i9 9900k running hot after OC
i9 9900k running hot after OC
I recently upgraded my i9 9900k to a 5ghz processor using an MSI Z390 MEG ACE board and a Corsair H150i cooler. I followed MSI's guidance on the OC process and adjusted the BIOS settings they recommended. The system runs at 1.32v, and during Cinebench it reaches low 90s with scores around the low 2000s—unexpected compared to typical results I've seen (usually near 2100). The stock Corsair SP fans mounted on the radiator and the water cooler fans should help lower temperatures. Consider using additional case fans if needed.
Switching to ML fans will result in a quieter system, though it won’t significantly improve heat removal. The best approach is to adjust the fan curve in Bios or add extra case fans.
At 5GHz the i9-9900k tends to overheat. You might lower the Core Voltage (which can help) and some users have successfully set it to 1.28V at 5.0GHz with stable performance. The outcome depends on your specific model (Silicone Lottery).
It’s preferable for air to flow through the radiator from outside to inside, particularly if you don’t have a reference GPU. Keep in mind that air inside a case is always higher than the room temperature, which can greatly affect cooling if your system is air-conditioned.
Switching to ML fans will result in a quieter system, though it offers limited heat removal. It’s advisable to adjust the fan curve in Bios or add extra case fans for better performance.
At 5GHz the i9-9900k tends to overheat. You might lower your Core Voltage (which can help) and some users have successfully set it to 1.28V at 5.0GHz with stable operation. The outcome depends on the specific model you’re using (Silicone Lottery).
It’s preferable for airflow to move through the radiator from outside to inside, particularly if your GPU has no cooling fan. Keep in mind that air inside a case is always warmer than the surrounding room temperature, which can significantly impact performance in an air-conditioned environment.
I have identical CPU and motherboard – I really like the board, especially after using one Asrock Taichi and two Gigabyte boards. The MM41 mentioned keeping the room temperature at 72°F (22°C). My current reading is 4.9 with a 1.245 Vcore. When rendering videos, the main program runs at 96-99% load, and my temperatures stay in the low to high 70s. The other unit increased its heat setting today, and shortly after, my monitoring alarm started going off intermittently – one core reached 85°C, just a couple degrees higher than before. Another point to consider is adding more fans to push air into the case rather than exhausting it. Since your GPU is also drawing air in along with the three radiator fans, having more exhaust than intake creates negative air pressure. This forces the radiator fans to work harder and still manage to supply less air through them. A simple test would be to remove the case cover to see if temperatures drop. DarkBreeze has a solid guide on overclocking with advice on adjusting or tweaking Vcore – around 1.32V could keep things stable, but I’d follow their suggestions to lower it for better cooling. You can find their guide here: Stress tests are useful for confirming stability at different settings, but don’t rely solely on them. What temperatures do you actually experience during gaming or other tasks? When I install liquid cooling, I plan to redirect the normal exhaust fan inside the case and create an acrylic shroud to direct air toward the VRM heatsinks. That’s just a thought.
The H150i PRO appeals to ML enthusiasts who prefer the quiet version, offering lower RPMs compared to the standalone ML (non-RGB) models available. The SP-RGB fans remain fully operational without needing control from the cooler, which keeps them running at maximum speed continuously. This setup suits those who tolerate noise but aren't seeking enhanced performance over standard ML fans with their coolers. As noted by MeanMachine41, altering the fans likely won't significantly impact results, though it's unclear without knowing the H150i coolant temperature.
MeanMachine41 shares insights on optimizing cooling solutions. Switching to ML fans can reduce noise but offers limited heat removal; consider adjusting fan curves in BIOS or adding case fans for better performance. At 5GHz, the i9-9900k tends to overheat. Lowering Core Voltage can help—some users achieved stable 1.28V at 5.0GHz. Ambient temperature matters, especially in air-conditioned spaces. Testing showed core voltage at 1.28V with stable operation in the low 70s. For case fans, prioritize quality over appearance; choose reliable models for optimal cooling.
I have identical CPU and motherboard – really like the board, especially after using one Asrock Taichi and two Gigabyte boards. What MM41 mentioned about ambient temperature – we maintain a room temperature of 72°F (22°C). My current reading is 4.9 with a 1.245 Vcore. When rendering videos, the main program runs at 96-99% load, and my temperatures stay in the low to high 70s. The other unit increased its heat setting today while I was rendering, and shortly after, the monitoring alarm started going off intermittently – one core reached 85°C, just a couple degrees above that. Another point to consider – you should have more fans pushing air into the case than pulling it out. Your GPU is also drawing air in along with the three radiator fans. If you have more exhaust fans than intake ones, you’ll end up with negative air pressure, forcing the radiator fans to work harder and still delivering less air through them. A simple test would be to remove the case cover. DarkBreeze has a solid guide on overclocking with advice on adjusting or tweaking Vcore. The suggested 1.32V might be enough for stable performance, but I’d follow their recommendations to lower it – the cooler you get, the better. Check out their OC guide here: Stress tests are useful for confirming stability at different settings, but don’t rely on them as your only measure. What temperatures are you actually seeing during gaming or other tasks? When I set up liquid cooling, I plan to redirect the case’s standard exhaust fan to push air into the system and create an acrylic shroud to direct the air toward the VRM heatsinks – just a thought.
devbiker :
The stock fans with the H150i PRO are ML fans - just the quiet edition, so lower RPMs than the stand-alone ML (non-RGB) fans that you can purchase. The SP-RGB fans cannot be controlled from the cooler - they'll run at full blast all the time. This is fine if you don't mind the noise but they won't really perform any better than the stock ML fans with the cooler.
As MeanMachine41 said, changing the fans isn't likely to make much, if any difference but that's impossible to say right now as you didn't include the temp of the H150i coolant.
Ok makes sense. I dont know much about case fans and which ones are the best and what not but as long as my temps are not close to thermal throttling im fine which it seems like my temps are fine now (running low 70s after cinebench test)
Hi, I'm using the 9900K on an ASRock Phantom Gaming 9 board with the latest Chipset 390 running at 4.9GHZ across all cores simultaneously. The Noctua NH-D15 cooler Stable Prime is set to 70-80°C, and Cinebench scores are around 90-95°C. The V-Core voltage sits between 0.850V and 1.280V. I believe these results are solid.
🙂
Let me know what you're running.