I'm struggling with unusually high CPU temperatures while using my 240mm Corsair AIO cooler, which I've had for two years. After swapping out a 13700k for a 12900kf, I noticed that even minor loads push my CPU temp from about 30°C while idle to between 60-80°C. Recently, I saw it spike to 91°C during boot but then drop back to 30°C. While testing games, many start at around 70°C, and I suspect they will hit 80°C or more once the liquid heats up.
I've tried undervolting and adjusting settings in my MSI motherboard's BIOS, which helped reduce temperatures a bit. Friends suggest there might be an issue with the AIO since I can only feel heat from one side of the radiator and the tubes vibrate a bit. Could this be an AIO problem or perhaps an issue with thermal paste or the mounting of the CPU cooler?
5 Answers
A 240mm AIO can be adequate, but it really depends on your case airflow and room temperature. With an ambient temp of about 23°C, temperatures around 80°C can be acceptable, but if you're worried about longevity, aim for lower, ideally keeping it under 85°C.
Intel i9 processors like the 12900kf are known for their heat output, which can be pretty high depending on your workload. A 240mm AIO might struggle with that kind of heat, especially if you’re comparing to setups with 360mm AIOs. It might be worth upgrading to a 360mm cooler if you have the case space for it.
Check if the AIO's screws are properly tightened, especially if it has spring-loaded screws. Make sure the thermal paste covers the whole surface. If you have the stock cooler, it might be worth trying that or getting a budget cooler as a temporary solution.
Make sure your PL1/PL2 power limits match the capabilities of your AIO. If they're set to standard levels, you'll have trouble keeping temperatures down. Start with lower settings and gradually adjust, and meanwhile, verify the AIO's mounting and pump functionality.
You mentioned seeing the pump speed at 0 RPM in BIOS, but Corsair's software shows it's running around 2800 RPM. Have you tried adjusting the pump speed in BIOS to see if that helps? Something seems off if BIOS isn't reflecting the correct speed.
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