When Selling Delidded CPUs: Navigating Challenges and Buyers’ Needs

Recently, I encountered an interesting challenge while selling a delidded Intel i7-7700K processor. As a valuable piece of hardware, this chip has the potential for excellent performance, but it also requires careful handling—something I discovered firsthand during the sale process.

Upon completion of the transaction, I provided the buyer with an extensive guideline—including nearly 1,700 words of detailed instructions, links to essential guides, and video tutorials. I made it clear that the liquid metal thermal paste, specifically Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut, I included should be applied diligently. I also noted that since I hadn’t resealed the processor, the buyer would need to ensure adequate coverage for optimal performance.

Unfortunately, my warnings seemed to have gone unheeded. The buyer claimed to have applied only a small amount of liquid metal on the die without thoroughly checking temperatures before jumping into gaming. Despite my guidance on monitoring core temperatures using HWiNFO64—which indicated that a slight 3-5°C difference between cores is acceptable, while 8-10°C isn’t—he rushed into use.

Shortly after, he reported that his system was only recognizing 2 cores and 4 threads instead of the expected 4 cores and 8 threads in Task Manager and CPU-Z. This led me to wonder if his actions had damaged the processor. The BIOS recognition seemed intact, yet the software status was perplexing.

After running him through the msconfig settings and confirming that his BIOS was updated, it seemed we were at an impasse. However, a second attempt at following the msconfig and BIOS adjustments proved successful, and all cores and threads appeared correctly. A sigh of relief, right? Not quite, as the idle temperature readings were alarmingly high.

I expressed my concern that he should reapply the liquid metal, ensuring both the die and the IHS received a proper layer. Yet, it left me worried that any further interaction might worsen the situation, especially considering his primary intent was gaming.

In subsequent updates, I reinforced my commitment to transparency throughout the sale process, highlighting that I had advised him against purchasing a delidded CPU if he wasn’t confident in managing one. Eventually, we reached a consensus where he understood the potential risks and accepted that he had to follow the recommended procedures carefully.

He later shared a screenshot displaying what I deemed somewhat excessive temperatures. After another thorough discussion, I reiterated my suggestion: he should