Hey everyone! Hope you're all doing well! I'm having a bit of an issue with my CPU cooler. Recently, I've noticed that my CPU temperatures are running quite high for no apparent reason. On my desktop, it sits around 58-65%, but as soon as I start browsing, it jumps to 70-75%. When I game, regardless of the title—be it Battlefield, Call of Duty, Elden Ring, Dota 2, Valorant, Doom, or Prince of Persia—the temps soar up to 85-90%! To give you some context, my normal desktop temperatures were around 38-42% and gaming temps used to be about 69-70%.
Here are my specs:
- CPU: 9800X3D
- RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance RGB 32GB
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO
- GPU: 4080 ASUS ROG STRIX
- Current Cooler: GALAHAD AIO
I've already replaced the thermal paste with Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, cleaned all my fans, double-checked the airflow directions, and even cleaned my radiator with a WOLFBOX MF100 Electric Air Duster.
So my question is: should I consider getting a new CPU cooler, or is the issue not likely from it? If you have any recommendations for coolers, particularly those that have a noise comparison under load, I'd love to hear them! I'm looking at some options like:
- ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360 A-RGB or the PRO version (not sure of the difference since the Pro is cheaper on Amazon)
- ASUS ROG RYUJIN III 360 ARGB Extreme White Edition
- RYX Panorama 360 ARGB White 360mm
- NZXT Kraken Plus 360 RGB
Thanks in advance, and have a great day!
4 Answers
Hey, just to give you a frame of reference, I have the 9800X3D with a basic Noctua D15 AIR cooler and in a decent 20°C environment, I hit around 75°C on full load during gaming. So yeah, it really might just be normal given the conditions. The ambient temperature can play a huge role in CPU performance if it gets too hot in your room.
The NZXT Kraken Plus 360 RGB also gets good reviews for cooling the 9800X3D, and it looks pretty slick with RGB. If aesthetics matter to you, it might be a good pick! Just, again, watch the noise levels when you're gaming.
It seems like you're mixing up temperature and CPU usage; your temperatures are what really matter here. Your AIO cooler should be sufficient for the 9800X3D, but if it's reaching those high temps, it could be an issue with contact, clogging, or not enough liquid in the cooler.
Yeah, you should definitely check if the AIO is working properly. Topping off the liquid or even just ensuring the pump's functioning could make a difference.
If you're looking at new coolers, I think the ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III is a solid choice. It's generally well-reviewed for both cooling performance and noise levels under load. Just make sure you double-check all your setup for airflow as that can affect cooling efficiency too!
Thanks for the insight! I'll definitely keep the ambient temperature in mind.