My Core i9-13900KF reaches around 75–90°C while playing Counter-Strike 2 at 2560×1440 and 300 Hz, and it has briefly reached 100°C. I'm using a Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic case, DeepCool CASTLE 240EX liquid cooler, ASRock Z790 PG Lightning motherboard, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory, an RTX 3080 12GB, and three regular case fans. Could the 240mm cooler, mounting, thermal paste, pump, or case airflow be causing this? What would be the best way to reduce the temperatures?
3 Answers
The 13900KF can run extremely hot, but a 240mm AIO is on the small side for this processor, especially if the motherboard is allowing unlimited power. Check that the pump is running at full speed, the radiator fans are responding properly, and the cooler is mounted evenly with fresh thermal paste. A contact frame may also improve mounting pressure and temperatures.
Brief spikes near 100°C can be normal behavior for modern Intel CPUs, since they boost until they reach a temperature or power limit. However, sustained temperatures that high during a relatively light gaming workload suggest checking the cooler and airflow rather than dismissing it. Verify the pump speed, radiator orientation, fan direction, and whether the case is recirculating warm air.
It did reach 100°C during CS2, which seems excessive for this game, so I’m going to inspect the cooling setup instead of assuming it is normal.
A 13900K or 13900KF can push a 240mm liquid cooler into the mid-90s under heavy loads, but CS2 should not normally keep it at the thermal limit. Before replacing the cooler, check BIOS power settings and consider setting Intel-recommended power limits or applying a small undervolt. Also confirm that the block is making good contact with the CPU. A high-end air cooler can work, but switching from a 240mm AIO to a large air cooler is not automatically an upgrade for this chip; a healthy 280mm or 360mm AIO would generally provide more thermal headroom.
I was considering a Noctua NH-D15, but I’ll check the pump, mounting, power limits, and airflow first since the AIO itself may be faulty or poorly seated.
I’m planning to replace the thermal paste and install a contact frame. I’m also starting to think the 240mm cooler may simply be undersized.