https://www.pcgamer.com/eurocom-says-intel-is-slapping-soldered-tim-on-core-i9-9900k-and-core-i7-9700k/ > It looks as though hardcore overclockers and enthusiasts who have been wanting Intel to swap out its current greasy TIM (thermal interface material) for a soldered solution will finally get their wish. According to Eurocom, both the upcoming Core i9-9900K and Core i7-9700K will use solder. > There's quite a bit to unpack in that claim. To start with, let's talk about TIM, and what it's for. That hunk of metal on your CPU is not the actual silicon die, it's an integrated heatspreader (IHS). It draws heat from the CPU die and ultimately transfers it to your heatsink, be it an air cooler or a liquid cooling setup. The IHS also provides a level of protection so you don't accidentally crack the chip.