User discovers i7-12700K CPU ran without thermal paste for 3 years
A prebuilt PC equipped with an "Intel" Core i7-12700K reportedly operated for three years without any thermal paste between the processor and its AIO cooler. The issue was only identified after the owner opened the system and removed the cooling unit.
The user shared the discovery on Reddit, noting that the system had been running this way since it was originally built. After finding the missing interface, an OCCT stress test revealed that the Core i7-12700K quickly reached 100°C.
The PC managed to stay operational instead of shutting down immediately because the copper cold plate of the dual-fan AIO cooler maintained direct contact with the processor's heat spreader. While this allows for some heat transfer, it is insufficient for handling heavy workloads or gaming sessions efficiently.
It remains unclear how the prebuilt manufacturer missed this step, as most AIO coolers come with pre-applied thermal paste. One possibility is that the original paste was wiped off during assembly, but no replacement was applied.
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