Addressing CPU thermal issues in the latest release
Addressing CPU thermal issues in the latest release
Hello! I recently put together a splurge build. Full specs in my sig. It has been quite a few years since I've done my own build. Overall everything has been awesome but I have a question/concern regarding my CPU. To preface I'm fully aware the 14900 is a power hungry beast that runs extremely hot . I paired this setup with Arctic Liquid Freezer 2 420 AIO to try and partly tame it. When running Cinebench 2023 with a room temp of 22c my p core temps are in the 90s with some hitting 100 and throttling. My primary use case is gaming and under those conditions temperatures are fine (between 55-65). I do have heavier loads related to 3d rendering so I hoped to get the temps a bit better controlled under extremes. I tried to undervolt the CPU by setting the bios to adaptive+offset setting a - value to .05v. This resulted in a temp drop keeping the cores in the 80s. Cinebench is mostly stable (not always) and Prime 95 almost immediately crashes. I tried backing off the undervolt and found I can only set it to .02v. Anything more and I get the same instability. I'm running at stock settings and disabled MSI's gaming enhanced mode + enhanced turbo. Based on other peoples posts and videos claiming they can easily hit .05-.075 (.1 for extremely lucky people) it feels like I'm getting really bad results. I do have a Thermal Grizzly contact frame on this setup. Is it possible I have it under/over tightened causing this issue? My CPU is within the timeframe that I can RMA/swap it. I'm wondering if I should just cover both bases and swap the CPU and redo the contact frame? If there is anything else I should try? Or is this fairly common and normal and I should just accept it. Thank you everyone!
Ensure your thermal paste application is even and covers well. Based on common experiences with the 13900k and 14900k, they tend to overheat. You might also want to consider tweaking the power limits. Intel seems to be pushing these high-performance chips too hard.
Thanks for your feedback! It seems things are getting quite intense, especially with the boosts from mobos. Your temperatures seem to be within a typical range, and your peak draw hits around 330 watts. I understand you’re hesitant about power limits but also don’t want to throttle performance. Regarding your undervolt situation, it’s possible it’s a rare case—maybe not every chip is equally affected. If you’re seeing stability around -0.02V, that’s a good sign. At -0.05V your thermal performance is holding up, which suggests you’re managing well despite the instability. If a swap could improve stability chances, it might be worth considering, especially if you’re open to exchanging.
I've worked with laptops that have poorly built designs, and generally their CPUs can handle temperatures between 90-100°C for extended periods. If you're concerned about heat, check the power draw and adjust the BIOS settings accordingly. For instance, if it's drawing 220W at full load, you might lower the limit to 200W. This will slightly reduce performance but should bring temperatures down into the 80s or similar range.