Devices experience temperature spikes without clear causes, resetting frequently aids performance.
Devices experience temperature spikes without clear causes, resetting frequently aids performance.
I've received the specifications and a bit of background. Please review everything before deciding to clean the device.
This laptop has an Intel i5-11300H processor, a GTX 1650 graphics card, 8GB of DDR4 RAM in dual-channel configuration, and a 512GB SSD with NVMe connectivity. It features an OLED display measuring 15.6 inches at 1920x1080 resolution, running at 60Hz. The battery capacity is 63Wh.
I noticed the CPU frequently reaches temperatures above 90°C during intense gaming sessions, sometimes dropping to around +200MHz for a short time before returning. Normally, temperatures stay near 70°C. A restart often resolves the problem. Even without launching games immediately after powering on, I observe increased fan speeds, indicating potential overheating when games start.
This issue has occurred with two new machines, suggesting it might be related to software (BIOS/Driver) or hardware (core process). After shutting down MSI Afterburner—which was set to launch automatically—I no longer experience the problem, but it appears without it. However, I recently faced the same heat concern without using Afterburner, and the CPU shows 100% utilization, though pinpointing the exact process remains challenging.
It’s been three years since I’ve investigated this thoroughly, and I don’t recall any specific steps that resolved it. Do you have similar experiences or advice on troubleshooting this situation?
Is this a fresh title you're playing now or the same one from three years back? Has it become more demanding in terms of system resources? Have you checked your computer's dust buildup and cleared it? Did you review the task manager to see which process is consuming CPU? Are you using any antivirus software? Are you adjusting settings for overclocking?
Sorry, I made changes to include details about my model. It seems background tasks are affecting the CPU across different games like Valheim, Genshin Impact, and Wuthering Waves. The laptop is clean—just two brand new machines, opened just one day after purchase. I couldn’t locate the specific process causing this; it felt like a general system activity that I couldn’t identify. Only the default Windows antivirus is active, and there’s no overclocking. In fact, I was planning to lower my CPU voltage as usual, but this i5 11300H is completely fixed.
I usually turn off what I don’t need in the background. I also applied liquid metal to the CPU. I might have used it on the GPU too, but for some reason the surface oxidized and the LM didn’t bond properly, so I had to scratch it with a wooden pick and just apply thermal paste. I haven’t faced any issues with LM usage or reapplying components before. I take good care of my equipment, clean it regularly, and have experience fixing various problems, but this one still sticks with me.
You're experiencing the same problem on both the new and older units—same brand and model. It seems to occur after applying the thermal compound.
It occurred immediately after the purchase on the second or third startup and continues randomly until now, using the same brand and model. I sent back the first unit assuming it was a manufacturing issue and chose a second one because I liked it and it was a great price. This happened even before I applied thermal compound.
Test the driver, BIOS, graphics settings, and Windows update. Attempt to recreate the problem by opening Task Manager and checking if the game is consuming full CPU power. Try lowering the CPU voltage intermittently, testing the game until performance improves, and observe if the CPU becomes locked. Does this model have adequate cooling or any overheating reports?
I've tested various drivers at different times while using Win10 and then Win11, facing the same problem. Recently, I updated the BIOS from version 8.8.2022 to 12.30.2022, but immediately after, the overheating issue started. Although MSI Afterburner displayed high CPU usage during gameplay (it fluctuated and briefly underclocked before returning to normal), the Task Manager showed no anomalies. Here are some screenshots; it might help clarify what's happening. It appears the CPU is malfunctioning without any obvious cause, likely due to faulty software. This isn't limited to WuWa—it occurs with other games too, regardless of the game in use. Right now, I'm just restarting my laptop until it stabilizes.
EDIT: After restarting, I opened Afterburner again and temperatures returned to normal. It seems there might be an issue with switching between the integrated GPU and NVIDIA, even though I've set WuWa to use only the dedicated GPU in the NVIDIA settings.
You're correct; the processor isn't operating at maximum capacity, yet the temperature rises significantly before it throttles down. This isn't likely a software issue unless MSI Afterburner attempts to enhance GPU performance, which could contribute to the heat increase. Observing a YouTube video of your machine shows the GPU and CPU exchanging heat via shared pipes that feed fans. This indicates that when one part gets warmer, the other can too.
In summary, using a GPU and CPU that share the same heat pipes isn't inherently problematic, but it requires attention to thermal dynamics. Here are some advantages and disadvantages: