AMD recently released the Ryzen 8000G ‘Phoenix’ APUs for desktops, but enthusiasts quickly discovered that these chips were using a thermal paste thermal interface material (TIM). Overclocking expert, Roman ‘Der8auer’ Hartung, conducted tests to determine the benefits of delidding these new APUs, particularly the flagship Ryzen 7 8700G. Surprisingly, applying a Liquid Metal TIM could reduce core temperatures by up to 25 degrees Celsius and improve processor performance by up to 17%.
Der8auer pointed out that the Ryzen 8000G processors, being closely related to mobile parts, utilized thermal paste instead of solder TIM. This made delidding the processor and replacing the TIM with liquid metal a potentially rewarding endeavor. Prior to conducting his experiments, Der8auer decided to compare the Ryzen 7 8700G with the reliable Ryzen 9 7950X chip. A noticeable difference was observed, with numerous surface mount components visible on the latter but hidden beneath the integrated heat spreader (IHS) on the 8700G.
Concerned about compatibility, Der8auer successfully delidded the 8700G without causing any damage, thanks to the paste TIM. He then proceeded with testing in various configurations and power/clock strategies. After delidding, the use of a KryoSheet between the die and IHS resulted in temperatures 10 to 15 degrees cooler than stock. However, the most impressive improvement came with the application of Liquid Metal, which achieved temperatures 20 to 25 degrees Celsius better than stock.
Based on the delidded chip’s performance, Der8auer identified the optimal sweet spot for manual overclocking at 5.3 GHz. At this clock speed, the core temperatures stayed below 80 degrees Celsius, and the Cinebench performance was measured to be 15 to 17% better than the originally tested stock APU.
Although Der8auer undertook this project out of personal interest, he also believes that such tinkering can have practical benefits, particularly in scenarios where space is limited and quieter performance is desired. This includes size-constrained systems that may require smaller coolers or slower fan speeds. By delidding and applying Liquid Metal, enthusiasts can unleash the full potential of AMD’s Ryzen 8000G APUs by improving both performance and temperature.
FAQ section:
1. What are AMD Ryzen 8000G ‘Phoenix’ APUs?
AMD Ryzen 8000G ‘Phoenix’ APUs are processors designed for desktop computers. They are part of the Ryzen series of processors produced by AMD.
2. What did enthusiasts discover about the Ryzen 8000G APUs?
Enthusiasts discovered that the Ryzen 8000G APUs were using thermal paste thermal interface material (TIM) instead of solder TIM.
3. What did Roman ‘Der8auer’ Hartung test regarding the Ryzen 8000G APUs?
Roman ‘Der8auer’ Hartung conducted tests to determine the benefits of delidding these new APUs, specifically the flagship Ryzen 7 8700G. He explored the advantages of applying Liquid Metal TIM instead of the default thermal paste.
4. What was the impact of using Liquid Metal TIM on the Ryzen 8700G?
Applying Liquid Metal TIM reduced core temperatures by up to 25 degrees Celsius and improved processor performance by up to 17% for the Ryzen 8700G.
5. Why were the Ryzen 8000G processors using thermal paste?
The Ryzen 8000G processors are closely related to mobile parts, and therefore, thermal paste is utilized instead of solder TIM.
6. Did Der8auer encounter any complications while delidding the Ryzen 8700G?
No, Der8auer successfully delidded the Ryzen 8700G without causing any damage, thanks to the paste TIM.
7. What was the optimal clock speed for manual overclocking identified by Der8auer?
Der8auer identified the optimal clock speed for manual overclocking as 5.3 GHz. At this clock speed, the core temperatures stayed below 80 degrees Celsius, and the Cinebench performance improved by 15 to 17% compared to the stock APU.
8. What are the potential benefits of delidding and applying Liquid Metal?
Delidding and applying Liquid Metal can unleash the full potential of AMD’s Ryzen 8000G APUs by improving both performance and temperature. This can be particularly advantageous in scenarios where space is limited and quieter performance is desired, such as in size-constrained systems that may require smaller coolers or slower fan speeds.
Definitions:
– APU: Accelerated Processing Unit, a type of processor that combines a CPU and a GPU on a single chip.
– Delidding: The process of removing the integrated heat spreader (IHS) from a processor to access and potentially replace the thermal interface material (TIM) underneath.
– Thermal paste: A substance used in between the processor and the heatsink to improve thermal conductivity and transfer heat away from the processor.
– TIM: Thermal Interface Material, a substance used to enhance heat transfer between two surfaces, typically between a processor and a heatsink.
– Liquid Metal: A type of thermal interface material that has high thermal conductivity and is often used to improve cooling performance in high-end computers.
Related links:
– AMD official website
– AMD Ryzen 8400G product page
– AMD Ryzen 8700G product page
The source of the article is from the blog smartphonemagazine.nl