Check if the temperature and voltage of your i7 7700k are within normal ranges.
Check if the temperature and voltage of your i7 7700k are within normal ranges.
Hey everyone.
Before I begin, let's make sure we're talking about Celsius, not Fahrenheit.
I recently purchased a computer and have already optimized Windows and related components. The issue is that my BIOS voltage sits between 1.32 and 1.36, staying within that range—neither below 1.32 nor above 1.36. I can't check it right now because I'm updating some drivers.
My CPU temperature while playing Battlefield 1 with all settings at ULTRA and Turbo Boost enabled ranged from 68 to 75 degrees, peaking at 78. During gameplay I didn’t see it exceed 75, and I kept monitoring it most of the time. After disabling Turbo Boost, the temperature dropped to between 58 and 65 degrees, peaking at 67, never going above 65.
I think the case is mostly open, with three fans running and the GPU staying under 65 degrees.
Is this typical for a 7700k? I have a Noctua U9B SE2 cooler with two fans. Should I manually adjust the voltage settings, or should I reapply thermal paste? I’ve tightened all screws as much as possible.
Should I stop worrying and start playing, or should I take steps to lower the temperature? Also, do I need to verify the voltages for my CPU cooler?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks for the update.
I plan to re-apply the thermal paste again. I used roughly twice the amount shown in the picture. I misunderstood the Cooler Manual.
Does "careful not tightening too much" refer to avoiding damaging the motherboard? Or are there other reasons to keep it loose?
Regarding XMP, I haven’t changed anything in the BIOS beyond what I mentioned earlier. Unless it’s enabled by default, I shouldn’t be doing anything extra.
The chassis fans are 140mm in size. I’m considering rearranging them—moving one fan forward, adding two intakes at the front and one exhaust at the back, maybe even using a Y-splitter for four fans.
Absolutely, don’t tighten things too much...
How much did you push your CPU? Temperature is influenced by many factors such as airflow, cooler quality, fan speeds, thermal paste, and overclocking. There are numerous guides and user experiences available online; look at what others achieved and attempt to overclock within that range. Your cooler is solid, and airflow is also decent—hopefully you applied the thermal paste correctly and it’s in the 70s with a peak of around 80, which is fine. Regardless of your CPU speed, if you aim for optimal performance, adjusting the voltage is necessary. Unless your model is over 80, don’t make any changes. Since you have a K, it’s likely you should consider some overclocking. There are plenty of online guides to support this.
Currently I have these fan placements:
1 Fan Back - Exhaust
1 Fan Top (above CPU) - Exhaust
1 Fan front - Intake.
I used to have four fans, but I decided to use a Y-splitter for the CPU instead of case fans. Before, the CPU was connected to CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT. It felt better when they shared the same header. Also, the fans are 3-PIN on a 4-pin motherboard, so I bought the cheapest ones (Be Quiet! for 100 kronor, about 10€).
Currently I have these fan placements:
1 Fan Back - Exhaust
1 Fan Top (above CPU) - Exhaust
1 Fan front - Intake.
I used to have four fans, but I decided to use the Y-splitter for the CPU instead of the case fans. Before, the CPU was connected to CPU_FAN and CPU_OPT. It felt better to keep them together on the same header. Also, the fans are 3-PIN on a 4-pin motherboard, and I bought the cheapest ones (Be Quiet! for 100 kronor, about 10€).
I won’t overclock until I can enable Turbo Boost in the same temperature range as when it’s off. I’ve updated the post just in case!
Thanks for your reply.
By the way, I’m not sure why you need a K CPU if you’re not planning to overclock it. A small boost won’t damage your CPU.
Also, did you buy the computer completely prebuilt or build it yourself? If it was prebuilt, don’t worry and enjoy gaming.
Make sure you use software like HWmonitor or Intel Extreme Tuning Utility—they give more accurate temperature readings in my opinion.
Where did you check your voltage? Bios?
These temperatures aren't too bad, I've seen worse before. The system is close to throttling at around 20°C. The heat sync seems a bit weak for an i7, particularly the 7700k model. It's quicker than the 6700k and tends to run hotter. I recommend getting a bigger Noctua cooler to help manage the heat better.
SgtScream is pointing out that the temperatures aren't too bad, but they're close to the limit for an i7, especially the 7700k. He notes the heat sync is a bit weak and suggests upgrading to a better cooler. He questions why someone would need a more expensive or larger cooler if they already have one, and mentions they said they won't overclock.
Makentox :
SgtScream shared his thoughts on the situation.
He mentioned the temperatures aren't extreme, but the system is close to its limits. He noted that the heat sync is slightly insufficient for an i7 processor, particularly a 7700k model. He pointed out that these models are quicker and generate more heat compared to lower-end ones. He recommended upgrading to a better cooling solution to manage the warmth effectively.
He questioned why someone would need a more expensive cooler if they already have one, and also clarified that he planned not to overclock the system.
He explained that a larger heat sync is necessary mainly because running Battliefield doesn’t push the CPU to its maximum capacity. He suggested that even under stress tests like prime95, temperatures would likely remain higher than 78°C. During hot summer periods, he expected even greater heat buildup.
Yeah, your temps are fine for a 7700K. However, if you're using stock at 4.2GHz, you probably don't need that kind of vCore boost. I haven't seen anyone running 7700K without pushing it overclocked, so I didn't focus on the stock vCore. But I'm sure you can adjust it to 1.250 or lower to handle 4.2 better. That should help bring the temperature down even more.
I purchased the K version because:
A) I assumed the K model was faster due to its higher stock GHZ. I wasn't aware it was mainly/only meant for overclocking.
B) It cost only 20€ more than the non-K variant.
Now understanding A, another benefit of the K version became clear: if I can run Turbo Boost at 55-65°C temperatures, I'll gain some extra GHz. Previously, with stock, performance matched that of the Turbo Boost on the non-K model, which might have been possible because that CPU could handle higher temps.
I've also replaced all fans, including CPU fans, with full speed continuously. The noise isn't bothersome since I'm using a headset almost every minute while sitting at the desk.
However, I plan to reapply thermal paste and possibly lower the VCORE from 1.265 to 1.210 or something similar.