I built my computer about two years ago and completely forgot to update the BIOS, which I realize now is a rookie mistake. My CPU temperatures were fine—never going over 72°C—until a month ago when I started playing Arc Raiders. Recently, though, I hit a shocking 100°C during gameplay, so I immediately exited the game. My friend suggested I update the BIOS, which I did, and I also cleaned my PC and AIO cooler, plus reapplied thermal paste using Thermal Grizzly. Despite these efforts, I'm still seeing temps around 90°C during long sessions and idle temperatures near 60°C. I'm wondering if not updating the BIOS for so long could have degraded my CPU. I know that 13th-gen CPUs can be tricky to cool, but my Kraken 360 should be keeping everything stable. Should I consider returning the CPU due to these issues?
5 Answers
Remember, just because your CPU is running hot doesn't necessarily mean it’s damaged. As long as you aren't getting crashes or other issues, it might just be a cooling problem. Just make sure to investigate your setup first before sending anything back.
The max safe temp for the i7-13700K is around 100°C. If you’re hitting that during gameplay, your PC will start to throttle. You might want to consider returning it before you risk any permanent damage.
I had a similar experience with my i9—it cooked itself at high temps and ended up frying the motherboard too. If it were me, I'd send it back while you can.
Definitely return it! Idle temps around 60°C are way too high. You need to act fast before it potentially affects your motherboard too.
It sounds like your cooling solution just isn't cutting it. The CPU might not be the problem here, but definitely check if your AIO is working properly. If it’s clogged, that could lead to those high temps. Testing with another cooler for a bit could really help you figure things out before you consider an RMA.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll see if I can borrow a cooler and run some tests.