I'm currently running a Ryzen 7 5800X with a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 cooler and an ASUS Strix 1080Ti. I've optimized every core and set the curve to -17, although it crashes in Sea of Thieves (it was stable at -30, but it didn't improve temperatures). While playing Cyberpunk at full settings (with only one shadow setting at medium), my CPU temps reach around 85 degrees and sometimes hit 90 degrees. I'm thinking about switching from a setup with 2 intake fans and 1 rear exhaust fan to 3 intake fans, 1 rear, and 1 top exhaust. Will this change help lower my temperatures? My idle temps are around 45-50 degrees, and I just applied the cooler recently, so I doubt it's a thermal paste issue. I appreciate any advice!
5 Answers
It's tough to predict thermals accurately since they can vary by setup. The best way to know if adding more fans helps is to test it out yourself.
Yes, adding fans will improve your temps somewhat, but don't expect a huge change. Your idle temps are pretty typical for this CPU. For a demanding game like Cyberpunk, your temperatures under full load are also within a normal range.
That CPU can be tricky to cool down. I don’t think the extra fans will make a significant difference unless you can set a fan at the top of the case to provide fresh air to the cooler.
Honestly, your temps look fine to me!
Rearranging the fans might not do much if your case doesn't have good airflow. Is your Peerless Assassin a single or dual tower? Also, what case do you have? If it’s not designed for airflow, the fans won’t help much.
You can check by feeling for air movement while the fans are running or using an anemometer. Also, look for dust buildup; that can affect airflow too.
Oh, sorry! I meant the Peerless Assassin. I bought my case second-hand and don’t recognize the logo; it’s a regular ATX case. Is there a way to check the airflow?