My Ryzen 7 9800X3D has started running noticeably hotter over time. The system uses an NZXT H9 Flow, an ASUS ROG B850-F Gaming WiFi motherboard, 64 GB of Corsair RAM, an RTX 5080, and a Corsair Nautilus 360 RS ARGB AIO that is about 1.5 years old. The case has three bottom intake fans, three side intake fans, three radiator exhaust fans, and one rear exhaust fan. Under an OCCT CPU load, the processor reaches roughly 95°C. I have already reapplied Thermal Grizzly thermal paste without seeing much improvement. I also replaced the original Corsair radiator fans with AsiaHorse Nyota fans, so I am wondering whether their static-pressure performance is significantly worse. Could the AIO pump or radiator be degrading, or is this temperature normal for the 9800X3D? What should I check first?
2 Answers
Before replacing anything, compare the result with stock settings and record ambient temperature, CPU package power, core voltage, and pump/fan RPM. A 150 W stress load on a small CPU die can produce very high temperatures even with a functioning 360 mm radiator. If temperatures are also unusually high during normal gaming or light workloads, then mounting, pump operation, airflow, or AIO degradation becomes much more suspicious.
An AIO can lose performance over time because of pump wear, coolant permeation, or buildup restricting the cold plate. Strange pump noise is not required for it to be underperforming. Compare coolant temperature if your software reports it, check for a large temperature difference between the radiator and the CPU block, and make sure the pump is connected to a header running at full speed. The most useful confirmation would be testing with a known-good air cooler or another AIO.
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