Lapping P4??

[AMDGuy]

My P4 just got here. It has the following codes:

SL63X Costa Rica
30296A544-0111

Looks like a week 9 of 2002 chip.

The chip has some small blemmishes on the top of it. Should I lap these out? Is this a common occurence? This is my first Intel chip in about 5 years (always use AMD) and on AMD chips, the core is always prestine.

Thanks in advance,

[ItzGenX]

You can lap it out for safety purposes, but if they aren't major warps and trenches, then you'll be fine. Just so long as your heatsink makes full contact with your processor. The Costa Rica chips seem to overclock friendly with lower voltages. Make sure to post your results =).

[AMDGuy]

Thanks GenX. I can't feel the marks with my fingernail, it's just shiny in places where the scratches are and dull everywhere else. Since I can't feel them I guess I'll just leave it as is.

This system is for my parents, so I'm not gonna go nutz with overclocking it, but I will push it a little. I'll post the results.

[jdmcnudgent]

are you sure that that is the right fpo code???

[batboy]

Actually, that's not the core you're seeing. It's called an Intergrated Heat Spreader (IHS) and it helps protects the core.

[Caffinehog]

Yep. It's harmless to lap the IHS, and if you do, you will see that it is copper underneath.

[AMDGuy]

Originally posted by jdmcnudgent
are you sure that that is the right fpo code???

Whoops you're right. I had a typo. The actual code is:

3206A544-0111

[ol' man]

Originally posted by Caffinehog
Yep. It's harmless to lap the IHS, and if you do, you will see that it is copper underneath.

Well it is somewhat harmless. I would not try and RMA the chip with copper showing! Also if you do not lap it carefully you can make it bowl shaped.

I used to be a big advocate of IHS removal but as of lately I will advise against it. The temperature decrease is just not worth all the other risks! If heat is the problem then get better cooling or lower your OC!

I have a 1.4GHz PIII-s that cools very well with the IHS on! I also have a 1.2GHz PIII that I took the IHS off of and now I wish I hadn't. It is still alive but I sitll wish i would no have done that. These IHS's are really sweet I must say!

[Bonka]

Originally posted by ol' man


Well it is somewhat harmless. I would not try and RMA the chip with copper showing! Also if you do not lap it carefully you can make it bowl shaped.

I used to be a big advocate of IHS removal but as of lately I will advise against it. The temperature decrease is just not worth all the other risks! If heat is the problem then get better cooling or lower your OC!

I have a 1.4GHz PIII-s that cools very well with the IHS on! I also have a 1.2GHz PIII that I took the IHS off of and now I wish I hadn't. It is still alive but I sitll wish i would no have done that. These IHS's are really sweet I must say!

Yes. Keep the IHS on. I killed my beloved 1.2GHz Celeron because of it. And in the end, it didn't even lower my temperature!

Lapping is good and dandy if you want a nice shiny, flat finish. Otherwise, few IHS's will ever need lapping unless one corner was nicked like my new 1.1a :D