Hey everyone! I recently got back from a week-long trip and noticed something concerning with my CPU temps. My specs include a Ryzen 5 7600X and an ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 360mm AIO cooler mounted at the top of my Antec C5 case. Before I left, my idle CPU temps were around 30-35°C, but now they've jumped to 45-50°C. Even just opening a browser tab sends the temps briefly to 50-55°C! Under load with Cinebench, it skyrockets to 80°C and settles around 75°C, which is much higher than usual.
I didn't change anything while I was away; the PC was off and unplugged. I checked the cooler—it's still connected and operational without any weird noises. Possible causes I thought of include dust buildup, changed ambient temperatures (though the room temp seems the same), and whether my coolers or settings could have degraded. I've updated the BIOS and reseated the AIO cables as well.
I'd love to hear your thoughts! Could my AIO have shifted, or should I think about reapplying thermal paste? Also, any specific tips for Ryzen 7000 series to help reduce idle temps? Could PBO or Core Performance Boost be a factor? Thanks!
3 Answers
If PBO is enabled on your setup, the AIO might not be ramping up efficiently. You may want to tweak your fan curves in the BIOS. I had to do the same when outside temps increased; it really helped manage my CPU and GPU temps!
I’d like to know that too! Adjusting them might make a difference for me as well.
Dust buildup is always a possibility if your rig has been idle for a while. I’d recommend giving it a good clean. If you haven’t reapplied thermal paste in a while, it might be worth doing that as well to ensure optimal contact and cooling.
Do you have any suggestions for the best way to clean the AIO? Also, how often should I really be reapplying thermal paste?
It sounds like rising ambient temperatures might be to blame. I've noticed similar spikes when it gets hotter outside. Just keeping an eye on the weather can sometimes explain these jumps. Have you checked if the weather has changed significantly since you returned?
It's getting warmer here too, but a 15°C increase seems a bit extreme. Maybe consider checking your cooling settings?
Could you share your fan curve settings? I’d love to see how you adjusted them!