I've been observing some unusual temperature behavior between my two CPUs. My new 7 9800x3d runs noticeably hotter when idle, averaging between 34°C and 36°C, whereas my old i5 14th gen stays cooler, typically hanging between 29°C and 32°C. However, under load, the 7 9800x3d impressively stays below 60°C most of the time, while the i5 often exceeds that. Both CPUs are paired with AIO coolers; the 7 9800x3d uses an Arctic Liquid Freezer III 420, which seems like overkill on paper, and the i5 has a standard 360 AIO. I've even reapplied thermal paste multiple times to the 9800x3d, but the idle temperatures haven't improved. I'm just trying to wrap my head around why this is happening. Is this normal?
5 Answers
The 7 9800x3d's IO die consistently uses 15-20 watts, which can cause those higher idle temps. However, when under load, the actual cores are much more efficient than what you'd typically see with Intel chips. If you're concerned, you might experiment with reducing the SOC voltage, but make sure to stress test to maintain stability.
Recent Intel CPUs are built for efficiency at lower loads, thanks to their efficiency cores. This helps them keep temperatures down when not under heavy stress, unlike some AMD counterparts. You might find this difference notable!
Your idle temps on the 7 9800x3d really aren't that bad compared to many setups! It's common for these chips to run hotter at idle than people expect. What's important is that it doesn't throttle; if it’s performing well in load conditions, you should be okay!
It's likely due to the chiplet design of AMD CPUs. They tend to have a higher base power consumption when idle compared to Intel’s monolithic structure. But when they’re under load, they manage power much better, especially with the X3D's design aimed at keeping cache temperatures in check.
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