I've been using my 9800X3D CPU, and even with PTM7950 thermal paste applied to eliminate human error, I'm noticing some pretty high temperatures. Despite running at room temperature of 25°C and with the case panel removed, I'm hitting 95°C during Cinebench R23 with Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) set to auto, and using around 140W. From what I've researched, the 9800X3D with a PS120 Evo cooler should run cooler than this. I've even tried undervolting by 26mV but still max out at 95°C. Is this normal? My setup includes an MSI X670E Gaming Plus Wifi motherboard and a Montech Air1000 Premium case.
5 Answers
Running synthetic benchmarks like Cinebench is going to push your CPU to its limits, so hitting thermal limits isn't surprising. But yeah, the 9800X3D shouldn't typically reach those temps under a decent cooler like the PS120 Evo. Maybe check the installation again or look into your cooling solution.
I remember seeing mid to high 80s at around 115W with my setup. Are your all-core clocks hovering around 5.2-5.3GHz? That could explain some temps if they're pushed continuously.
Yep, I'm steady at 5.2 GHz, so maybe that’s the culprit!
The 9800X3D is designed to boost really high under workloads due to its architecture. PBO can push it until it reaches certain thermal or power limits. Even if you're using 140W, it might still feel too low for such high temps, so something's off.
True, but 140W seems low for hitting those temps. You should keep an eye on your usage and maybe consider a different cooling approach.
Make sure you clean the cooler and CPU surfaces really well with isopropyl alcohol before reapplying your thermal paste. The 'pea method' works well—just don’t overdo it. Letting things dry properly is also important!
I'm using PTM7950 though, so I think it's okay, right?
What Cinebench R23 score did you get? If it's comparable to average performance, your CPU might be doing just fine despite the heat.
I got around 21k on auto settings and 23k when I undervolted. Looks like it's performing well for me!
I wouldn’t worry too much unless your everyday usage is causing similar temps. Synthetic tests are intense!