I have a Lenovo Legion Slim laptop that has a Ryzen 7 7735HS. Lenovo has set the CPU temp limit to 100C in its default power modes, so I want to know if this is safe and will not cause damage or degradation in the long run, as my CPU temps can occasionally exceed the AMD-specified temp limit of 95C when under load. Is it only harmful if temps exceed 95C for extended periods of time, or is it also a problem if they briefly exceed 95C from time to time before going back down? In the long run, can occasionally exceeding 95C cause damage/deterioration, or is it something that one shouldn't worry about? Need some clarity regarding this matter, as Lenovo's set temp limits indicate that they don't seem to think the 7735HS going above 95C is unsafe or an issue.
The 7735HS has an AMD manufacturer Tjmax of 95°C
https://www.amd.com/en/products/processors/laptop/ryzen/7000-series/amd-ryzen-7-7735hs.html
At 95°C the CPU will begin to throttle frequency and voltage to keep temperature below that threshold.
This is not configurable by the system integrator. (ie. Lenovo can not circumvent the manufacturer temp limit)
Can you provide evidence of "my CPU temps can occasionally exceed the AMD-specified temp limit of 95C when under load" meaning that the CPU continues to operate above 95°C without throttling?
Yes, the CPU doesn't throttle when it exceeds 95C. I've added a screenshot below of how temps shot up to approximately 100C and stayed there due to running Cinebench R23 (I ended the benchmark after taking the screenshot so that the CPU wouldn't run at 100C for an extended period of time). This is just to show that Lenovo's temp limit means that the CPU doesn't throttle when it reaches 95C and can go all the way up to 100C and stay there. Obviously, the benchmark isn't reflective of my general use, as it pushes the CPU a lot harder than my general use. In general use, average temps are actually good enough, but occasionally, when the CPU is under load, they can briefly go above 95C. The CPU doesn't run at 95+ for extended periods; that would only be an issue if I were to run a benchmark in Performance mode, as benchmarks take time and ensure the CPU continuously runs at its limit. If occasionally crossing 95C isn't something that can cause damage in the long run, I guess Lenovo's temp limit of 100C isn't something to worry about.
Use Ryzen Master to confirm Tjmax of 100°C
Ryzen Master is incompatible with my system and doesn't install.
Thermal Throttling vs. Damage:
Thermal throttling is a mechanism built into modern processors like your Ryzen 7 7735HS. When temperatures get too high, the CPU will automatically reduce its clock speeds to lower the temperature. This is a protective measure that prevents permanent damage to the CPU.
However, repeated instances of exceeding 95°C for extended periods could accelerate thermal degradation of the silicon, meaning the CPU's performance might degrade over time, even if you don’t experience immediate failures or crashes. This degradation is typically gradual and may not be noticeable immediately.
The Lenovo Default Temp Limit (100°C):
Lenovo has set the temperature limit to 100°C, which is higher than AMD’s specified 95°C. The fact that Lenovo has set this limit suggests that they believe the CPU can handle these higher temperatures in the short term, but it does not mean that consistently running at 100°C is ideal in the long term.
It's worth noting that laptop manufacturers often set higher temperature limits for cooling efficiency reasons, particularly in gaming laptops. However, the CPU is still designed to operate within safe limits, and prolonged exposure to high temperatures can still affect long-term performance and lifespan.
Occasional Exceedance of 95°C:
Briefly exceeding the 95°C mark during heavy workloads or stress (like gaming or video rendering) is generally not harmful as long as the temperatures quickly drop back down. CPUs are designed to handle spikes in temperature and will throttle back to protect themselves if necessary.
However, if temperatures stay near or exceed 95°C for long periods of time (several minutes or more), that’s when it can potentially cause long-term degradation.
Cooling Solutions:
You can optimize cooling by using laptop cooling pads or ensuring your laptop’s cooling system is working effectively. In addition, tweaking power settings in the BIOS or using software like Lenovo Vantage could help control the thermal profiles and prevent the CPU from hitting those high temperatures as often.
In addition, using external monitoring software like HWMonitor or Core Temp can help you track temperature trends and understand if they’re consistently spiking too high.
Conclusion:
Briefly exceeding 95°C should not cause immediate damage or harm, especially if temperatures return to normal quickly. However, it's best to avoid prolonged periods of high temperatures.
Long-term exposure to high temperatures (e.g., consistently near or above 95°C) could potentially lead to thermal degradation over time.
If you're looking for more in-depth insights on processor temperature thresholds and longevity, you could check out resources on high-performance CPUs at Tom's Hardware, which is a trusted site with in-depth technical analysis on CPU thermals and hardware longevity.
Well, it's good to know that briefly exceeding 95C isn't considered harmful, as that is what I've seen at times (for example, temps may spike up to approximately 95-97C a few times or so in a week) when it comes to my general use of the laptop (with normal usage, the CPU doesn't run at or above 95C for extended periods of time; there may only be the occasional spike). Additionally, average temps are reasonable.