Hey everyone! I recently built my first PC using an AMD 9600X paired with an Endorfy Fera 5 cooler and a Montech XR case. However, I'm noticing that my CPU idles at a pretty high temperature of 72°C (160°F), and the fans seem to be cranking at 100% even though I set them to silent mode in the motherboard software. My main concern is that I might not have tightened the cooler properly, as I was worried about damaging the CPU if I tightened it too much. I also used the thermal paste that came with the cooler. Do you think it would be a good idea to invest in better thermal paste and really make sure to tighten the cooler? Thanks for your help!
3 Answers
I've built quite a few PCs and, believe me, we all make mistakes! Double-check to ensure the protective film was removed and that the thermal paste is applied correctly. The fitment of your cooler is also crucial. Sometimes, BIOS settings can cause voltage issues too, so keep that in mind.
That cooler should be more than capable of handling the 9600X. I'd suggest you completely uninstall the cooler first. Make sure that any protective sticker on the cold plate has been removed, then clean off the old thermal paste with rubbing alcohol and reapply it carefully. Also, double-check that your CPU fans are plugged into the correct headers. You generally don’t need to worry too much about overtightening, but it’s best to be cautious especially if it’s a brand you’re not familiar with.
Thanks a lot for the advice! I was careful with the sticker since I watched a bunch of tutorials. I’ll order new thermal paste and remount the cooler as soon as I get it. After some gaming, my temp spiked again and the fans haven’t really helped cool it down much, so I’m hopeful this will solve the issue!
It sounds like your cooler might not be seated correctly, especially with that high idle temperature. I recommend removing it and rechecking everything—make sure the protective film was taken off the CPU cooler. If you used the stock thermal paste, that could be part of the problem too. A better quality thermal paste might help!
Thanks for responding! I did remove the plastic film, but I think I might’ve messed up the paste application or securing the cooler. I've just ordered some MX-4 thermal paste and plan to remount the cooler tomorrow. Fingers crossed that it'll make a difference!
I appreciate the tips! The film is definitely off, and I suspect my issues stem from the paste and cooler fitment. I'll give the MX-4 paste a shot tomorrow and see if that helps. BIOS settings are a whole other beast for me, though!