I'm planning to upgrade my CPU to a Ryzen 5800x which has a thermal design power (TDP) of 105W. However, my current cooler is only rated for 95W. Is this TDP difference something I should be concerned about? Should I invest in a new cooler before making the upgrade, or is the difference negligible?
4 Answers
Your CPU won't constantly operate at its rated TDP, especially during gaming, where it probably won't even utilize all 8 cores. That said, the 5800x does run warmer compared to some other models. The crucial factor is really your cooler. Most people discuss cooler capabilities based on benchmarks rather than those TDP ratings. A solid dual-fan dual-tower cooler with six heat pipes should work great for your setup.
What cooler are you using right now? Knowing that could help assess if you'll really need a new one or not.
If you're worried about it, you can switch your CPU to eco mode in the BIOS to limit its power usage to 65W. But honestly, I doubt you'll notice a real-world difference in performance.
Keep in mind that AMD's TDP ratings aren’t directly comparable to cooler TDP ratings; they measure different things.
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