From Blazing Temps to Cool Runs: Delidding the i9-14900K
From our earlier evaluations, the Core i9-14900K becomes exceedingly hot under full load, with the CPU package temperature effortlessly soaring to 100℃. Current integrated liquid coolers essentially struggle to tame this behemoth. While undervolting can ameliorate the heating issue to some extent, it may compromise the CPU’s stability. Delidding the processor is one approach to further enhance its cooling efficiency. The renowned overclocker, Der8auer, routinely delids each new generation of processors, and the 14th generation Core series is no exception.
Der8auer contends that Intel’s update to the 14th generation Core series was rather superfluous. After all, out of the six newly released processors, four merely feature boosted clock speeds, and there’s a minimal deviation in the specifications from chip to processor. Upon dissecting the Core i9-14900K, he discerned no discernible difference when compared to the Core i9-13900KS.
Prior to delidding the Core i9-14900K, Der8auer had established specific testing parameters. He employed a Corsair 360 integrated liquid cooler, fixed the cooler’s fan speed, utilized DDR5-7600 RAM, locked the CPU frequency at 5.6GHz, set the core voltage at 1.39V, and adjusted the motherboard’s load-line calibration level to 5. Although the frequency remained unaltered, the voltage was likely elevated beyond the default setting.
Before delidding, the CPU’s peak power consumption was 294W. Following the delidding and replacement with liquid metal, the power consumption witnessed a decline of 10W—potentially attributed to the reduced temperature. Pre-delidding, the average core temperature was gauged at 93.1℃, which plummeted to 83.2℃ post-delidding. Enhancing the CPU package’s uniformity and fortifying its contact with the CPU cooler can further drop the temperature to approximately 81.5℃. It’s paramount to note that the referenced average core temperature pertains to the maximum temperatures of each P-Core, rather than the CPU package temperature.
Nevertheless, delidding isn’t something universally advocated for the average consumer. The procedure demands an array of specialized tools, and with capacitors and resistors situated on the CPU’s face, any less-than-expert maneuver could inadvertently dislodge these components, rendering the CPU inoperative.
