Possible Bending in 12700F. Any Cure? Opinion Please.

[8tyone]

Dear, Techpowerup forumers,

I have owned my new system for two years now. It consists of an i7 12700F on an MSI B650M Mortar motherboard with a cooler, Deepcool AK400 with another CM SickleFlow fan in push-pull config.

My PL1=PL2 are both set at 150W. My CPU temps. used to be really low. Even with Prime95 max heat preset it would be under 74°C; even if I turn my room into a hot box all fans off, ventilators,windows and doors closed at noon in the harshest summer day possible with stress test for 50mins! My boost used to be really good at ~ 4.9GHz (Now just 3.8GHz). But of late my temperature by 12-15°C for same PL1,2 settings and no bios update. I suspect a bent cpu (?) Here are pictures after disassembly:
CPU:

Heatsink base:

What do you think? No, I do not have any socket mods installed, CPU looks ok, flat. But today after watching this very short video, I am not sure, think the left side of the longest side where the Intel etching starts maybe is a bit bent (not sure). Dont have any special equipment. Used a clear plastic scale just seems ok and not sure at the same time.

IF I assume my CPU is BENT, but just a little bit. Can it be saved/repaired diy. Say I use the Thermalright CPU bracket, now, would it straighten the bent overtime? Any other way?

Thank you and Please, help!

 

[Arctucas]

TIM is dried out, probably just needs a thorough cleaning and new application.

 

[Bill_Bright]

First, it is not "bent". Bent would suggest damage - even a crease in the metal. It may be slightly curved in a concave (inward) or convex (outward) manner, but not bent.

Second, this would not happen years after use - unless the CPU was removed and subject to some extreme physical abuse. So if you have a concave or convex IHS, it came that way from the factory.

Third, you could "lap" the surface but frankly, the very purpose for TIM (thermal interface material) is to fill tiny imperfections in the mating surfaces of the IHS and heatsink to displace and prevent any insulating air from getting in there. So I agree with Arcutcas and you should thoroughly clean the mating surfaces and re-apply a fresh new layer of quality TIM.

BTW - you do not need to replace TIM just because it is x number of years old, even if it has dried out. The ONLY reason TIM comes in a liquified format is so we can squeeze it out of the tube and spread it around evenly. If it dries, the solid materials remain behind and are still doing their jobs.

TIM can easily last 10, 15 years or even longer AS LONG AS the cured bond is not broken. So the only time TIM needs to be replaced is when the cured bond is broken, allowing air in. And since TIM should NEVER be reused, any time you remove the cooler, the surfaces need to be thoroughly cleaned and a new application applied.

Note the most common reasons for a broken bond is abuse (bouncing the computer off the floor or rough handling during transport) or, ironically, by the user twisting the cooler too hard to see if loose, breaking it loose in the process.

Having said all that, unless you broke the bond somehow, I suspect something else is happening here. While it is true the efficiency of TIM decreases over time, it typically is only by 3 - 5°C. Not 12 - 15°C. And so a fresh new layer of TIM will typically only improve cooling by that 3 - 5°C.

And to the point, if you "need" those 3 - 5°C to prevent crossing over thermal protection thresholds, you are already too close, clearly indicating another problem. Case cooling is the most common cause - assuming default clocks and voltages.

Are all case fans spinning properly? CPU fan? Do you have good flow of cool air through the case? Is the case interior, vents and filters clean of heat trapping dust? Do you have good cable management?

 

[68Olds]

Doesn't the socket tend to flex on LGA1700? That's why there is a contact frame for the socket. Maybe one of those will help prove better cooler contact to the IHS.

Sorry for the US Amazon link, I see you are in India.

https://www.amazon.com/Thermalright-Anti-Bending-Retrofit-Generation-Black/dp/B0B811J7D9?th=1

 

[Dr. Dro]

If the chip itself doesn't look bent, then bending issue did not occur. Buy a BCF anyway - it's $10 or so and peace of mind is worth it. The LGA1700 (and presumably, 1851 as well) ILM is dogshit. I use Thermalright's - Thermal Grizzly's also works, buy whatever you can find cheaper (or faster locally).

Once the CPU is physically damaged, there is no going back.