I recently set up a new ASUS B850i motherboard with my R5 8600g CPU, and I'm facing a troubling issue: the CPU temperature spikes to over 90 degrees Celsius when I'm putting it under heavy load. Even during normal browsing, I've noticed the temperatures fluctuate dramatically, sometimes dipping below 50 degrees and occasionally peaking at 77 degrees. I've already tried cleaning off the old thermal paste and reapplying it with the small amount I had left, just enough to form a tiny pea-sized dot. I'm curious about what might be causing these high temperatures and how I can resolve this issue.
3 Answers
Typically, a CPU running at 77 degrees Celsius while browsing isn’t too concerning, but when you push it and see it hitting 90 degrees during heavy tasks, that's a red flag. Have you done any benchmarking to define what you consider 'heavy load'? I experienced a similar issue where my CPU hit 73 degrees just from browsing, but under really heavy loads like gaming, it was fine. Consider re-evaluating what you classify as a heavy load since sometimes our systems can be more tolerant than we think.
It's important to consider what CPU cooler you're using. What's your airflow situation in the case like? If you're using a thermal cooler that's not meant to handle high loads, that could definitely lead to overheating. If you're using the Thermalright TR AXP90-X47, I've heard opinions that sometimes stock coolers can perform better under certain conditions, even if they still run hot. Your mini ITX case with just a single chassis fan might be limiting airflow too, which could worsen heating issues.
Your mention of using a pea-sized dot for thermal paste likely means you're not getting proper heat transfer. Try cleaning both the CPU and the heatsink with isopropyl alcohol before applying new thermal paste. When you do, make sure to apply it in an 'X' shape across the CPU for better coverage. Sometimes folks underestimate the importance of thermal paste application; it can make a significant difference!
Yeah, I basically learned the hard way when I did it wrong once. Definitely try that X method!
Totally agree! I had similar issues until I switched my application method and it worked wonders.