Details
The Aquacomputer Spacer for Intel Kaby Lake and Skylake CPUs (51180) is a stainless spring steel spacer for delidded Intel Kaby Lake-S and Skylake-S CPUs, the ones with the heatspreader removed. It protects the brittle silicon die from a tilted cooler and takes up the cooler's clamping force. It is not compatible with CPUs of the Kaby Lake-X, Skylake-X and Skylake-SP series.
Properties
- For
- Intel Kaby Lake-S and Skylake-S CPUs with the heatspreader removed
- Material
- Precision stainless spring steel sheet, heat resistant adhesive tape
- Height
- Some 1/100 mm lower than the CPU die
- Not for
- Kaby Lake-X, Skylake-X, Skylake-SP
Why a delidded CPU needs it
There is a trend to remove the heatspreader from Intel Skylake CPUs, for increased cooling performance. It has some negative effects on the secure installation of the CPUs, and Aquacomputer names two problems. One related problem: the die is no longer protected against tilted mounting of the CPU cooler, so its edges can easily be broken. The same damage can happen during transportation of the system.
The next problem is the dissipation of the CPU cooler clamping force after removal of the heatspreader. With the heatspreader mounted, the force is dissipated to the outer areas of its contact surfaces. Below those surfaces, the PCB of the CPU is in direct contact with the socket, so there is nearly no deflection of the CPU package. This is very important on the Skylake CPU especially. Its PCB substrate is thinner than at previous CPU generations, and its die is much smaller, which results in much higher surface pressure.
Making this problem even worse, there is a pocket in the socket directly beneath the die. With no direct contact there to dissipate the force to the socket, any clamping force will result in a deflection of the CPU package, and damages can occur.
How the spacer works
Aqua Computer developed the spacer to reduce both issues. It is CNC laser machined, consisting of a precision stainless spring steel sheet and a very thin heat resistant adhesive tape. Aqua Computer says the sheet is sanded after laser cutting to deburr it perfectly. That matters because, for maximum protection, the height of the spacer is only some 1/100 mm lower than the CPU die.
Due to this fact, the clamping force of the CPU cooler is taken up by the spacer once the CPU package deforms more than the height difference between die and spacer. In this case the force will be dissipated to the outer faces of the socket. The spacer can handle higher forces as well, during the mounting process or transportation of the system.
What the CPU cooler needs
Running the CPU without the heatspreader makes it necessary to pay attention to the contact surface of the heat sink. If that surface is too large, it can rest on the plastic corners of the CPU socket. Those corners are slightly higher than the CPU die, so an incompatible heat sink could have no contact with the die at all. After installation, check that the cooler is not touching the socket and that only the CPU die is in contact with it.
What you need to fit it
The heatspreader comes off first, with Aquacomputer's Skylake twister or other delid tools; ours are in the CPU delidding section. Please note that the CPU is not included in the scope of delivery.
Notes
- Use only the adhesive tape supplied with the spacer.
- Check if your CPU cooler works with the lower height of the delidded CPU.
In the box
- One spacer made from stainless spring steel
- Special adhesive tape
The manual for the spacer is a short PDF with the seven mounting steps.
