The default independent loading mechanism (ILM) of the LGA 1700 has been previously reported to deflect the CPU’s integrated heat spreader (IHS). This significantly limits the CPU’s ability to transfer heat from the underlying CPU die to the cooling system like a cold plate. This results in worse thermal performance and cripples the overclocking power of the Alder Lake CPUs currently utilizing the socket.
Several methods and modifications have been implemented by extreme overclockers to squeeze out the maximum from the socket and achieve the highest clock speeds possible. But, the efficiency of these mods is unreliable and has mixed feedback from the overclocker community.
Commenting on this scenario, Intel suggested that the imperfection caused due to deflection should not cause any massive performance issues. Also, mods void a product of its warranty, which has stopped multiple users and companies from using these methods that have been in the market for some time.
Following up on this market scenario, Thermal Grizzly has teamed up with German veteran modder ‘der8auer’ to release a reworked contact frame for the Intel LGA 1700. This contact plate has been noted to reduce temperatures by a whopping 10 degrees Celsius on the Intel Core i9 12900K as several independent tests and results suggest.
The result we are looking at includes a Core i9 12900K with its E-cores disabled. All the P-cores were running at 5GHz with DDR5 memory at 7000 MHz. The cooling solution being used was an Alphacool XPX Aurora AIO liquid cooler. While the original temperatures were at around the 70.48 degrees mark, after installing Thermal Grizzly’s contact frame, they dropped to 60.29 degrees. This marks a massive 10.95 degrees drop in the Prime95 Small FFT stress test.
However, this contact frame is quite expensive. It costs around 40 euros in Germany, or around $36 in the USA, exclusive of taxes. However, the temperature difference it creates makes the frame worth the money.
