[wtallis]

Die temperature readings aren't particularly helpful these days with desktop parts that will (depending on the power management settings) more or less keep increasing the clock speed until they reach ~90°C and just stay there. Upgrading from a bad/undersized heatsink can easily have only a tiny effect on temperature but have the effect of significantly increasing clock speed and power.

[mqus]

Aren't they at least useful for ruling out any anomalies there? Like the die temp being 110°C constantly? Imho the die temperature is very important here, even if not interesting.

[userbinator]

but have the effect of significantly increasing clock speed and power.

Ironically, if these failures are due to excessive automatic overvolting like what happened with Intel's a year ago), worse cooling would cause the CPU to hit thermal limits and slow down before harmful voltages are reached. Conversely, giving the CPU great cooling will make it think it can go faster (and with more voltage) since it's still not at the limit, and it ends up going too far and killing itself.