I've been having an issue where my CPU temperature keeps rising and falling rapidly. My PC shuts off in the middle of gaming, and when checking the BIOS, I see the CPU temperature fluctuating from 60°C to around 80°C and back to 60°C, repeatedly. This happens even while idle. If I play for too long, my CPU temperature exceeds 100°C, leading to an automatic shutdown. I have an Intel i5-13600K and a Corsair H150i 360mm radiator mounted at the front of the case with tubes at the top. I'm wondering what could be causing this temperature issue and how I can fix it. Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Just to add on to that, it wouldn’t hurt to run an anti-malware scan. Sometimes malware can mess with your hardware settings, causing overheating issues. It might be worth checking to rule that out.
You might want to start by updating the BIOS for your motherboard and then restore Intel defaults in the BIOS settings. There were some quirks with the 13th and 14th gen Intel CPUs that caused voltage issues. Also, ideally, the radiator should be mounted at the top to prevent air bubbles in the tubes. Make sure the pump is correctly mounted and has good contact with the CPU—check for any defects on the surface as well. Don't forget to inspect the thermal paste too; if it's not applied properly, that could lead to overheating. If remounting doesn’t resolve the issue, you might need to consider replacing the AIO cooler.
Yes, getting fresh thermal paste could be a good first step. It can make a big difference if the current paste isn’t properly applied.
Check the pump's RPM in the BIOS to make sure it's functioning correctly. If you can, place your hands on the tubes right out of the AIO; there shouldn’t be a big temperature difference. If you notice a significant difference, it might mean there's air trapped in the system. You can find guides online to help dislodge any air bubbles. Lastly, don’t forget to clean everything and replace the thermal paste; sometimes that’s all it takes to improve performance.
I see what you're saying, but it's been running fine for two years. Also, I can't mount the tubes at the bottom because of my GPU size. What should I try first? Should I get new thermal paste since the cooler had pre-applied paste?