I'm using an Intel Core i7-10700KF CPU with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER GPU and 16 GB of RAM. After about 30 to 40 minutes of smooth gaming, I notice stuttering, and when I check MSI Afterburner, I see that my CPU frequency drops from 4600 to 800 MHz when the temperature hits around 80°C. The temperature then cools down to about 50°C, and this cycle repeats. I've tried increasing the PL1 and PL2 values in the BIOS to prevent throttling, but the issue persists. Is there a specific reason this is happening? Could it be related to my GPU being too old, or is it something else? I mainly play Rainbow Six on low settings at 144 fps, so it's not anything very demanding.
3 Answers
What CPU cooler are you currently using? The cooling solution can significantly affect thermal throttling, especially in smaller cases. If the cooler isn’t efficient enough, it might not handle the heat generated during gaming well enough.
Have you considered reapplying thermal paste? It's one of the cheapest ways to possibly improve your thermal performance. If you've already done it and the cooler is good, there might be other factors at play.
I actually did reapply thermal paste and even got a better cooler, so I don’t think temp is the issue. It doesn’t even hit 85°C during use.
Try using HWInfo64 in sensors only mode. It will give you detailed info on frequencies, power, voltages, and even VRM temps. Sometimes, if your motherboard's voltage regulators aren’t cooling properly, it can cause performance issues, especially on budget boards. You could also run stress tests with Cinebench or OCCT while monitoring these temperatures.
I'm using a Noua Blizzard. It was installed by a local service, and while it works fine, it may not be the best option since my case is pretty compact.