Mysterious Zen 5 CPU Failures: GMP Tests and Hardware Woes
2025-08-28
The author reports two instances of Ryzen 9950X CPUs failing after running GMP tests. Both incidents occurred in different environments but resulted in discolored areas on the CPU's pin side. Despite using Noctua coolers, the author suspects improper thermal paste application (due to Noctua's recommended offset mounting), leading to poor heat transfer, and that GMP tests might draw power beyond the CPU's specifications. While CPUs have temperature protection, sustained high loads could lead to gradual damage. The cause remains unknown but highlights the importance of high-performance CPU cooling and potential hardware flaws.