I built my PC three years ago with an AMD 5800X and an NVIDIA 4070 Ti. Recently, while playing Dead Space Remake, I'm noticing my CPU temperatures are averaging around 86 degrees Celsius at 51% load, which seems quite high for a water-cooled setup (I've got dual 120mm radiators). Meanwhile, my GPU is sitting at 61 degrees Celsius under full load. Should I be considering reapplying thermal paste, or is there something else I should check regarding my cooling system? Thanks for your input!
5 Answers
Honestly, I rarely replace my thermal paste unless I'm doing related maintenance. I’ve got an old server PC that’s 11 years old with the same paste and it runs perfectly! If you're not experiencing any major issues with performance, it might not be necessary just yet.
I think it's worth a shot. Three years isn’t a super long time for thermal paste to dry out, so go ahead and reapply it if you feel like it. It's a pretty simple process. However, considering your GPU temp is good at 61 degrees under full load, it sounds like your cooling setup is generally okay, but that CPU temp is definitely on the higher side.
In normal situations, thermal paste can last between 5 to 10 years. Since your temps are abnormal, it might hint at a cooling issue. Could be dust buildup, or possibly it wasn't applied properly at the start. What cooler are you using?
I have a basic Thermaltake cooler, and I cleaned out the case a few weeks back.
The general rule is that thermal paste doesn't need frequent replacement unless you notice significant overheating. My 12900K had issues since I used a low-quality paste that failed after just 8 months. What brand are you using?
I used Arctic MX4. Is that considered a good quality paste?
Before jumping to thermal paste, ensure your pump is functioning properly. It’s unlikely that old paste is causing this kind of temperature unless it was poorly applied initially. Have you overclocked your CPU at all? That could also explain the temperatures.
No overclocking on my end and the pump’s working fine. What else should I check?
Yeah, that CPU temp is wild for just 50% load! Make sure everything's seated correctly when you replace that paste.