8700k direct die? Z370-E gaming plus EK Supremacy / Supremacy EVO
8700k direct die? Z370-E gaming plus EK Supremacy / Supremacy EVO
Hey everyone, I'm planning to convert my 280mm AIO into a custom loop setup. I'm thinking about using direct die mounting for the waterblock, but I'm having trouble finding anyone who's successfully done this with an 8700K chip. I've already removed the delid from it about five years ago, and I'm not sure if the CPU socket got damaged or if it's just a pressure issue. Since I didn't use silicon glue for the IHS, I applied liquid metal directly to both the die and the IHS, then secured everything with a latch. I'm worried that without glue, the pressure might not be even, leading to poor contact. Some people say they fixed the memory channel after re-mounting coolers, but I haven't heard much about that. There seems to be a problem with the PCB being too thin—sometimes the plastic corners of the socket stick out more than the die itself when it's not protected. I found a Reddit thread discussing this issue and thought you might want to check that out. If direct die isn't an option, maybe I'll reapply liquid metal and smooth everything out before trying another method. Any advice would be super helpful!
I used a polished silver plate as a substitute for the copper IHS plate, so it wasn't bare. However, if I decide to go completely bare, I’ll file the plastic edges. I’m not sure it will cause any pain.
I considered the same approach but wasn’t sure if standard die guards offer sufficient force to push the thin 8700k into the socket correctly. I also wondered whether the CPU die would actually reach the waterblock properly. I just sent a technical inquiry to EKWB asking for more information about naked die mounting on the 8700K. Probably I’m open to using a razor if needed, but I’d like to confirm that these die guards function for this chip. It seems few people are discussing direct die runs for this model online—there aren’t many threads on Google about it.
Because generally with a 15c drop in temps with just a thermal paste replacement underneath, there's no reason to go naked. My water Delta is about 8.8c right now. I also have no reason to go naked, but I have many times with a lot of chips. I don't think they made a die protector for the 8 series and you have to use the 6/7 version. The 9 series I don't think will fit the screw placement. Maybe put a straight edge across the die and see if it touches the protector. If not, go for it I say!
All these ideas are reasonable, I suppose. Running completely naked might seem extreme, but a straight razor approach could be effective. If the original mounting kit doesn’t work, I believe those older long M3 screws with open-thumb screws should help bring the water block down just enough, no matter the CPU height setting.
I was thinking last night while experimenting with removing the edges completely. It occurred to me that thicker thermal pads might be effective, but I’m unsure if they could take away heat from the CPU. Regarding the mounting screws, I recall they came with the older EK Supreme model, and I think they should still fit the newer versions like the supremacy or EVO.
That’s a solid concept. Using a felt material just in the corners could help ease tension for the waterblock and balance pressure. Even tiny foam pieces might work. I’ll check it out and see if the plastic corners are problematic without a die guard—probably some corners need to be removed either way, but at least the socket should stay even.
I enjoy making changes. I work with an older GTZ block on video cards. I had to adjust one of the brackets to remove the caps between AGP and PCI slots on my older boards. Spring-loaded screws with thumb nuts are perfect for this configuration. If you check the mounting pressure, each stud applying a few inches of force provides solid pressure. For instance, a 40x40mm area using two #6-32 machine screws gives a screw diameter of 0.138 inches and a pressure of 125 PSI. The surface area is about 40mm, which equals roughly 2.48 square inches. Using the formula (0.2 × 0.138 × 125 × 2.481) / 2 you get around 4.28 in-lbs per screw. You can also determine the desired pressure for your die size this way. Hope this assists you.