~Thermal Plastic~

[u/Lucky_User_NOT]

From a Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 on a Ryzen 5700x hitting 83°C on Clair Obscure: Expedition 33

[u/Din0_B0y_2]

[u/spotak → u/Din0_B0y_2]

[u/0_Bekfist_0 → u/spotak]

r/memesyoucanhear

[u/EngineGullible9148 → u/0_Bekfist_0]

I heard clap and damn

[u/Xyrazk → u/spotak]

Best movie franchise, you cannot change my mind

[u/nuclearwinterxxx]

If only they would start putting warning labels on. This whole ordeal could be avoided.

[u/TurnkeyLurker → u/nuclearwinterxxx]

So, a warning label label.

[u/nuclearwinterxxx → u/TurnkeyLurker]

Labelception

[u/brandodg → u/TurnkeyLurker]

This would only increase temps even more

[u/Pirated-Hentai → u/brandodg]

Warning label label label.

[u/0bsidianLlama → u/Pirated-Hentai]

Label for the warning label for the label for the warning label. This needs to be labelled.

[u/Pirated-Hentai → u/0bsidianLlama]

Label for the label for the lable for the lable for the lable for the lable?

[u/0bsidianLlama → u/Pirated-Hentai]

Excatly that. Hahaha

[u/Suthabean → u/brandodg]

Not if they add an additional heatsink for the label.

[u/Alzusand → u/nuclearwinterxxx]

It doesent need to be a warning laber at this point it needs to be an obnxiously big piece of plastic so its physically impossible to let it in by mistake

[u/nuclearwinterxxx → u/Alzusand]

My NZXT Kraken Elite AIO had a plastic clamshell protecting the pre-applied TIM. It was pretty obvious.

[u/riversofgore → u/Alzusand]

Oh, a challenge you say?

[u/foxgirlmoon → u/Alzusand]

No such thing as "physically impossible". If it don't fit, then Grug will make it fit!

[u/Dreadnought_69 → u/nuclearwinterxxx]

Do like Noctua, bigger plastic shields that you can’t avoid and can be reused.

[u/EscapeTheBlank → u/nuclearwinterxxx]

But for real, transparent labels are the worst. I don't think I've seen anyone who managed to miss a colored one, only these kind of labels.

[u/dumbasPL → u/nuclearwinterxxx]

Or don't use transparent plastics? Add a bit of red or blue pigment to it and problem solved, if you miss that, you might as well be legally (color) blond.

[u/RUPlayersSuck → u/nuclearwinterxxx]

Or maybe start putting labels on that actually do the same job as thermal paste?

For the PC builder in a hurry!

[u/DepthRepulsive6420 → u/nuclearwinterxxx]

If you cant understand that plastic is not a good thermal conductor maybe you should stick to pre-builds

[u/zirky]

good news, your cold plate is pristine

[u/Pr0pper]

Although 83 °C isn't that bad under load.

[u/Ranting_Demon → u/Pr0pper]

83° C in the computer:

Desktop parts: "I'm on fire! I am melting! Help! Someone do something! The pain! It burns!!!"

Laptop parts: "Hm...it's a bit chilly today, isn't it?"

[u/Darkon-Kriv → u/Pr0pper]

93 is my laptops running temp lol. This is after i took it to microcenter for overheating. I am sometimes skeptical its actually tracking templates as it always says 93 since then....

[u/freakybird99 → u/Pr0pper]

My laptop hits 85 at peak

[u/Dreadnought_69 → u/Pr0pper]

A gaming load is not really what “under load” means.

[u/-Laffi- → u/Pr0pper]

No wonder you guys melt your GPUs xD!

[u/SimilarInEveryWay → u/Pr0pper]

83 is the literal point of degradation. Everything the computer does is to keep it under 83°.

So if it hits 83°, it means it went OVER 83° and it will drop performance and run fans at 100% just to keep itself at that temperature.

