This Chinese site posted some really interesting pictures. If we trust these photos, then it appears that AMD is now shipping new modification of Athlon XP processors equipped with an HIS (Integrated Heat Spreader), i.e. a metallic lid improving the heat dissipation and protecting the processor die.

The source claims that the CPUs on the pics are selling already in some Chinese stores. The marking of the CPU shows that this is Athlon XP 1800+ based on Palomino core. The HIS is a pretty unexpected thing to see on these processors, because these are pretty old CPUs, which will be very soon discontinued because AMD will completely move to 0.13micron manufacturing technology. That is why the fact that processors like that started selling probably doesn’t at all mean that AMD decided to start making Athlon XP processors equipped with an integrated heat spreader. A more probable version is that AMD is now selling some trial version of its processor designed to see whether it would be reasonable or not to equip Athlon XP with an HIS. So, it seems a way too early to speak about AMD using HIS for its products.

At the same time, the absence of the IHS is a definite bottleneck of AMD Athlon CPUs. First of all, HIS could protect very fragile processor dies, which very often get damaged when the cooler is fastened or removed carelessly. Also the HIS made of copper with nickel sputtering can improve the processor cooling. At present, the fastest AMD processors require coolers with copper footing.

In conclusion I would like to say that according to the official sources HIS will appear on AMD CPUs one day, but it will happen only when Athlon processors on 8th generation Hammer architecture come out. Until then, no HIS is to come.