CPU runs excessively hot unexpectedly.
CPU runs excessively hot unexpectedly.
Hello everyone, it's been roughly four years since I got my Ryzen 7 2700X. After installing an AIO, everything ran smoothly, but after a thorough cleaning and thermal paste replacement, the CPU started getting quite hot in the following weeks. I did some checks and everything seems to be set up correctly compared to the first time, yet temperatures remain high—around 60-65°C at idle and over 85°C while just browsing. Through some research, I adjusted the balanced power plan, lowering the processor's maximum power state from 100% to 99%. This significantly cut down the heat output (now between 38-40°C at idle and 60-65°C during gaming), though it now only reaches about 3.2GHz, which is lower than the base clock of 3.7GHz and boost up to 4.1GHz in my case. Since I'm not an expert, I'm unsure if the issue lies with voltage or how to properly diagnose any potential problems with my CPU. My setup includes: motherboard: GigaByte B450 AORUS M (rev 1), AIO: Nzxt Kraken 120, CPU: Ryzen 7 2700X, case: Nzxt s340. I haven't updated the BIOS, and the CPU isn’t overclocked. All temperatures are measured via RayzenMaster. Voltage readings are roughly: at 99% power it's between 0.98-1.35V, and at full power around 1.425-1.40V (not sure if that’s a big jump). Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as I don’t have much budget for replacement parts.
Did you wipe away the previous paste with alcohol? Did you reapply carefully for even coverage? And was the paste you chose designed to be used for a certain time before changing? Some thermal pastes require heating and cooling daily—turn off your PC at night after use, then let it rest. After a few weeks, performance usually matches the advertised specs.
I normally used thermal paste, cleaned the device with alcohol, and applied a large chunk of goo in the center. I didn’t verify if the paste has a curing time, which could be a potential issue. Thanks for the advice—I’ll look into it further.