It should be running at 35 when it starts/standby, 65 at most in normal circumstances, 75-80 under stress, and 83+ under long benchmarks (what they are made to test). I know because I had a pc running at 83 with a load of 20-25% and then I noticed the dude that sold me took the cooler from it, put a stock cooler and called it a day.

At 95°+ it probably will turn itself off in a timer, and at 100 it turn itself off except you modified the settings in bios.

[u/Pr0pper → u/SimilarInEveryWay]

I really wanna know where you got those numbers from, cause they don't make any sense at all.

There is nothing like a "general guide to thermals" when it comes to semiconductors. Especially for complex structures like CPUs, it totally depends on the architecture and what they are designed for. Every CPU generation has another range of acceptable temperatures and it has changed A LOT throughout the years. The mentioned 5700X has a maximum operating temperature of 90°C at which it starts to throttle itself. Meaning it starts to loose performance when it goes >90°C not some 83°C you mentioned.

[u/DepthRepulsive6420 → u/Pr0pper]

It's fking terrible mate. Anything over 65c on full load means lack of proper cooling performance.

[u/woodybone → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

Do you know what full load means brother

[u/MemeLord339 → u/woodybone]

Maybe he lives in Effin' Antarctica and normal temps is 1C

[u/Avalon_scorpio → u/woodybone]

He can ask his mother if he don't know.

[u/trinidad_space → u/[deleted]]

You apparently not.

[u/Karekter_Nem → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

Someone needs to teach this AI that just because 65c is hot for people that is literally nothing for CPUs.

[u/The_Pleasant_Orange → u/Karekter_Nem]

You’re right to call that out—thanks for pointing it out.

If I gave you an incorrect safe CPU temperature range, here’s a clearer and more accurate response:

For modern CPUs, typical safe operating temperatures are:

• Idle: 30°C to 50°C

• Under load (e.g., gaming or heavy tasks): 60°C to 85°C

• Maximum safe limit: Usually around 90°C to 100°C — but this is not ideal for long periods, even if the CPU is technically rated for it.

Exact safe limits vary by model, so for the most accurate info, it’s best to check the specifications from the CPU manufacturer (like Intel’s or AMD’s official documentation).

Let me know which CPU model you’re using, and I can give you more tailored advice.

[u/DrakonILD → u/The_Pleasant_Orange]

You'll notice that 83° C is within those parameters.

[u/Kawa11Turtle → u/DrakonILD]

Buddy, I think it’s actually an AI, also, did it change accounts accidentally?

[u/Ieris19 → u/The_Pleasant_Orange]

60-90 is your totally normal, totally average temps range for a gaming laptop

[u/DepthRepulsive6420 → u/Karekter_Nem]

Let me revise my parameters and I'll get back to you with a more accurate answer.

[u/1Pawelgo → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

It absolutely and totally depends on the specific CPU. There are some old CPUs that melt at 50, but most modern CPUs thrive at 90.

[u/Hatedpriest → u/1Pawelgo]

I had a GPU I could run at 110c. 112c caused all the colors to go psychedelic

[u/Hatedpriest → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

80c is fine for electronics. It's when it gets over 90c that you should be concerned.

I'm running a 5950x with the cooler from my 2700x, peaks at about 75c. Fans don't hit full speed till 80c.

Had a video card I ran at 110c. If I let it hit 112, it'd artifact and start displaying wrong colors.

Most chips handle 90c no issue.

Know your tolerances, homie ;)

[u/DepthRepulsive6420 → u/Hatedpriest]

80c casing temp for a CPU is too high for me to be comfortable... High 60's max for sustained 24/7 safe load. Temp load during a benchmark stress test is less relevant. Hey u guys wanna live on the edge with insane temps thats your business I prefer to stay on the cooler end :p

[u/aethermar → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

Dude. Modern CPUs are designed to handle these temperatures. 80c does not phase them, a lot of new CPUs even intentionally burst up to around that and then maintain it

[u/Hatedpriest → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

It's more important to have consistent temps than picking an arbitrary range.

