This thread has gotten to over 400 pages long. To help new-comers catch-up quick, I generated an AI summary of the thread and manually edited or removed sections that I believed to be hallucinatory.
Summary Report: Uneven CPU Temperatures in Framework Laptop 16 (AMD 7040 Series)
1. Background and Scope
This document is a detailed, community-driven forum thread chronicling user experiences, diagnostics, and technical investigations into uneven CPU core temperatures and thermal throttling on the Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen 7040 series, especially 7840HS/7940HS). The thread spans from initial user reports in August 2024 through early 2025, capturing evolving community knowledge, troubleshooting, and Framework’s official responses.
2. Core Problem: Uneven CPU Thermals
-
Symptom: Users observed large temperature deltas (10–40°C) between CPU cores under load, with one or more cores rapidly hitting 100°C and others much cooler. This leads to thermal throttling and reduced sustained performance (often 30–40W CPU package power, sometimes lower).
-
Benchmark Impact: Cinebench R23 multicore scores for affected systems dropped from expected 15–16k+ (for 7940HS) to as low as 11–13k, with power draw and clocks well below spec.
-
Fan Noise: Many users reported excessive fan noise even at idle or light loads, attributed to poor heat transfer and rapid thermal ramping.
3. Community Diagnostics and Experiments
A. User Testing and Data Collection
-
Benchmarking: Users ran Cinebench R23, 3DMark, and stress tests, sharing detailed results (scores, power, per-core temps).
-
Monitoring Tools: HWInfo (Windows), amdgpu_top, s-tui, and lm-sensors (Linux) were used to track per-core temps and power.
-
Comparative Analysis: Users compared Framework 16 results to other laptops with the same CPUs (e.g., Razer Blade 14), finding Framework’s cooling underperformed.
B. Hardware Interventions
-
Thermal Interface Material (TIM) Swaps: Many replaced the factory-applied liquid metal (LM) with:
-
PTM7950/7958 phase change pads (Honeywell or Thermal Grizzly PhaseSheet)
-
Conventional thermal pastes (Noctua NT-H1/H2, Arctic MX-6, Gelid GC-Extreme, etc.)
-
Copper shim “sandwich” mods (placing a lapped copper shim between die and vapor chamber, with PTM on both sides)
-
-
Heatsink Modifications: Some users lapped (polished) the heatsink or even desoldered and replaced the factory shim for better contact.
-
Fan and Chassis Mods: Blocking dGPU vent holes with tape or vinyl to improve CPU airflow and reduce noise.
C. Results of Interventions
-
PTM7950/PTM7958: Widely reported to restore or exceed original performance, with sustained 50–57W CPU power and Cinebench scores back to 15–16k+. Core-to-core temperature deltas dropped to 5–10°C.
-
Copper Shim Sandwich: The most effective (but risky) mod, enabling sustained 60W+ and even higher scores, but requires advanced skills.
-
Conventional Paste: Improved over degraded LM, but not as effective as PTM or copper shim mods.
-
Heatsink Quality: Users found significant variance (“heatsink lottery”)—some heatsinks performed much better than others, even after mods.
4. Root Causes Identified
A. Factory Liquid Metal Issues
-
LM “Pump-Out” and Runoff: The indium-tin-bismuth LM pad used by Framework can migrate away from the die over time, especially after many thermal cycles or if the laptop is stored vertically. This leads to poor contact and rapid performance degradation.
-
Insufficient LM Application: Some units had too little LM, causing immediate poor thermal transfer.
-
Removal Difficulty: The LM pad solidifies at room temperature, making removal challenging but less risky than conventional liquid metals.
5. Framework’s Official Response and Actions
-
Acknowledgement: Framework acknowledged the issue in late 2024, citing both LM pump-out and heatsink bonding as root causes.
-
Production Change: As of November 2024, Framework switched new production to Honeywell PTM7958 (a phase change paste/pad) instead of LM.
-
Remediation for Existing Customers:
-
PTM7950/PTM7958 Kits: Framework is offering free PTM kits to affected customers (request via support form), with a detailed installation guide forthcoming.
-
No Recall: No full recall; RMAs are still processed, but replacement boards may still have LM until old stock is depleted.
-
6. Community Recommendations and Best Practices
A. Diagnosing the Issue
-
Run Cinebench R23 multicore in “High Performance” mode, plugged into a 180W+ charger.
-
Expected: 15k+ score, 50–54W sustained, core temps within 5–10°C.
-
Affected: <14k score, <45W sustained, one or more cores at 100°C, others much cooler (delta >15°C).
-
B. Fixes and Workarounds
-
If under warranty: Request a PTM kit from Framework support.
-
DIY (out of warranty or advanced users):
-
Replace LM with PTM7950/PTM7958 or Thermal Grizzly PhaseSheet.
-
For best results, add a lapped copper shim (20x20mm, 0.5–0.8mm thick) between die and vapor chamber, with PTM on both sides (“PTM sandwich”).
-
Lapping the heatsink and ensuring even pressure can further improve results.
-
-
Fan Noise: Blocking inner dGPU vents can reduce high-frequency fan noise and improve CPU cooling.
C. Risks
-
Liquid Metal Removal: Framework’s LM pad is solid at room temp, but care is still needed to avoid board damage.
-
Copper Shim Mod: Advanced mod, risk of damaging heatsink or board if not done carefully.
7. Broader Lessons and Reflections
-
Design Flaw: The combination of LM pump-out and poor heatsink/shim bonding is a fundamental design flaw, not just a manufacturing defect.
-
Community Power: The Framework community’s technical depth, experimentation, and documentation were crucial in diagnosing and publicizing the issue.
-
Framework’s Response: While Framework is now addressing the issue, some users are dissatisfied with the pace and scope of the fix, especially those who went through multiple RMAs.
-
Modularity and Repairability: The situation highlights both the strengths (user repairability, transparency) and challenges (early adopter risk, DIY burden) of modular laptops.
8. Key Takeaways
-
If you own a Framework Laptop 16 (AMD 7040 series) and see poor CPU performance or uneven core temps, you are likely affected.
-
Switching to PTM7950/PTM7958 (or Thermal Grizzly PhaseSheet) restores most or all lost performance and is now the official fix.
-
Advanced users can further improve results with a copper shim “sandwich” mod, but this is not required for most.
-
Framework is providing PTM kits.
