Hey folks! I'm struggling with temperature management in my PC build, and airflow is definitely not my strong suit. I have a Ryzen 7 5800X paired with an RTX 3080, and I've done a bit of research, but I'm still unsure about how to keep everything cool. Here's a rundown of my setup: I'm using a 120mm Cooler Master AIO cooler (mounted on the side), an EVGA RTX 3080, and an MSI B550M PRO-VDH motherboard, with 32GB of RAM housed in a Thermaltake mid tower case that has a restricted front panel with no mesh. Currently, my fan setup includes one 120mm rear exhaust fan and the one radiator fan, but no front intake fans. I've been monitoring my temps while gaming, and they hover around 75-85°C for the CPU and 70-80°C for the GPU. I know the 5800X can run hot, but I'm starting to think that the lack of front intake fans is a huge issue. Would adding two front intake fans help, or is my 120mm AIO cooler not cutting it for this CPU? I'm torn on whether to prioritize adding intake fans, upgrading to a 240mm AIO, or switching to a mesh airflow case. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Honestly, going with a 120mm AIO on a 5800X without any intake fans isn't doing you any favors. You definitely need at least two intake fans in the front to improve your airflow. That should help keep those temps more comfortable. Sure, your temps aren't dangerous, but better airflow could make a big difference!
The 120mm AIO isn't ideal for a chip like that; a 240mm AIO would generally give you better cooling performance. Also, check the hotspot temps on your GPU and consider repasting with a quality thermal paste like PTM7950. Regular thermal paste might not hold up well under high loads.
I believe your case is playing a big role in your temperatures. While your temps aren’t crazy high, they could definitely improve. You should also clarify which Thermaltake mid tower you have, as different models can affect airflow quite a bit. Once you assess that, adjusting the fans should help.
It's the Thermaltake AH T200, just for reference!
Yeah, I think you're right. I'll grab a couple of fans and see how that goes!