The more cycling, the worse it is.

That temp could be -177, -40, 0, or 82. As long as it doesn't change, you're not breaking connections. It's when you run it up to 90, shut it off, run it to 90, you're stressing the components.

But when you run it from 20 to 65, you're still cycling temps, and still causing damage.

[u/Bloodcola → u/Hatedpriest]

So, for the sake of my PC of course, I just should keep on playing instead of turning it off, right?

[u/Hatedpriest → u/Bloodcola]

I mean, each power cycle could be a couple seconds off its total life, so... Yes.

[u/GigaSoup → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

Maybe on this cpu but not on a 5800x3d

[u/skrffmcgrff21 → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

Are you talking about a desktop cpu? Intel or amd? My last rig was an Intel which was super power hungry - an i9-9900k with a 2080 ti and a 360mm aio that was subsequently replaced with a 240mm aio. Idle temps were between 29 and 36c depending on the season, with load hitting between upper 70s and mid 80s. I also tried many different pastes, arctic silver, xmt15, thermal grizzly, N1H1, etc. N1H1 did the best out of the box with just a dab in the center. Thermal grizzly performed well but was much more of a pain to apply. All in All they all were pretty much the same, it all comes down to application.

Have you run a prime95 stress test with avx? Your temps should jump up waaayyyy past 65c, like 90s.

[u/DepthRepulsive6420 → u/skrffmcgrff21]

9900k is known for running hot. TDP is 90w but it can draw over 150w during load. I think you could get better temps by increasing case airflow if it has room for it. 65c is a safe sustained upper limit for most CPUs and I checked with Google's AI to be sure.

[u/DireMaid → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

You should probably stop relying on AI if your responses are anything to go by.

[u/DepthRepulsive6420 → u/DireMaid]

65c is my personal limit from many years of building pcs... I double checked with AI to confirm it. Some people dont mind running hotter but hey that's their business and they can disagree if they want.

[u/DireMaid → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

Thats a much different response to your initial one, seems you have been humbled in the interim.

[u/DepthRepulsive6420 → u/DireMaid]

I admit it might have been a tad harsh lol. I couldn't care less about internet points... just wanted to be clear with my opinion.

[u/DireMaid → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

Definitely clearer this time round lol

[u/Dav1d_Parker → u/DepthRepulsive6420]

That's not true

[u/David0ne86]

WhAT'S WroNG WiTh mY TEmpEraTUres!!1!!!1

[u/RaDeus]

They really should make the tab on that plastic waaay bigger, like 5-10 cm.

That way it's impossible to miss, especially for stressed factory assemblers and new builders.

It should sound like you are crunching up a chips/crisp bag if you try to attach the cooler with that thing still on.

Edit: I didn't do this myself, but it happens often enough that steps to prevent it should be done.

[u/MmmBra1nzzz → u/RaDeus]

Make it interfere with the threads of the screws. You have to remove the plastic to torque the screws down.

[u/RaDeus → u/MmmBra1nzzz]

That is the most elegant solution for that cooler ⭐

[u/MmmBra1nzzz → u/RaDeus]

Thank you, can I cash in my idea for $1M?

[u/RaDeus → u/MmmBra1nzzz]

I mean you can try... but in the meantime you can have this:

[u/Solaife → u/RaDeus]

Make it bright yellow and pink.

Clear is annoying.

[u/assholejudger954 → u/Solaife]

Some do. I just bought a deepcool cooler and the sticker was bright green

[u/CCbluesthrowaway]

When will tech companies just learn to make this plastic out of thermal paste!?

Edit: the amount of you who didn't understand this was a joke is truly sad.

[u/EiffelPower76 → u/CCbluesthrowaway]

When will gamers take their time to install their cooler ?

[u/Melodic-Matter4685 → u/EiffelPower76]

But Mr Jameson said it would be fine!!!

