A tech expert tried something new with CPU cooling. He removed an Intel i9 heat spreader to turn it into a water block. Most people buy special cold plates for cooling, but this guy carved water channels right into the heat spreader. His theory made sense—fewer layers between the chip and coolant should cool things faster.
Modern CPUs have a silicon die that does all the work. Above that sits the heat spreader cap with thermal paste between it. Each layer blocks some heat flow. The expert used a computer-controlled mill to cut channels into the heat spreader. He drilled holes for water flow and created a gasket system to prevent leaks.
He tested his creation with room-temperature water pumped through the channels. When the pump ran at full speed, his modified heatspreader cooled better than normal setups. However, problems appeared at lower pump speeds. The simple straight channels couldn't transfer heat fast enough when water moved slowly.
Commercial water blocks contain complex microchannel designs that create turbulence for better cooling. The basic grooves in the heat spreader worked less efficiently. The metal might also not be pure copper but an alloy with a nickel finish, making careful machining important to avoid leaks.
Modern CPUs have a silicon die that does all the work. Above that sits the heat spreader cap with thermal paste between it. Each layer blocks some heat flow. The expert used a computer-controlled mill to cut channels into the heat spreader. He drilled holes for water flow and created a gasket system to prevent leaks.
He tested his creation with room-temperature water pumped through the channels. When the pump ran at full speed, his modified heatspreader cooled better than normal setups. However, problems appeared at lower pump speeds. The simple straight channels couldn't transfer heat fast enough when water moved slowly.
Commercial water blocks contain complex microchannel designs that create turbulence for better cooling. The basic grooves in the heat spreader worked less efficiently. The metal might also not be pure copper but an alloy with a nickel finish, making careful machining important to avoid leaks.
