Monday, February 4th 2019
Intel Core i5-9400F Processor Lacks STIM, Uses Thermal Paste
With its 9th generation Core processor family, Intel introduced STIM (soldered thermal interface material) to transfer heat between the processor die and the metal integrated heatspreader (IHS), as opposed to fluid thermal pastes. Enthusiasts prefer soldered IHS for their superior heat-transfer characteristics. It was known since the series launch that STIM will be restricted to the unlocked "K" SKUs, such as the i9-9900K and i7-9700K, while locked SKUs would retain thermal pastes. PC enthusiast @momomo_us (Twitter handle) de-lidded a Core i5-9400F sample to confirm this.
The Core i5-9400F was de-lidded (its IHS removed) and placed next to a de-lidded i5-9600K, showing you TIM residue surrounding the i5-9400F die, and solder fragments on that of the i5-9600K. Interestingly, the i5-9600K die looks visibly larger than the i5-9400F, despite both being 6-core processors with 9 MB L3 cache. This isn't because the latter lacks an iGPU (not physically anyway). The i5-9400F die appears to be roughly as big as the 6-core "Coffee Lake" die used in 8th generation Core 6-core processors, while the i5-9600K appears to be carved out of the 8-core "Coffee Lake" die by disabling two CPU cores. The iGPU is physically present on the i5-9400F, but disabled.
Sources:
Tom's Hardware, momomo_us (Twitter)
The Core i5-9400F was de-lidded (its IHS removed) and placed next to a de-lidded i5-9600K, showing you TIM residue surrounding the i5-9400F die, and solder fragments on that of the i5-9600K. Interestingly, the i5-9600K die looks visibly larger than the i5-9400F, despite both being 6-core processors with 9 MB L3 cache. This isn't because the latter lacks an iGPU (not physically anyway). The i5-9400F die appears to be roughly as big as the 6-core "Coffee Lake" die used in 8th generation Core 6-core processors, while the i5-9600K appears to be carved out of the 8-core "Coffee Lake" die by disabling two CPU cores. The iGPU is physically present on the i5-9400F, but disabled.
24 Comments on Intel Core i5-9400F Processor Lacks STIM, Uses Thermal Paste
wouldn't the cost to manufacture them be the same?
Paste here is ok. No need for solder on locked cpus.
kinda like Celeron then
I wonder why they haven't done that in the past considering 99.9% of the pc gamers dont really use igpu
The die is as thick as the wafer.
So they just disabled it and sell it to fools with more money then brain cells who think the lack of iGPU will give them L33T OC Skillz. Intel was never going to make a separate die for this, that would be a laughable waste of money. Such a die has long existed in the HDET world, and GAMERZ never bought them, because said customers are just cheapskates that want to pay less for the same thing and think intel should spend millions to make that happen.
Intel doesn't offer non-iGPU Xeons with 8C or 6C/6T (there is a 6C/12T). They had to do something with the dies, so they created a new consumer category.I ordered a carrot salad and a tea yesterday, but the bill said "food" and "drinks". WTF database categorization?!
Learn how to use Intel ARK. And grow up.
Maybe a desperate move, but I guess they don't have much to lose from doing it.. :D
but then again i know there are ppl who believe that only a i9 9900k is able to give smooth frame rates in modern games
www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-9900kf-vs-9900k-overclock-comparison,6038.html