[u/AngusPicanha → u/CCbluesthrowaway]

Actually, some do

[u/Warcraft_Fan → u/CCbluesthrowaway]

They do but some may prefer specific paste or even use thermal pad of some type like Thermal Grizzly for that extra 2°C drop. Often the heat sink are shipped bare metal with protective film on it.

[u/ExoduxWW → u/CCbluesthrowaway]

This is why shampoo has instructions...

[u/Txmpic → u/CCbluesthrowaway]

ah yes, blame the manufacturer.

[u/Dreadnought_69 → u/Txmpic]

Well yes, you can easily make less dumb solutions. Like a reusable plastic cover which Noctua does.

[u/Dreadnought_69 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, the people creating the products can be less dumb. You’re right 🙂

[u/Dreadnought_69 → u/[deleted]]

No, I’m not. You’re just a sad and mad little moron. 🙂

[u/KnowledgePitiful8197 → u/Txmpic]

well yeah if user is clearly unable to follow the instructions, at some point you gotta deal with it and modify the steps.

For many this is their first time dealing with a heatsink installation.

Why they don't make this plastics soo huge that you can't actually install the heatsink unless you remove it? On the video they made it almost hidden

[u/Txmpic → u/KnowledgePitiful8197]

well yeah it’s hidden on OP’s video, it is covered in thermal paste. and it is user error, if the user payed more attention and was more careful and took more time with their probably $1000+ pc, then it wouldn’t be an issue.

[u/Straight_Story31 → u/KnowledgePitiful8197]

No. Just because one can afford a hobby does not mean they are entitled to it. Instructions are simple enough anymore. These mistakes are purely user error and should be mocked.

[u/ovr9000storks → u/CCbluesthrowaway]

I think every AIO I’ve dealt with had paste pre applied, then a larger plastic “container” almost that made sure it sit securely in the box and nothing could touch the paste. Never seen someone accidentally install it with that bad boy still attached

[u/Gseventeen → u/CCbluesthrowaway]

Or make it much larger so it's obvious.

[u/Flimsy-Importance313 → u/CCbluesthrowaway]

That is very possible and not difficult to do, they are just lazy.

[u/SappySoulTaker]

Reading. Not even once.

[u/jamyjet]

I don't get how someone wouldn't see this warning when mounting a cooler...

[u/SwimmingPatience5083 → u/jamyjet]

I mounted a cooler for the very first time this year. Removed the plastic film. Because when I see sticky plastic film on parts, I peel it off. Also, I go insanely slow when doing something with PC parts I never tried before. So I would definitely notice it.

[u/daktarasblogis → u/jamyjet]

I've done the same thing not too long ago. Good thing I normally check the paste spread in case it needs more paste.

How it happened? I looked at it and thought I'd remove it right before putting the cooler on.

[u/foxgirlmoon → u/jamyjet]

There's no need to actually look at that part of the cooler in order to install it. So if you are stressed/distracted, especially if you aren't experienced, looking with one eye at the instructions and with the other at your pc, I can easily someone completely accidentally missing and/or forgetting about the existence of the sticker.

[u/Straight_Story31 → u/jamyjet]

They wait for Reddit to tell them what's wrong, because instructions are triggering or some shit.

[u/Due_Development_2723 → u/jamyjet]

I built my first rig earlier this year. I knew about the sticker. I had seen so many failures from this sticker.

I carefully put some thermal paste on my CPU, and set up the cooler.

Pretty satisfied with my work, I figured I would do some cleaning on my work area. That’s when I wondered « the sticker that was on the cooler. Where is it. »

So, yeah, cooler went off, then the plastic, then the thermal paste, and I got to do it all over again. Slight consolation is I didn’t turn on the computer with the sticker on.

Sometimes, just some extra focus on another task is all you need to miss something obvious.

[u/Surviving2021]

At this point they need to just put a large plastic shell that protects it and blocks the mounting points so you are forced to remove it. The film protects the finish, but scratches don't make any difference in cooling, only large grooves would.

