My i9-13900K reaches around 90–100°C while playing a relatively light game such as CS2. I have an Aorus Z790 motherboard and a Corsair H150i liquid cooler, along with a case that has multiple fans. Replacing my older case with a newer, better-ventilated one did not noticeably improve temperatures. Disabling Intel Turbo Boost keeps the CPU around 40°C while gaming, but it lowers my FPS by roughly 100. I have tried several BIOS settings, but the cooler settings either do not help enough or reduce performance. What settings or hardware checks would let me keep most of the performance while lowering temperatures?
2 Answers
A 13900K is designed to run very aggressively, but 90–100°C in a game usually means the motherboard is allowing unlimited power or the cooler is not transferring heat properly. In the BIOS, load Intel’s default power settings rather than the motherboard’s unlimited enhancement profile. You can also set reasonable PL1 and PL2 limits, such as 200–253 W, and apply a small adaptive undervolt. That usually costs little or no gaming performance compared with disabling Turbo Boost entirely.
Since you already have a Corsair H150i, buying an even larger cooler probably is not the first step. Make sure the pump is running at the recommended speed, the radiator fans respond to CPU temperature, and the radiator is not mounted with restricted intake or trapped air at the pump. Also check that the protective film was removed and that the block has full contact with the CPU. A contact frame for LGA1700 can sometimes improve uneven cooling, but it should be installed carefully.
A 360 mm H150i should be capable of handling it, so I would check the pump speed, radiator airflow, coolant temperature, and whether the cold plate is mounted evenly. Reinstalling it with fresh thermal paste and checking socket pressure can make a noticeable difference.