I've been having some strange issues with my CPU temperatures after replacing the thermal paste for the first time in four years. I used Arctic MX4 and tried the buttered toast method to apply it. However, when I started playing Overwatch, my fans were running at full speed even while just in the menu at around 72°C. I realized I hadn't applied enough pressure on the cooler, so I shut down my PC, laid it on its side, and pressed down firmly on the cooler to ensure a better fit. This brought my temps down to about 60-65°C during gameplay. But today, after going back into Overwatch, I noticed my temperature shot back up to 70°C in the menu again. I'm getting really close to reapplying the thermal paste, but I made sure to clean both the CPU and cooler with isopropyl alcohol. Everything was shiny and clean. I'm honestly confused about why I'm still having these temperature issues. Any ideas?
3 Answers
It sounds like the cooler might not be making full contact with the CPU, or perhaps there’s a chance you used too much thermal paste, which can actually insulate instead of improve heat transfer. Have you checked the cooler’s fit? Sometimes a little extra pressure can make a difference!
Can you just put a brick on the cooler? LOL!
What CPU are you running? Sometimes knowing the specs can help figure out if the temps are in a normal range for that model.
I'm using a Ryzen 5 3600.
Honestly, 70°C isn’t too bad for modern CPUs, even in the menu. What are your full specs? You might find that those temps are actually pretty standard for your setup on games.
Funny you say that! I was worried I put too much paste on it and didn’t get enough metal to metal contact. The cooler itself fits great, so I'm perplexed.