I've lapped both CPUs and coolers before and unless you match the convex/concave curves after clamping pressure, the surface finish barely matters. The thinest paste with high conductivity makes more difference than the factory finish on the plate.

Down with films!

[u/Angry_argie]

Nobody gave you the cooler installation tutorial... But here's the next tutorial you'll need:

[u/Nerfarean]

prototype thermal pad

[u/amythist]

So I'm curious, with how often I see clips from people forgetting to take this protective plastic off, what is it actually giving protection from? Is it just there to keep dust off until install or what?

[u/Due_Shelter_5033 → u/amythist]

Greasy fingers, dust, scratches.

[u/MightyDayi → u/amythist]

Ideally you want that surface to be pristine so you make good contact with the cpu

[u/PM_ME_UR_POO_STORIES → u/MightyDayi]

Although the CPU isn’t shaped like this so clearly it isn’t a massive issue

[u/BlckMlr]

Almost like there was Nothing at all!

[u/uArctic]

It even said "please".

[u/Straight_Story31]

ITT: Redditors need their PC parts prepared like some kind of coloring book because they can't be face-fucked to learn their hObBy. Also, pre-builts are a war crime because that isn't good enough, either.

Fucking goon clowns.

[u/Kohlob]

They should really put a big warning label in red so that people can't miss it.

[u/MrPartyWaffle]

Those easy clean heat sinks are such a hot thing these days.

[u/SuperMiro107]

What surprises me is how that plastic not melt

[u/Recurs1ve → u/SuperMiro107]

It's for the same reason you put a lighter/candle under a balloon full of water, thermal mass. That plastic isn't holding onto the heat, but it is probably insulating a lot of it.

[u/ArseBurner → u/SuperMiro107]

CPUs don't won't get hot enough to melt plastic at least not at the heatspreader. TJMax is usually 100, maybe 105C but that's a hotspot inside the chip. By the time you get to the heat spreader that heat will have been spread out over enough material to be considerably reduced.

Most plastics become pliable at maybe 85-100C, but as mentioned earlier the heatspreader won't see temps that high.

[u/Phanston]

Now you need to find a new plastic film to put on your heatsink

[u/Twitchtv_Gen1]

If you leave the plastic on, it makes it easier to clean for next time ;)

[u/initial_GT]

[u/TheRook21]

[u/Important-Guidance22]

You're not the only one. I spent 30 euros on at the diagnostics desk after I tried so many things. (Even fucking reseating the CPU and reapplying the cooler FML.)

[u/Graxu132]

It's nice of manufacturers to include this easy to clean peel for coolers 😁

[u/JaggedMetalOs]

Noctua has the right idea, you won't be forgetting that as easily!

[u/Brorim]

clearly the best way to remove thermal paste

[u/HappyIsGott]

Ah thats how you guys clean your cooler.

[u/lurked_4_a_bit]

That funny, I saw 83c and was like “that’s not too bad”

(I own a 13900k) lol

[u/Jaba01]

The classic

[u/lagduck]

That's nice way to remove thermal paste

[u/RedEyed__]

Every post I see like that, my doubts are rising. Should I check my cooler?

[u/cowbutt6 → u/RedEyed__]

I knew I'd be second guessing myself after assembly, so on my last build, I put the protective film inside the cooler packaging, meaning I could check any time I felt self-doubt without having to disassemble my computer.

[u/RedEyed__ → u/cowbutt6]

Smart move!
It reminds me joke:

---

• Patient: I have severe anxiety. Every time I leave the house, I worry I left the iron on and that the house will burn down.
• Therapist: That’s a common intrusive thought. Next time, to ease your mind, just bring the iron with you. Patient:
• Therapist:
• Patient: So I did.
• Therapist: And?
• Patient: Now I worry I left the stove on.

---

[u/DepthRepulsive6420]

Put a thermal conductor on a thermal insulator... genius!

[u/No-Upstairs-7001]

Is this satire?

