Tape on intel i5 mobile cpu

Discussion in 'Mobile and Portable' started by Sandgroper, Jan 21, 2016.

  1. Sandgroper

    Sandgroper MDL Novice

    Nov 7, 2015
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    I pulled my Dell Studio 1749 laptop apart to clean out the vents. I noticed on the CPU that it has tape stuck over it with just a bit cut out for the cores. Is this suppose to be there? I was thinking about removing it but not sure if its meant to be there. I have never seen tape on a CPU before. It isn't a heat pad or anything similar. Just normal tape.

    Thanks.
     
  2. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

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    #2 Muerto, Jan 21, 2016
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  3. NICK@NUMBER11

    NICK@NUMBER11 MDL Expert

    Mar 23, 2010
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    When you say the CPU has tape on it, do you mean over the top of the chip and it the tape white with ribs in it
     
  4. Sandgroper

    Sandgroper MDL Novice

    Nov 7, 2015
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    Thanks for the replies. No the tape isn't white with ribs. Its black and flat. Its very thin. Like a thin electrical tape.

    Yes on the top with a hole cut out for the cores.
     
  5. NICK@NUMBER11

    NICK@NUMBER11 MDL Expert

    Mar 23, 2010
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    i have seen in th epast that Dell does use additional tape fixings to secure cpu, hard drives, lan cards in laptops, always thought it was a bit of an overkill really, but i guess its just there best practices o_O
     
  6. Sandgroper

    Sandgroper MDL Novice

    Nov 7, 2015
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    Ok. Thanks.
     
  7. bpwnes

    bpwnes MDL Member

    Aug 11, 2015
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    The tape you're talking about I assume is yellow. I've seen Dell put this on some models and I've never been sure as to why. The tape itself is Kapton Tape, which is heat resistant and non-conductive. It's purpose may be to insulate the rest of the chip from contacting the heatsink, or to do something for heat dissipation. I wouldn't remove it if it comes like that from the factory.
     
  8. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

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    #8 Muerto, Jan 21, 2016
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  9. Hadron-Curious

    Hadron-Curious MDL Guru

    Jul 4, 2014
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    I concur on this your statement.
     
  10. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

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    #10 Muerto, Jan 21, 2016
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  11. bpwnes

    bpwnes MDL Member

    Aug 11, 2015
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    Well that's what I get for reading too fast.

    The black tape is a plastic layer (some sort of PVC-like material) that is used to prevent the heatsink from damaging the chip, and unlike kapton tape, it makes sure that pressure is applied evenly across the chip. It is common in Apple products and GPUs, and anywhere else you have a BGA with delicate sensors. If the tape is removed, internal sensors may not work correctly.
     
  12. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

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  13. Michaela Joy

    Michaela Joy MDL Crazy Lady

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    #13 Michaela Joy, Jan 21, 2016
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    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  14. bpwnes

    bpwnes MDL Member

    Aug 11, 2015
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    @Dev: It's just what I learned from a friend who is an Apple tech. Supposedly if you remove the pvc tape the Apple diagnostics can fail a heatsink test due to the sensors. I've never run into it myself as I never remove the tape. I never remove a socketed processor either unless I'm replacing it. A newbie did that once (don't ask me why) and we couldn't get it to post again.
     
  15. Sandgroper

    Sandgroper MDL Novice

    Nov 7, 2015
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    Thanks for all the replies.. I was going to leave it there but the reason I was looking at it was of CPU heating problems.. I should have mentioned that. Sorry. After applying new thermal paste and cleaning out the vents on the heat sink when running prime95 for 2 min the temp would still rise to 95c.. Toooo hot.
    I think the reason for the tape is to make sure the heat sink doesn't short the bridges on top of processor. I bit the bullet and removed the tape. As the heat sink sits about 2mm higher than the bridges because of the height of the cores. Also I have looked at many laptops without the tape and they have had no problems.
    Result..
    My CPU now runs 15c cooler after running prime95 for 15 min..
    As far as I can see. As long as the cores sit high enough so the heat sink has good clearance over the bridges and the thermal paste is put correctly on the cores it should not be a problem..
    Hopefully..

    Thanks again..
     
  16. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

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    #16 Muerto, Jan 22, 2016
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  17. Sandgroper

    Sandgroper MDL Novice

    Nov 7, 2015
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    I'll get some new Kapton and put small strips over the necessary parts. As Kapton is a great thermal conductor maybe the tape I removed was a cheap replica. As I did gain better cooling.
    Thanks again.