12700K plus NH-D15 equals contact frame plus lapping?
12700K plus NH-D15 equals contact frame plus lapping?
The contact frame remains beneficial because the cooling gap typically forms in one side of the CPU rather than being centered, unlike what concave coolers resolve. While it offers less benefit compared to water cooling, you’d still see a solid temperature drop of 3-5°C. Lapping isn’t likely to make much difference unless the chip becomes severely warped, as seen with certain designs. The IHS is usually well-aligned at manufacture, so any gap between cooler and die will be minimal. Lapping makes more sense in extreme cooling scenarios like liquid nitrogen, where thermal paste behaves differently. Reports suggest it shouldn’t be an issue there. If you’re serious about performance, consider the Thermalright frame; no issues with screw length have been reported. Alternatively, you could opt for the 12700K model and upgrade to a 13600K if you want faster cooling and better durability.
Since no one else seems to have thoughts or everyone agrees, I’ll mention I ordered the Thermalright frame just in case. It’s a good backup in case I need to handle warranty issues later. The Thermal Grizzly is great, but the price has been high enough for my budget. Appreciate your advice, @RONOTHAN##!