I'm facing some serious thermal challenges with my i9-12900KF and Cooler Master AIO cooler. Whenever I start a Cinebench R23 Multi-Core test, the temperature jumps to 100°C almost instantly. My HWiNFO readings show Package/Ring Thermal Throttling is at 35%, and my score sits at 24,671, which feels low since I expected it to be around 27k or higher.
Currently, my AIO pump is running at 2300 RPM and the fans are at 1700 RPM. In my BIOS, I've set both power limits PL1 and PL2 to 241W. During testing, the Vcore reaches about 1.332V.
Interestingly, as soon as the rendering starts, HWiNFO marks the P2, P3, P4, P5, and P7 cores in red at 100°C while other cores remain green and cooler. It seems like the heat isn't dissipating effectively. The test lasts only a minute or two, so I thought my cooler could manage it, but it fails right away.
I've already tried connecting the pump to the AIO_PUMP header and the fans to CPU_FAN, correcting a mistake made by my technician. Also, I removed the cooler, verified that there was no plastic film on the base, and ensured the thermal paste is still moist and well-covered. I tightened the mounting screws in an X-pattern and even pressed down on the CPU block during the test, but the temperatures stayed at 100°C. I tilted the case to check for air bubbles and nothing seems to improve. Any advice would be appreciated!
2 Answers
Honestly, you might want to check out hardcore cooling setups specific for AVX workloads. I had similar issues with my 12600K using a 240mm AIO, and the right settings can make a huge difference. There are great resources on YouTube, especially by Buildzoid for undervolting with Intel protections.
Have you considered reapplying the thermal paste? Sometimes even when it looks okay, it can be less effective. If you can, it might help to get a high-quality paste, especially if there are fakes in your area. Just make sure to spread it evenly this time!
I haven't yet because I'm looking for a reliable thermal paste. The one already on there seemed to have good coverage, but I guess I should try if it doesn't improve.