CPU .
To my understanding the 9800x3d is a cooler beast than the 7800x3d and my 7800x3d never gets past 75c under R23 allcore with the 420mm arctic freezer iii .. -
thestryker Reply
I don't think delidding a modern CPU is generally going to be worthwhile unless you're doing direct die cooling. The biggest benefit there is that the superior cooling leads to the CPU running more efficiently which in turn gives better boost performance. I think if one was going to run a custom loop getting a delidded CPU that still carries a warranty is a good choice.ilukey77 said:Ive noticed there selling TG de lidded 9800x3d here in AUS $1200aud basically if you add the de lidded TG heat spreader which is recommended ..
Unless you go the TG direct die water block for custom loops ..
Cool idea for sure but not 100% sure on its over all purpose unless your playing games at 1080p and MAYBE 1440p there may be some gains with a cooler CPU .
To my understanding the 9800x3d is a cooler beast than the 7800x3d and my 7800x3d never gets past 75c under R23 allcore with the 420mm arctic freezer iii ..