I upgraded from a Ryzen 5 3500X to a Ryzen 7 5700X and noticed a significant increase in temperatures. The CPU sits around 50°C in BIOS and fluctuates between roughly 45°C and 55°C on the desktop with no programs open. While testing GTA V, it reached about 83°C, even on low settings. The fans are also noticeably loud. I'm using an ARCTIC Freezer 36 ARGB cooler and I'm unsure whether the issue is thermal paste, mounting pressure, fan settings, or the cooler itself. I used about a pea-sized amount of paste and tightened the heatsink screws fully. Are these temperatures safe, and should I remount or change anything?
3 Answers
Those temperatures are generally safe. Ryzen processors can briefly boost to high temperatures, and around 83°C during a game is well below the point where you need to worry. Idle temperatures can also jump around because the CPU changes clocks and voltage rapidly. What matters more is whether it stays near the upper 90s under sustained heavy workloads or begins throttling.
The loud fan behavior may simply be the default motherboard fan curve reacting to quick temperature spikes. You can adjust the CPU fan curve in BIOS so it doesn’t ramp up instantly for every small fluctuation, while still having it reach full speed at higher temperatures. It’s also worth checking CPU voltage and temperatures with a monitoring program during a longer gaming session. If the temperature remains around the low-to-mid 80s and the cooler is mounted correctly, the system is operating normally.
I’d first check the cooler installation rather than assuming the CPU is defective. Make sure the contact plate is sitting evenly, the mounting screws are tightened gradually in an alternating pattern, and the thermal paste is spread across the contact area without excessive thickness. The cooler may move slightly if you push on it, but it shouldn’t feel loose or lift away from the CPU. Also confirm that every case fan is spinning and that airflow is moving from the front or bottom toward the rear or top.
A pea-sized amount is normally enough. If you remount it, clean both surfaces with isopropyl alcohol, apply fresh paste, and check that the cooler’s mounting hardware is properly seated.
I understand it isn’t at the maximum temperature, but the fan noise is much louder than with my old processor, so I was worried something was wrong.