I recently built a PC with a Core i7-14700k and RTX 5070ti, but I'm pretty worried about the temperatures when everything is under load. I have three intake fans in my Lian Li 011 case and a Corsair Nautilus 240mm AIO cooler for the CPU, which functions as an exhaust. Right now, the idle temps are around 45°C, but when I'm gaming, they spike to about 80°C, and I've even experienced thermal throttling during Cinebench R24 tests. I've read conflicting opinions on whether I need a 360mm AIO instead. Some say that a more powerful cooler won't make much difference due to the CPU's temperature characteristics, while others argue that airflow balance (more intake than exhaust) is essential. I'm a bit anxious about the overall cooling efficiency and am thinking about whether upgrading is necessary or if I can just adapt to the higher temperatures.
5 Answers
As long as you're staying under 90°C under load, your setup is likely sufficient. Modern CPUs can handle higher temps without issues. Upgrading to a larger cooling solution will mostly increase power consumption without giving much improvement unless your current cooler can't keep it cool enough. Just watch the temps, and remember they won't affect performance until you hit 100°C.
Switching to a 360mm AIO could shed 5-10 degrees off your temps, especially given the high power limits of the 14700k. If you’re looking to upgrade, consider coolers like the Arctic Liquid Freezer III, which have better contact pressure and improved cooling efficiency.
If you're not thermal throttling during regular tasks or gaming, then you might be okay. It's important to consider how quiet you want your system, though; if noise is an issue, adding more fans could help with that. But overall, if your system handles what you use it for, don't stress too much!
It's good to know I'm not the only one feeling anxious about temps. Just want that peace of mind!
240mm AIOs can struggle to handle higher wattage CPUs like the i7-14700k, especially under heavy load. Upgrading to a 360mm would probably help cool things down by a few degrees but make sure your fans can handle the airflow demands. A good air cooler can sometimes be a better value compared to a mid-range AIO even though it depends on your specific use case!
Thanks for the insights! I guess it depends on what I'm running on it.
You're seeing thermal throttling at 80°C, which is a bit early for that CPU. It should throttle around 100°C. You might want to double-check your BIOS settings; there could be some misconfigurations causing this early throttling. Also, don't stress too much over negative vs. positive pressure – as long as airflow to the AIO fans is good, your setup should be fine!
Sorry for any confusion in my original question! I appreciate the help.
So you think I'm safe with what I have right now?