Der8auer delids Core i9-14900K CPU
Delidded Intel LGA1700 CPUs, Source: Der8auer
Der8auer’s coverage of the Intel 14th Gen Core paints a clear picture that the series is a rather unnecessary refresh of the existing Raptor Lake chips, with only minor changes, such as higher clocks for 4 out of 6 new parts. A closer examination revealed no major physical changes in the new chips either. Roman quickly proceeded to delid the CPU, which is something he does for every product launch.
Der8auer is currently the CEO of the German company Thermal Grizzly, which manufactures various CPU-related products, including delidding tools, contact frames, and a range of thermal compounds. Therefore, it is crucial to confirm that Intel’s new series are compatible with some of these products intended for advanced users.
Before attempting the process of delidding the new CPU, Roman established a baseline using a stock CPU. To do this, he utilized a 360mm AIO cooling system from Corsair, implemented fixed fan speeds and core frequencies, and employed the same DDR5-7600 XMP memory profile. The core settings were locked at a 56 ratio with a fixed v-core of 1.39V. Furthermore, he applied a power calibration setting of load level 5, which should all be considered a slight overclock.
Core i9-14900K delidding results, Source: Der8auer
As demonstrated by der8auer, the CPU’s power consumption prior to delidding peaked at 294W. However, after delidding, which also entailed the application of liquid metal, the power consumption saw a notable reduction of 10W. This decline can be attributed to significantly lower temperatures, a fact that even took Roman by surprise as he initially expected only marginal temperature differences. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that the Core i9-14900K is known for its high power consumption, a drawback highlighted by numerous reviewers.
With the delidding process completed, the CPU’s temperature decreased from 93.1°C to 83.2°C. The difference became even more pronounced when a contact frame was used to ensure improved CPU package uniformity and enhanced contact with the CPU cooler, resulting in an additional 1.7°C temperature drop.
It is worth reminding that delidding is a complicated process, especially on newer CPUs that are soldered. The available tools can massively simplify the process, but the risk involves voiding the warranty on a $600 part. Users can always seek more capable cooling solutions or go the alternative way and simply use their old coolers with Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, which consumes 1/3 of the 14900K’s power under load.
Source:
