I've got a 9800X3D paired with an AFIII 240mm radiator. It's keeping things cool for the most part, but yesterday when I started playing CS2 at around 11-13°C outside, I noticed my CPU temps spiking into the high 80s and even hitting 90°C at one point, which seemed a bit odd. Currently, my idle temps are around 42-44°C, and while gaming, they generally sit at about 65°C but occasionally reach into the mid-70s. With this setup, do you think undervolting would help? My radiator fans are exhausts, and I have an intake fan, so there's positive airflow in the case.
3 Answers
The thermal limit for your 9800X3D is 95°C, so everything seems fine. If you're looking to reduce temperatures, you could try applying an all-core negative offset in the curve optimizer; starting with -10 could be a good move. Just test it out and see how it goes!
I've managed to drop my temps by about 12°C using a -20 offset along with a 200 PBO. My setup allows me to run at 5.425 GHz with a max Vcore of 1.75V, which works well for me. Just take care if you're experimenting with these settings to avoid any potential issues!
From what you've described, your CPU is performing as expected. Modern chips, especially AMD ones like the 9800X3D, are designed to boost performance when needed, which can lead to those temporary spikes in temperature. My 7800X3D hits thermal limits during loading screens but drops back below 80°C during gameplay as normal. If the temps still worry you, consider manually setting a max temp limit; I keep mine at 85°C instead of 89°C without sacrificing performance.
Got it! Just coming from a 5600X to this is a big change, lol. Thanks for the insight!
What power plan settings are you using for your CPU?
What's a good way to start with this as a total beginner? I'm worried about messing things up!