I recently built a PC in 2023, but I've noticed the CPU is running quite hot. I initially capped the turbo power limits in the BIOS to 65W and set my Windows power options to limit the CPU to 99%, thinking it would reduce temperatures without sacrificing too much performance. However, a recent Windows update reset my settings back to 100%, and now I'm seeing the CPU reaching thermal max while gaming. Through some testing with HWInfo, I found that the CPU package was pulling around 65W at 100% and only 32W when I set it to 99% under load. This means I was running my CPU at half its potential for two years just to keep temperatures in check. To manage temps without the 99% cap, it seems I need to limit the turbo power to just 45W in the BIOS. Given that my cooler is mounted properly and I'm using a Lian Li 205 case with adequate airflow, do these numbers seem reasonable for a stock cooler? I plan to upgrade my cooler, but I'm curious if the stock cooler is really the issue considering these readings.
1 Answer
Yeah, that behavior is pretty normal for the i5 12400F. The 99% setting is problematic because it essentially disables the boost feature, locking your CPU at a lower clock speed of 2.5 GHz instead of allowing it to ramp up to 4.4 GHz when needed. This can lead to the CPU getting hot under load, especially with the stock cooler. It sounds like you're hitting thermal limits pretty quickly with the stock cooler, especially if you were pushing 65W in the BIOS. Lots of users find the stock cooler struggles with higher power settings, so you're not alone in facing this issue!
Exactly! When you limit power to 65W, the CPU will struggle to keep temperatures down, especially during demanding tasks. It's likely that people who say the stock cooler is fine are running at much lower power settings.