I've been struggling for three days to lower the temps on my Intel i5 11600K CPU and I'm out of ideas. I've done a lot of research, but my CPU is running way hotter than the average temps I find online. Here's my setup:
- Intel i5 11600K processor
- ASRock Z590M-ITX/ax motherboard
- Noctua NH-L9x65 CPU cooler
- RTX 3060ti founders edition
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 1TB M.2 Samsung Evo SSD
I also have a case I bought locally, probably a no-name brand, with tempered glass and RGB fans. The fans seem pretty poor quality and I can't even tell if I can control their RPMs with my PC since they're controlled by a remote.
Everyone says the 11600K should run cool, idling around 30-40°C and reaching up to 80°C under load, but mine never goes below 40°C. Just turning on my PC and starting Windows pushes the temps past 40°C. Even light tasks like browsing YouTube keep it between 50-60°C, and I've seen spikes over 100°C while gaming. This is happening in a room with AC set to 20°C, and I can feel the warm air coming out of the case when gaming. It only cools down when I remove the tempered glass panel, but that isn't a practical solution for me.
I've already reapplied thermal paste (using a generic brand), adjusted the fan configuration, and switched air directions, but nothing seems to work. Am I doomed to consider liquid cooling, or does anyone have suggestions on improving my temps?
4 Answers
Honestly, your case doesn’t seem optimal for cooling. If the fans are pushed against the glass, airflow could be severely restricted, which explains why your temps drop when you remove it. Consider a case with better airflow design for better cooling.
It seems like your cooler might not be up to the task for your setup. Even Noctua mentions that it's not ideal for overclocking or heavy loads, especially in ITX builds. You might want to consider an AIO cooler instead for better performance. It's definitely worth looking into if you want to keep those temps down without compromising your CPU's potential.
That's a good point! I thought the Noctua cooler was good enough, but I guess it can struggle in compact cases. If you decide to switch, look for an AIO with decent reviews!
You might want to consider getting a dedicated CPU cooler and switching to a better thermal paste. The cooling performance really can depend on the type of paste, and some generics just don't cut it. Also, make sure your cooler fits in your case properly to ensure good airflow.
I’m definitely looking at getting a better thermal paste. The one I have is common, and I’ve read that branded ones perform much better.
Have you checked your clock speeds and voltages? Lowering the voltage a bit can help with temperatures, but you need to maintain stable clock speeds. Also, see if your BIOS allows you to set a fan curve based on temperature to ramp up those RPMs when things heat up.
Good idea! My clock speed is usually around 3.91GHz but occasionally spikes up to 4.9GHz. Is that normal? My voltage goes from 0.6V to 1.4V.
I see what you mean! I thought the fans were well-placed, but maybe I'm mistaken. Looks like it might be time for a new case too.