Skylake coolers can damage the CPU's

[Maximilian]

You guys seen this?

http://www.modders-inc.com/psa-cooler-mounts-can-damage-skylake-cpus/

I thought Intel were cheapskates with the whole thermal paste vs solder thing and now this... Pretty poor tbh. Unless theres some technical reason im totally missing :\

 

[StrangerGuy]

I look forward to the flurry of "Intel can do no wrong" replies from the usual suspects while conveniently downplaying how a $300+ 6700K is designed in mind for use with enthusiast class coolers.

 

[LTC8K6]

What did Intel do wrong?

 

[svenge]

I look forward to the flurry of "Intel can do no wrong" replies from the usual suspects while conveniently downplaying how a $300+ 6700K is designed in mind for use with enthusiast class coolers.

Would it not be the responsibility of the cooler's vendor to ensure that their product is within spec for a given socket and advise customers if they aren't?

 

[NTMBK]

They thinned the PCB so that they can get thinner tablets and ultrabooks. Desktops weren't the priority when they made this choice.

 

[LTC8K6]

Would it not be the responsibility of the cooler's vendor to ensure that their product is within spec for a given socket and advise customers if they aren't?

Yes, I think so.

The whole board and socket must be warping to warp the CPU pcb, I think.

Plus you have a heavy cooler hanging off the motheboard.

Then add in some movement of the computer.

The load on the board and socket could get pretty high.

 

[LTC8K6]

I wonder if we closely examine some 4790K chips...

Will we see the same warping, just less of it?

Has the CPU pcb been warping all along with some of these coolers, just returning to shape in the case of the previous gen chips?

 

[AtenRa]

I wonder if we closely examine some 4790K chips...

Will we see the same warping, just less of it?

Has the CPU pcb been warping all along with some of these coolers, just returning to shape in the case of the previous gen chips?

The pcb on the 4790K is getting an Elastic deformation from the pressure applied from the Heat-Sink on the CPU and it reverts to its previous state once the pressure is released. The Skylake pcb gets a Plastic deformation because the PCB is thinner.

 

[LTC8K6]

The pcb on the 4790K is getting an Elastic deformation from the pressure applied from the Heat-Sink on the CPU and it reverts to its previous state once the pressure is released. The Skylake pcb gets a Plastic deformation because the PCB is thinner.

But there is hardly any pcb exposed around the IHS.

With firm pressure on the IHS, you'd have to be warping the board and socket, to warp the cpu pcb, wouldn't you?

 

[ShintaiDK]

The pcb on the 4790K is getting an Elastic deformation from the pressure applied from the Heat-Sink on the CPU and it reverts to its previous state once the pressure is released. The Skylake pcb gets a Plastic deformation because the PCB is thinner.

No. You can pretty much find static deformations on all chips from AMD and Intel. Including motherboards and graphics cards too. The issue is mainly due to incorrect handling and installation. And of course the extreme excessive weight from coolers and such. So everything get warped out of order.

 

[Erenhardt]

They thinned the PCB so that they can get thinner tablets and ultrabooks. Desktops weren't the priority when they made this choice.

Hook me up for that i7-6700k tablets. Will pay in cash on arrival.

 

[AtenRa]

Points of Pressure are highlighted with red and yellow arrows.

When a heat-sink is mounted and pressure applied, the thinner Skylake PCB is getting a Plastic deformation. Because Haswell PCB is thicker (more layers) it only gets an Elastic deformation and the PCB reverts to its original shape after the release of the pressure.

 

[BigDaveX]

Sounds like it takes a combination of a massive, heavy heatsink, over-tight mounting screws and a sudden shock or hard impact to damage the processor. And yeah, that sort of thing can royally screw up an LGA2011 motherboard, never mind the much less sturdy mechanism on an LGA115x motherboard.

It sucks if it's easier to do it to Skylake, but I think we need a little more information before we can make any firm conclusions. And even if it's true, I suspect it'll just mean more people buying closed-loop coolers and less buying ungodly huge HSFs.

 

[VirtualLarry]

What did Intel do wrong?

Made the PCB for Skylake CPUs thinner.

 

[AtenRa]

I dont believe it has to do with the Heat-Sink weight but with excessive pressure from the Heat-sink.

Take a look at the socket design, where the two points that the CPU PCB rest on the socket (yellow Arrows on the pic above).
Those two points are the only ones on that side of the socket that the CPU PCB touch. Since the Skylake PCB is thinner the pressure made from the Heat-Sink to the CPU IHS and eventually to the CPU PCB on those two points, makes the PCB to bend and get a Plastic deformation .

 

[LTC8K6]

Points of Pressure are highlighted with red and yellow arrows.

When a heat-sink is mounted and pressure applied, the thinner Skylake PCB is getting a Plastic deformation. Because Haswell PCB is thicker (more layers) it only gets an Elastic deformation and the PCB reverts to its original shape after the release of the pressure.

The corners of the Skylake pcb are also bent up, though.

 

[LTC8K6]

In that comparison image, the Skylake chip appears to have a thicker/stronger IHS rim?

Also 20% heavier:

 

[LTC8K6]

Yet in the pics at the OP link, the rims appear the same thickness...

 

[LTC8K6]

Has anyone compared a Broadwell chip? I couldn't find a pic.

 

[ShintaiDK]

The corners of the Skylake pcb are also bent up, though.

Yep, completely destroying that "theory".

 

[jhu]

Is this only a problem with 3rd party heatsink-fans?

 

[AtenRa]

The corners of the Skylake pcb are also bent up, though.

Yeap, on the same side as those on the middle.

 

[LTC8K6]

Is this only a problem with 3rd party heatsink-fans?

Well, for the Skylake K chips, Intel does not provide a cooler.

For the non-K chips, the stock cooler uses push pins, which can't cause the problem.

 

[Magic Carpet]

You guys seen this?

Another reason to buy AMD. Heh.

Well, for the Skylake K chips, Intel does not provide a cooler

You can buy it separately, though. According to Shintai, the updated Intel HSF is more than adequate to cool his K part.

 

[Erithan13]

Interesting that Arctic Cooling have just put out a press release saying that all of their coolers are unaffected by these concerns. As someone with one of their coolers on a Skylake I can only hope there's truth in that, although at this stage there's still so little information to go on. Feels rather weasel-wordy with the 'compliance with intel mechanical specifications' statement. Inevitable question is if somehow my cpu did get damaged from the cooler would I be able to chase AC now that they've put that out there?

Well, for the Skylake K chips, Intel does not provide a cooler.

I was thinking there might be some excuse made about 'you bought 3rd party cooler you took the risk shame the cpu broke not Intel/cooler manufacturers fault' and I totally forgot the Ks don't come with a cooler. If cpus are getting damaged I can see there being a whole lot of wrangling over how compliant those 3rd party solutions are or have claimed to be.

Still hoping this turns out to be not as bad as it looks. As was said, it might be you need the combination of very heavy cooler, severely overtightened screws and hard mechanical shock to cause it so the average user will never find the problem.