Get ready for a mind-blowing CPU mod that will make your jaw drop! Geekerwan's latest project takes AMD's Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9995WX, a beast of a CPU with 96 cores, and transforms it into a liquid-cooled masterpiece. But here's where it gets controversial... they've turned the CPU's heat spreader into a water block, a bold move that could spark debate among enthusiasts.
The team at Geekerwan has a simple yet ambitious goal: eliminate the thermal bottleneck by integrating the cold plate directly into the CPU's IHS (integrated heat spreader). To achieve this, they've custom-machined coolant channels right into the IHS, a process that requires precision and skill.
To validate their idea, they started with older Ryzen Threadripper 1900X chips, modifying spare heat spreaders and comparing them to high-end water blocks. This iterative process allowed them to optimize the water routing, ensuring each CCD (chiplet) received adequate cooling, even with heat sources spread across the package.
The final water loop design is ingenious. It features a four-port top cover, with coolant entering above each CCD and exiting at the sides. The channel layout evolved from straight runs to an S-shaped design, increasing surface area and heat transfer efficiency. The build includes an industrial chiller, a large reservoir, and two powerful Bosch pumps from Mercedes.
The results are nothing short of impressive. The modded CPU achieves an all-core overclock of 5.325 GHz, with Cinebench scores through the roof: over 205,000 points in R23, 10,080 points in 2024, and a whopping 41,478 points in 2026. During these intense benchmarks, the CPU package power hovers around 1,340 W, while core temperatures remain remarkably cool, ranging from 30°C to 50°C. The total system power draw is reported at around 1.7 kW.
But this mod is not for the faint-hearted. It requires access to expensive machinery and carries a significant risk of damaging the CPU. Remember, we're talking about AMD's most expensive desktop processor, so this is not a project for the average enthusiast. Geekerwan had support from ASUS, who provided an IHS for planning and supplied parts for the test system, including a current-generation motherboard.
This project raises an intriguing question: is liquid cooling the future of high-performance computing, or is it a risky endeavor best left to the experts? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss the potential and pitfalls of such extreme mods!