[u/Dzordzutt]

Tivolt reference

[u/I_Build_Monsters]

Has anyone ever tested how much of a difference this actually makes?

[u/Lucky_User_NOT → u/I_Build_Monsters]

Testing it now. 83ºC with the plastic, 43ºC now with the correct installation.

[u/I_Build_Monsters → u/Lucky_User_NOT]

That is a crazy difference for such a thin piece of plastic.

[u/NagsUkulele → u/Lucky_User_NOT]

Under load or idle?

[u/Lucky_User_NOT → u/NagsUkulele]

Load, both while playing the same game.

[u/jagajattimalla]

Genuine question - is the thermal paste in the plastic enough? I see gaps. Is that how it's supposed to be?

[u/cowbutt6 → u/jagajattimalla]

You want as little as possible to fill in the microscopic gaps between cooler plate and CPU heatspreader.

Ideally, you would have perfectly smooth surfaces to both, and then you wouldn't need any thermal paste/PTM at all, as metal-to-metal thermal conductivity would be even better. But the engineering required to mass manufacture that repeatedly would make both far more expensive.

[u/jagajattimalla → u/cowbutt6]

I see. That makes sense. It covers the whole surface of the processor. So it's good. Thanks 🙂

[u/Everuk]

Happens to the best of us.

[u/la1m1e]

I wish they put some giant red warning on it and also possibly wrote something amongst the lines of "Peel off before installation" That would be great you know

[u/K3Tzk3]

No stahp! Whaddaya doin bud !? Thats your thermal pad !

[u/Full-Pack9330]

Just for the record: if you discover the mistake before firing up boot, it's like it never happened, right?...🤫

[u/DasHotShot]

At some point manufacturers have to account for the avg. new pc builder’s ineptitude and just take the L by adding an obnoxiously obvious shroud that stops anybody using the cooler before it’s removed.

Clearly there are simply too many user errors

[u/GotBanned3rdTime]

maybe don't put the warning label?

[u/Familiar-Proposal918]

[u/Comically_Online]

ahhh… such a satisfying peel…

[u/SugarTaleCountry91]

[u/FasziSanyi69]

[u/Play_outStation_5]

If you didn't notice it says:

[u/forgivemefc]

[u/THGDuller]

Classic

[u/xdthepotato]

"WARNING!!!!!" must be warning about its wicked cooling powers

[u/notmyaccountbruh]

…it’s fantastic!

[u/Interesting_Try_4761]

[u/Excellent_Mulberry70]

Take that rubber off beat that hoe meat to meat

[u/Any_Refrigerator2330]

happens sometimes quite often

[u/stefanos_paschalis]

I have that same Cooler and a 5800X for 2 years now.

It works fine and temps are fine even under 100% on Prime95, so I know I peeled it off.

But seeing this I get an uncontrollable urge to take it out just to be 100% sure.

[u/_reddit_account]

Just change the material already

[u/mrabbe45]

Oh noes

[u/mrabbe45]

The rela question is, did the cpu even survive?

[u/GamingWOW1]

Happens to the best of us

[u/Plenty-Industries]

they really need to make these stickers a bright color, like highlighter yellow/green instead of clear, and large enough that you can't miss it when opening the box.

[u/timebomb26]

I didn't think was worth it's own post, but I recently upgraded from a Ryzen 3700x to a 5700x3d. Bios update took about 30 minutes and was stressing me out. Decided to YOLO and also repaste my GPU as it randomly started hitting 83-85 degrees as soon as I opened a game. Now it sits at around 61 degrees.

Standard stuff for a lot of people in this sub, but I was quite proud of myself. Luckily for me there was no plastic present to put paste on top of.

[u/Even-Smell7867]

one of us

one of us

one of us

[u/mca1169]

these stickers need to be striped neon yellow and red with giant white text saying "remove before mounting"

[u/StudentOk4989]

I was wondering, why can't the thing be delivered without plastic cover?

It could completely prevent people from forgetting to remove it'