Hey everyone! I'm dealing with a frustrating issue with my gaming PC. Here are the specs: Intel Core i7-8700K, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti, MSI Z370-A Pro, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and both a 1TB HDD and 240GB SSD. Recently, my performance tanked; I was getting only 5-10 FPS in games even after troubleshooting and performing a factory reset. For a brief moment, it felt like my PC was back to its former glory, but I'm back to poor FPS after restarting.
I've also noticed fluctuating CPU speeds and high temperatures (80-100°C), particularly after messing with the BIOS. One of my fans suddenly went silent, and I suspect my liquid cooler might be failing, which could've cooked my CPU. I'm fine with replacing components, but I'm wondering if it's worth salvaging my current setup as a backup or if I should just consider building a new PC from scratch. What do you think?
5 Answers
Replacing the cooler is a good first step. It’s pretty cheap to try, and if your CPU's thermal throttling stops after, you might be back in the game! If worse comes to worst and the CPU is damaged, you won’t be left empty-handed since you'll have a cooler for your future builds. If you feel ready to upgrade your GPU or memory later, this setup still has potential!
If your CPU is hitting those temps in the BIOS, it’s likely the AIO is failing. A 120mm AIO usually won't perform as well as even an entry-level air cooler. I'd recommend getting a dual-tower air cooler like the Thermalright Peerless Assassin, which should fit and do a great job. Just make sure to check for cooling issues and reapply thermal paste to the CPU, and you should be okay to continue using it!
I looked up that cooler, seems like a solid choice! If I swap that in, how can I tell if my CPU is still okay afterward?
Honestly, try to replace the cooler first. They're more affordable right now, and you can always reuse one in a future build. If it turns out your CPU is cooked, then you can think about a full upgrade. But with a little luck, you could get the performance back and enjoy gaming without investing too much!
A new cooler could really do the trick. Definitely worth investing in before making any big decisions! Repaste and install it, and see how the system behaves. If it's still overheating after that, you might have to consider a full rebuild, but at least you'll have a cooler for future use!
It sounds like you're likely dealing with thermal throttling, especially if your CPU temps are at those crazy highs. A 120mm AIO cooler isn't great for cooling an i7-8700K, particularly in a case with zero airflow. After nine years, components can start failing, and AIO coolers aren’t known for longevity either. Your pump might've died or the coolant could've evaporated. A cheap dual-tower air cooler could be a great replacement!
Do you think if I just replace the cooler, my CPU will be okay? I'm sure it’s overheating from the AIO not performing.
Thanks for the reassurance! If I can keep this going, I might hold off until I can save for better parts later.