Are my CPU temperatures too high with the Phantom Spirit 120 SE cooler?
Asked by
CoolGamer42
I recently swapped out my failing Corsair AIO for a Phantom Spirit 120 SE to keep my system operational, but I'm really concerned about the temperatures. My CPU idles around 55-58°C and hits about 80-85°C when gaming, particularly in BF2042 and Arc Raiders. My case airflow seems good and the cooler is oriented front-to-back, with fans operating correctly. I've also remounted it twice using MX-6 and TF7 paste. Additionally, I have a CO offset of -20. I'm trying to figure out if these temps are typical for a 9800X3D running on air, or if I might have a mounting issue that needs addressing before I take everything apart again.
Answers
Those temperatures are technically within the realm of normal for that CPU since it can handle up to 95°C. However, they do seem a bit high for idle and gaming. It sounds like you might have a bad cooler mount. If you can, take off the cooler and snap a picture of the thermal paste spread on your CPU, then share it with us for a better look.
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True, 85°C isn’t alarming, but with that noise level? Definitely sounds like something is off. Ambient temperature being 19°C should help lower the temps, so I'd keep investigating.
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Quick question—have you tried taking the side panel off your case? Sometimes that can really affect temps. Also, what speed are your CPU cooler fans running when you hit those high temps?
TechWhizKid: I don’t have the exact RPM numbers, but I can tell you the fans are pretty loud as the temps spike past 75°C!
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What’s your ambient temperature? Since 85°C isn’t necessarily a problem, it might just be that the Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) is pushing that limit. But if the noise is bothering you, it might mean there’s an issue with your setup. My ambient is around 19°C, which really helps keep things cool.
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Have you considered getting an AM5 Contact Frame from brands like Thermalright or Thermal Grizzly? They help distribute pressure evenly over the IHS and could lower your temps by a few degrees—especially beneficial for high-end air coolers. Your idle temps suggest there might be an issue with contact or mounting, even after remounting.
NoiseNerd: I've seen some reviews say that the contact frame doesn't really help with AM5 CPUs. It was a bigger deal for Intel processors with bent IHS issues, but for AM5, it might not make a significant difference.
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PixelPanda28: Here's my pic: https://imgur.com/a/ASJiNcg