Hey everyone! I recently built my first PC and I'm worried about my CPU temperatures. Here are my components:
- Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX
- CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K
- CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE
- GPU: RTX 5070 Ti
- Case: Fractal Design North (two stock 140mm intake fans in front, two Arctic P12 Pro exhaust fans)
- PSU: Montech CENTURY II 1050W 80+ Gold
I knew the 14700K might run hot, but I made sure to keep the BIOS updated and set the power limits according to Intel spec. Initially, my idle temps are around 40-45C, which is fine. However, during stress tests with Cinebench, as soon as I launch the benchmark, my CPU temperature skyrocketed to 100C, causing thermal throttling. I tried adjusting power limits and fan settings but kept facing the same issue.
While downloading a game, I saw temperatures spike again to 100C. I did notice that my CPU wasn't even drawing close to its power limit during these tests, so I'm confused about what's causing these temperatures. Do I need to check my cooler installation or thermal paste? Is it common for CPUs like this to run that hot? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! This whole process has been a bit overwhelming for me.
4 Answers
253W is quite a high setting for an air cooler, even a good one. Try undervolting your CPU; it could help you maximize performance without hitting that thermal threshold. At least you'll have more headroom before it starts to throttle!
Before doing anything drastic, check that all your fans are set up correctly. Sometimes the mount can be tricky, and that can contribute to higher temps. And yes, don’t forget to remove any protective plastic from the cooler if you haven't already done that!
Make sure to tweak the voltage limits in BIOS. I've done this with my 14900K and managed to keep it cool during heavy benchmarking. Check these points:
1. Are your case fans blowing in the right direction?
2. Is the cooler secured properly? I've had issues getting the mounts right on Intel sockets.
3. Did you remember to remove any plastic from the cooler?
4. Check the thermal paste coverage; it’s key!
Should definitely look into a contact frame if you haven't already. It helps with those LGA1700 CPUs to prevent bending issues. Make sure your cooler is mounted tight and consider applying new thermal paste. My idle temps with a similar cooler are around 25-33C, and I can hit peaks with more demanding loads.
I was worried a contact frame might void my warranty, but I'll see what I can find. Thinking about reapplying thermal paste too; the stock paste didn't seem like much.
So, if my CPU package power was only 118W during the download, does that mean it really isn't getting anywhere near 253W? Just trying to get a clearer picture.