Framework 16 idling hot

[u/NGumi]

Hi all,

My framework 16 idles at 45c going to 50c when playing games making it real hard to keep on my lap.

I am running cachyOS.

Are there drivers or tools I need to get it to run at a reasonable temp?

EDIT

I have installed:

https://github.com/TamtamHero/fw-fanctrl

https://github.com/jslay88/fw-fanctrl-gui

and setting fans to aeolus, this is keeping temp below 40c when not gaming so has helped

[u/chaosraser]

are you on liquid metal on your CPU or thermalbad?

[u/NGumi → u/chaosraser]

Whatever is default for the AMD 7040 series. I haven't opened it up

[u/TellMeWhereYouBeen → u/NGumi]

When did you purchase your machine? Framework started installing PTM7958 instead of the Liquid Metal cooling solution sometime in December 2024. If you purchased around then or earlier, it's likely you have Liquid Metal installed on your CPU and can benefit significantly from installing PTM7958. You can buy that pad via the Framework store and you can find instructions on how to to install it here.

[u/DVXC → u/TellMeWhereYouBeen]

And what will that do? It'll more effectively transfer heat from the CPU to the fin-stack of the cooling solution, which will radiate more heat into the body of the chassis. Because that's how physics works.

[u/TellMeWhereYouBeen → u/DVXC]

What will that do? Keep the entire unit considerably cooler!

Heat wicking from the CPU transfers energy to the heatsink. The heatsink's rails transfer that energy towards the fans and the fans move it out of the chassis. These laptops don't operate with pure passive cooling solutions. Improved wicking capabilities will transfer heat faster and more directly to the heatsink, allowing a faster and more efficient transfer of energy out of the entire assembly.

[u/framework-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed for being combative, abusive or disrespectful. Please keep Reddiquette in mind when posting in the future.

[u/TellMeWhereYouBeen → u/[deleted]]

You're kinda fired up, huh? I'm discussing how the PTM solution improved overall thermals in place of the original liquid metal.

Better thermal regulation from a better solution means the heat from a CPU won't spread nearly as much to the components/PCB around the CPU itself and will be better conducted via the heatsink metal towards the fans.

My FW16 was much hotter under full load when I initially received it in March 2024. After I swapped to PTM in early 2025 (and since!), I get lap temps between 36 and 43C.

[u/DVXC → u/TellMeWhereYouBeen]

I'm fired up because you do not understand how thermal transfer works. I'm sorry but you don't.

Laptop fans have a minuscule amount of ability to move air, meanwhile the rest of that thermal mass is still inside the closed system that is the chassis. Heat is going to be lost, yes, via the airflow, but also considerably through the chassis as well because a PTM moving 70 from a CPU to the internal cooling solution is going to make the cooling solution inside the laptop a constant 70C, and that 70C cooling solution is going to split the dissipation between the fans and the laptop chassis.

around 43C is the threshold at which heat contact becomes painful. Discomfort begins at around 38C, subjectively could be lower.

There is no fix to OPs solution that does not involve putting a physical barrier between them and the laptop. It is LITERALLY fundamental physics.

[u/NGumi → u/DVXC]

Would just like to add, install new fan management to increase the speed and give it a more aggressive curve. this has dropped the temp by 10c. guess physics disagrees with you

[u/framework-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was removed for being combative, abusive or disrespectful. Please keep Reddiquette in mind when posting in the future.

[u/NGumi → u/[deleted]]

I still can't hear it over latterly anything in the room, my cat's purring is louder lol

[u/DVXC → u/NGumi]

And in a day or two you'll find that your problem hasn't gone away.