Reddit user mounts laptop upside down for Counter-Strike, sparks debate on heat and hinge damage

In what is actually going to be a fine addition to the popular cursed images in the computing world, we now have a new contender, one where a Reddit user flipped their Asus TUF gaming laptop upside down to play Counter-Strike. The post, titled “I Did It Like This, How Does It Look”, was shared on r/GamingLaptops and has quickly gone viral, with over 6,800 upvotes and a flood of comments debating thermals and hinge durability.

Reddit user, u/YusufK80, explained that the upside-down position helps them get the screen closer to eye level while leaving enough desk room for an external keyboard and mouse. With no budget for a separate monitor, this setup, resting on an inverted laptop stand, has been their daily driver for over 4-5 months.

The user stated they’re using PTM7950 thermal material instead of liquid metal, which they believe reduces the risk of leakage. They also dismissed concerns about speaker placement and added that the laptop is only used in this setup for a few hours a day before being stored safely.

However, community feedback wasn’t all encouraging. While a few commenters described the setup as “thinking outside the box” and remarked that “if it works, it works,” others expressed concern about potential overheating, compromised airflow, and long-term stress on the screen hinges. One user, u/Castform_Cloudy, even dubbed the setup the “Laptop of Damocles,” capturing the sense of precariousness many felt.

A few commenters, including some claiming themselves to be repair techs—acknowledged that while not ideal, the setup might not immediately damage the device if cooling is stable and the system isn’t regularly moved. That said, most still advised against it, especially on machines not built with this kind of strain in mind.

Images like these often end up joining the growing archive of cursed tech, photos that feel wrong or mildly distressing to anyone who’s spent time around electronics. But beyond the humour, setups like this reflect a real part of tech culture: the relentless creativity of users trying to bend hardware to their needs, even if it means flipping convention, quite literally, on its head.