I'm cutting open L3 & L6 bridges now! Help! How deep should I go?

[RobBSA]

OK, I've read almost every post and article on opening bridges, but I still need a little help. I used a high power magnifier and new X-acto knife blades on a 1200-266 T-Bird AXIA until I could no longer see any gold on top of the chip. (even over the posts ends) No luck, still runs at 1200. However, I really was not able to cut to any depth. I think that if the actual bridge connection goes under the surface to any depth, I only covered it up with the chip material. (Is this ceramic?)

How deep under the chip surface do the bridge connections go down??? I am about to go buy a dremel tool or perhaps an electric engraver (2nd choice ?). I know that HOOT and and a few others have been successful at this. Please share your depth of knowledge as to what depth to go and perhaps what is too deep and could kill the chip. Many thanks.

PS: I have two KT7A's (Myself and college daughter) This chip and system is for my 10 year old daughter's birthday. The MB is an ESC K7VZA 3.2e. 133 fbs model. It run so cool, 26C at rest and never over 34C, I just had to OC it. No multiplier jumpers or bios help at all on this MB. It automatically detects the cpu. But it runs rock solid stable (Actually better than my KT7As) and was only $60.

[Ploaf]

Hi Rob. The ECS is a solid board. I have 3(a couple diff models) and they don't give me any grief at all. That die is ceramic and I wasn't able to cut it with a knife. I used a dremel w/sanding disc and nearly destroyed the processor. I was going to try this again, but with a diamond bit for the dremel the next time, but not for a few weeks. Anyway. You only have to cut deep enough to break the bridge. If you can't see the post ends through a magnifying glass I would guess that you have gone far enough or are very close.
Did you pencil/trace in the new settings that you wanted or did you just try it out to make sure the contacts were broken?

[Larry Quinn]

when the blade comes through the bottom of the CPU.....
Your "There"...... :D



heheheheheheheheheheh

Larry

[RobBSA]

Ploaf, I tried the cpu twice back in the MB after two attempts at opening the bridges with no luck. Defogger paint was used to close the other bridges. I have unlocked a 1000 TBird with this paint , no problem.
I bought a cordless Dremel 7700 with 7500 rpm and 15000 rpm. Lots of attachments etc came with the Dremel kit. In addition I bought a super small engraving cutter bit.
Question?? Is a new Dremel's shaft suppose to be a little off center? Mine is. The shaft vibrates a little too much for my liking.

[Ploaf]

There shouldn't be any noticeable vibration in the shaft. If the shaft of the dremel itself is off center and vibrating a lot then it may be defective. This made me think of something else that may be noteworthy (although it sounds like it could be the tool itself)- THe diamond bit that I bought did not fit correctly in the same socket as the rest of the bits. The shaft was too small and the bit was a little loose and vibrated. I had to use the additional chuck that came with it to get it tight and now it is almost perfect.