I've got a new i7-14700k, and I'm struggling with extremely high temperatures while stress testing and gaming, particularly in Call of Duty Warzone. Previously, I used an i5-11600k without any overheating issues, usually sitting around 65-75C. However, with the i7-14700k, I'm hitting a constant 100C, even during normal gameplay. I started out with a 240mm AIO cooler, then added two extra fans in a push-pull setup, which lowered it to about 97C. Recently, I upgraded to a new NZXT 280mm AIO with the same configuration, but I'm only seeing slightly better results at around 95C. I've cleaned my PC thoroughly, but I couldn't position the AIO with the tubes facing down, though I doubt that's a major issue. I considered that the CPU might be faulty, but I've seen discussions suggesting these CPUs typically average around 75-85C under load. I've also tried undervolting by 0.30, which brought the average temp to about 90C. My GPU runs at around 60C during games, and the AIO liquid temperature stays roughly at 40C. I thought a 280mm cooler would be sufficient, but I'm wondering if I need to upgrade to a 360mm AIO, which would also require getting a new case. What are your thoughts? Is there something wrong with my CPU?
2 Answers
Have you thought about trying a CPU contact frame? It can really help with heat transfer. Also, do you think cleaning off the stock thermal paste from the AIO could help since the i7 is slightly larger? My experience is that using the pea method isn’t as effective with the rectangular CPUs, so it might be worth considering.
Be sure that your power limits are correctly set. Some motherboards still come with unlocked limits by default, which could cause high temps. You can always try locking the power limits and reduce them by about 50; you might not lose much performance, especially in games. It’s worth a shot!
Yeah, the contact frame can make a difference, especially with larger CPUs. And absolutely clean the old paste off if you haven't done that yet; it can help improve heat dissipation a lot!