Framework 16 keyboard very sensitive to heat

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Like the title says, the framework 16 keyboard (RGB version specifically) seems to be sensitive to the heat of the laptop

This is the second time this happens, with a relatively new module (the first one was replaced under warranty)

The heat of the laptop seems to be breaking keys on the keyboard (specifically the ones in the area where the heat pipe is on the left side of the laptop)

The first time it was caps lock, Q, W, and this time, it started out with just D, and I’m waiting to see what else breaks.

I run a lot of intensive tasks, because I work in game development, and it’s not an option for me to stop using the laptop at full power for long periods of time.

I tried adding a bunch of layers of kapton tape to the back of the keyboard, hoping it would be enough to stop the heat from getting to the keyboard so fast, but it didn’t work at all.

Edit: I know for certain it’s the heat, because last time it happened it was really hot in my house, and it’s hot now too, so when the laptop fails to cool properly, the issue becomes worse

It also fixes itself if I keep the laptop really hot and I don’t press on the problematic keys, then let it cool down, so I think the plastic membrane warps when pressed while the temps are high?

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I’ve never run either of my FW16s hot enough to cause problems like that, so it’s hard to say anything useful about that part of the problem.

There are “laptop coolers,” pads that you set your laptop on that have fans built in to help cool the machine. Perhaps one of those could help.

Another alternative would be using an external USB or Bluetooth keyboard, when you’re planning to run the machines hot enough to cause issues with the built-in keyboard.

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Just individual keys? And D was not affected last time? No malfunctions outside those keys?

If it was the whole keyboard, it could suggest a bad component or a cracked solder joint. But one key is odd. Since all keys share lines in a keyboard matrix, only the D key affected points to it’s contact pad or a short section of trace that belong only to it, or perhaps material expansion in the keyboard that warps it just so that the key becomes a problem.

The last time, did CapsLock, Q, and W all occur together in malfunctioning or working?

How hot are we talking? What OS are you on? Can you record temperatures a couple separate times this happens? I ask because if it was one keyboard, you blame the keyboard, two in a row, you have to consider if the true issue could be elsewhere. Like cooling not working properly.

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Have you gone through the loop of replacing the liquid metal between the CPU and the heat pipe?

Have you checked the airflow through the fans (when was the last time you cleaned the dust out?

If you environment is so hot what are you doing to cool it? Seems to me you may be describing the symptom instead of the cause.

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Premise: this was my isolated experience. Two cases DON’T make a statistically significant sample.
But… My RGB international keyboard failed in a similar way: the W key had a weird “stuck” issue where the key kept signaling the pc it was being pressed after being physically released.
This behavior appeared only under heavy load.
Support waled me through firmware reset, testing under another OS etc. They concluded the keyboard was faulty and replaced it for free under warranty in a few days.
Support experience: 5/5.
The whole thing was solved in under two weeks.

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Last time it started out with just caps, then slowly spread to the right
Now it started with D

And the temps seem to be around almost 100 celsius when it happens
Also, the fact that the keys affected are the keys I most commonly use in games (whether mine or others, because it happens in both, as long as the CPU is the thing being stressed, not the GPU) means that it probably is the membranes deforming from the heat+pressure, not just heat alone

Not only this, but the fact that just temps without use seem to bring the keys back until temps rise again in my experience, probably also means that the issue is what I think

I guess my question is what do you think I could do about it (if my theory is correct)

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I clean the fans and heat sinks regularly (probably once every couple months), because there is a lot of dust in the area where I live, and if I don’t, the temps do get worse

I do have a cooling pad under it, and I use framework fan control to run the fans at max speed

There’s nothing I can do about the heat, it’s just really warm sometimes. especially in the late spring and summer

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I did replace the keyboard once, but the fact that it’s happening again, means it will continue to happen if I replace it again, so it’s an issue I can’t fix just by getting a new keyboard

That’s why I’m not sure what I should do, and why I am asking here for advice I guess

The only thing I tried was the kapton tape, maybe I could add more idk

Probably keeping my room cooler would help the issue to not occur in the first place, but that’s not something I can do. I can’t get air conditioning, I don’t have the money, I specifically invested in a framework because I knew it was repairable, and I know there has to be a solution to this

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I got exactly the same problem. “d” key started to stop working while on heavy load (gaming). When the laptop cooled down it was reworking progressively at the beginning, until it stopped working completely. I got my keyboard replaced… I may try to add to foam or other isolant to prevent heat conduction…

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Has the thermal interface material been replaced with the Honeywell stuff? There have been a number of issues from running Framework Laptop 16’s at high temps for repeated long periods of time and the material was not performing as well as when it originally shipped.

This excess heat has to go somewhere and instead of being transmitted to the heat sink it may be bleeding elsewhere into the case. Be mindful too if operating a laptop well above most office temperatures ~21 deg C or 72 F. That extra environmental heat means everything will be hotter as a result. So if it is running in an environment that is say ~85F all the components are getting hotter than they normally would in a cooler environment.

Not sure if it would make a big difference, but having a fan blowing on the keyboard may help dissipate the heat. It sounds silly but if it means the keyboard does not get cooked that would be a win.

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Bruhhhhh that’s why my S key was super goofy recently?? I did start playing a game that had heavier rendering requirements recently. Running a benchmark and letting it sit fixed my issues LMAO.

For anyone wondering, I have the rgb keyboard, on the left side of the laptop, and have replaced the liquid metal with the PTM pad FW sent out.