Every few years or as recommended by the manufacturer, typically when you notice reduced performance or overheating.
Every few years or as recommended by the manufacturer, typically when you notice reduced performance or overheating.
Hey everyone, I've observed that my PC's idle temperatures are roughly 10°C higher than they were when I first assembled it. Normally it stays between 38-40°C during idle and climbs to 85-90°C under heavy load while testing. To be clear, my CPU is overclocked at 4.7 GHz across all cores. I'm unsure if the issue lies with the thermal paste I used (Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut) or if the warmer summer weather in California—especially since the room temps are often above 100°F—is impacting cooling performance. With the fans running and the ambient heat already in the 80s, it's possible the environment is affecting things. I've removed the front glass panel from my NZXT H510 Elite case to improve airflow. Let me know what you think!
I lowered the clock speed from 5 GHz to 4.7 and it maintains around 80°C during heavy use. Previously, it reached 78°C at full load. I still have three-quarters of a tube of Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut left, and I don’t want to purchase more just in case. Linus posted a video comparing most top thermal pastes, noting they’re quite similar with only a 1-2 degree difference. They even experimented with toothpaste and peanut butter for comparison. My PC was built about two years ago, and that was the last time I applied the original thermal paste.
It seems you're planning a weekend task. Some folks finish it quickly, but I'm not that fast either.
I avoid setting a specific time limit. Perform a stress test upon initial setup or whenever you modify the paste. Record your measurements. Repeat the tests periodically to detect major changes.
I ran the most thorough stress test using 3D Mark, achieving peak temperatures of 78-79°C across all cores at 5 GHz. Recently, I played Resident Evil 7 for the first time and used HW Monitor, which showed a maximum of 84-85°C for all cores. To improve airflow, I cranked my EVGA 2080 Ti XC2 Ultra to 100%. The increased noise was noticeable, but with my noise-cancelling headset on, I couldn’t hear it. I’m unsure whether the higher temps are due to my CPU thermal paste or the hot summer environment—my room stays around 85°F while it’s cooler in winter. It’s unclear if the temperature difference matters or if I should replace the paste. Disassembling and rebuilding my PC is a big task, so I’d rather avoid it unless absolutely needed.
I’d explore some tailored front panel covers for your H510. You should also clean thoroughly to remove all dust from the parts. This can significantly impact performance. Is the 280 positioned as intake at the front or exhaust on top? It’s hard to say for sure. If it’s on top as exhaust, temperatures will rise because the GPU’s waste heat is used to cool the AIO. Adjusting it to front intake might slightly lower CPU temps, though it could affect GPU and VRM temps a bit. Make sure your pump and fans are working well—80-85°C during light gaming isn’t ideal. You might also want to consider removing the case if you’re comfortable with it. The paste you used is getting old, as are the materials Intel placed between the die and the IHS. What’s your CPU core voltage while gaming? If you weren’t planning to remove the case, I’d say you should stay under 1.30-35V regardless of cooling options. Lastly, what’s your LLC setting?