I've got a Lenovo Legion 5i laptop with an RTX 4070 GPU and an Intel i7 13700hx CPU that I've been using for two years. Lately, I've noticed that my CPU runs dangerously hot, often hitting 100°C at full utilization, while the GPU stays at a manageable 75°C. I recently cleaned the fans and had the laptop checked, but the CPU still runs around 95°C. Every time I hit high usage, it throttles, and I'm concerned this might be a hardware issue. I'm hesitant to disable Turbo Boost, but why is my CPU overheating so much while the GPU seems fine? Room temperatures are also normal. In Performance Mode, the temps are higher, but even in Balanced Mode, they're still around 10-15°C lower than in Performance Mode at the same utilization.
3 Answers
It’s not unusual for CPUs to run hotter than GPUs, especially in high-performance laptops. If you’re hitting 95°C, that’s definitely hot, but it's common for thermal throttling to kick in around those temps. Remember, different workloads can cause varying temperatures, too. The GPU might not be working as hard depending on what you’re doing, which can explain the cooler temps. Some laptops are designed to keep the GPU cooler to avoid damage, while CPUs might need to manage heat differently.
I get the concern! The throttling is normal for CPUs under heavy load. Just ensure your cooling is optimal and consider replacing thermal paste—it can help lower temps.
Honestly, 95°C isn’t the point of failure, so it might just be the thermal limits of your system. Throttling is expected in these situations, especially if the laptop is being pushed hard. Check if you have any unnecessary programs running that could be causing the CPU load.
I hear you! It’s just frustrating that others with my model report lower max temps. I’m really hoping there's a fix for my overheating situation.
What are you doing on your laptop that makes it hit 100% utilization? If you're just playing games like Minecraft or Spider-Man at 20-30 render distance, that shouldn't be enough to consistently hit those temperatures. Have you checked for background processes or malware? A fresh Windows install on a new SSD might help if you suspect something's off.
I mainly play Minecraft modded, and even at lower usage, the temps spike to near 100°C. That's why I'm wondering if there's anything else causing this.
That makes sense! My GPU usually hits 85°C but I tweaked my room cooling and now it stays in the 70s. Is there a way to reduce CPU throttling? Those high temps are messing up my gameplay.