I've just put together a new PC and I'm really frustrated with the temperatures I'm seeing. Here's a rundown of my specs: I'm using an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU on an MSI B860 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard, cooled by a DeepCool AK620 air cooler. I've got 32GB of DDR5 RAM (5600MHz), an RTX 4080 SUPER GPU, and an 850W power supply, all housed in an Antec C5 case.
Here's what I've observed:
- Idle temps are around 40–48°C.
- Under light load (60–70W), temps jump to over 60°C.
- While gaming (tried Battlefield 6), temps hit 78–85°C.
- Running Cinebench R24, the CPU spikes to 90–100°C at about 170–200W, scoring around 14K–16K. Meanwhile, Cinebench R23 shows temps immediately soaring to 100–104°C at 200W, with similar scores to others sitting around 34K, but I'm about 2K lower in scoring compared to competitors.
I've already reapplied thermal paste and reseated the cooler, checked the fan orientation for optimal airflow, and updated BIOS alongside chipset drivers. Despite all this, the thermal readings are still alarmingly high, especially since I can't reach the CPU's full power draw before it throttles.
Could this be due to my DeepCool AK620 not being sufficient? Would switching to a 360mm AIO cooler help? Or could it mean my CPU might be defective? I'm looking for advice, especially from folks using similar setups. Thanks!
2 Answers
It sounds like you're facing some really high temps! I had a similar issue with my Intel i7 13th gen, and even a 360mm AIO wasn't enough when it was default settings due to high voltage. You might want to check your BIOS settings for undervolting. I found that a manual adjustment could drastically lower temps—like starting at a -50mV offset on dynamic voltage and working up to -100mV. Also, limiting your power level (PL1) to around 125W can keep temperatures down during gaming. Just be careful with the settings and monitor your temps closely. Your dual-tower cooler should work fine once you manage the voltage!
Totally get your anxiety—navigating these thermals can be super stressful! If the CPU’s performance significantly drops with an AIO as well, then you can explore undervolting afterward. Just keep an eye on the temps and maybe do some stress tests!
I think the cooler might be the main issue here. I use a Cooler Master 620S double tower with my i7 12700F, and it handles temps really well. You should check the fan speeds and consider doing a little undervolting, too. It could help bring those temps down, plus ensure you're getting the best performance out of your new CPU!
I had an i7-12700 (non-K version) and it was performing just fine with lower temps. Increased power draw could definitely be a factor with the new CPU, so you're not alone there!
Thanks for the info! My VID usually sits around 1.204V, which seems fine, but even at stock settings, I’m still hitting those crazy temps. Do you think this is just how Intel has these chips behaving, or should I really look into undervolting? It makes me a bit anxious about whether I got a faulty CPU or not. If that’s just the nature of this CPU, maybe I should consider switching to a new AIO first before treading into undervolting.