I'm currently considering switching from my air cooler to an AIO cooler for my CPU to see if it helps with high temperatures during intensive tasks, especially video encoding. Here's a quick rundown of my setup:
- **CPU:** AMD 9950X3D
- **Motherboard:** ASRock Taichi X870E with PBO on
- **Current Cooler:** Dark Rock Pro 5
- **GPU:** RTX 4090 FE
- **Case:** Phanteks Enthoo Pro with an ambient temp around 75F (23.9C)
Under normal conditions, my CPU sits between 50C and 60C at idle. When gaming, it's generally around 70C, occasionally peaking at 80C. However, during video encoding, temperatures soar to about 95C which concerns me since these sessions can last up to three hours. Although my CPU is designed to handle these temps, I'd prefer not to push it this hard for extended periods.
Would switching to an AIO, particularly the Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360, improve my temperatures in these situations? I'd keep the default exhaust setup. Any insights would be helpful!
1 Answer
Upgrading to either a 280mm or 360mm AIO is definitely a good move. While 95C won't damage your CPU because it's built to handle those temps, it sounds like thermal throttling might be happening. Case airflow is crucial too—considering you've got more exhaust fans than intake, that could be limiting your cooling efficiency. An AIO could potentially improve your temps during those encoding tasks, plus it’ll likely reduce fan noise since the CPU cooler will be quieter.
Gotcha! That makes sense. I've debated whether the investment would be worth it since some people say 95C isn’t a big deal, and I just want to make sure I’m not damaging anything.