I recently upgraded my CPU from an Intel i5-9600K to an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, hoping to resolve some bottleneck issues. However, I'm not seeing any significant FPS improvement and my CPU temperatures are actually worse now. My old setup ran pretty smoothly with decent temps (around 60-70°C), but now with the Ryzen I'm experiencing temps peaking at 90°C, and my GPU utilization is still quite low, between 30-50%. Am I using the wrong cooler or just the wrong CPU altogether? I did a fresh Windows install and I'm using the same GPU (RX 9070 XT) with unchanged settings and resolution. I've heard from the community that the stock cooler is subpar and I'm considering after-market solutions. Any advice?
5 Answers
The 5800X is a capable CPU, but its stock cooler simply cannot handle higher loads, thus you may need an aftermarket cooler for better thermal performance. Make sure everything is updated—drivers, BIOS, etc. If you’re into gaming, you really want to consider getting a dual-tower air cooler or an AIO solution for effective cooling.
Honestly, you're not seeing much FPS gain because of the temp issues and potential throttling from that stock cooler. Look into solid aftermarket coolers if you want to unlock the full potential of your chip. It's also worth considering some performance tweaks in BIOS to optimize it further.
It sounds like you're not getting good contact with your CPU cooler because the mounting brackets may differ between Intel and AMD. Make sure everything is installed correctly. Also, check if you have the latest chipset drivers installed because that could affect performance too. You're definitely not seeing the upgrade benefits you should be seeing!
I edited to say I'm still using the stock cooler. Do you think that’s the main reason I'm not seeing any FPS gains?
Your expectations might be off. The Ryzen 7 5800X can run hot, especially if you didn’t apply your cooler correctly or if the case airflow isn’t sufficient. Additionally, ensure you're running your RAM with XMP enabled, as that can hugely boost performance in CPU-heavy games. But definitely, upgrading the cooler should be a top priority to keep your temps in check.
I’ll check the RAM settings! But it looks like the cooler might be my main problem.
Your issue likely stems from the cooler you're using. The stock cooler that comes with the Ryzen 7 isn't great, and it doesn't sound like it's keeping your CPU cool enough. Upgrading to a capable cooler, like a Phantom Spirit or Peerless Assassin, could dramatically reduce your temperatures. Those stock coolers can struggle, especially under load.
Yeah, the peerless assassin is a good choice. I never exceeded 60°C with mine under regular gaming loads.
Definitely, upgrading that cooler would be a game changer. Keep us posted on how it goes!