i9-9900k with x72 thermal throttling problem Issue with overheating during high performance
i9-9900k with x72 thermal throttling problem Issue with overheating during high performance
For some time my i9-9900k has been experiencing thermal throttling thanks to the Kraken x72 cooling solution. This tends to occur during heavy workloads, especially when I'm working extensively in Unreal Engine. The temps usually rise into the high 80s while running Prime95 and can dip into the low 90s occasionally. These readings are taken at stock speeds with the standard BIOS configuration. I've attempted tweaking the CPU core frequency and offset values without success. A screenshot from when throttling happened is attached, showing a range from 800MHz to 4.7ghz. I've also re-seated the AIO cooler multiple times and cleaned all related components.
The maximum readings show you're not experiencing thermal throttling at 100°C. That doesn't mean your temps aren't high—just a very hot component. It's a powerful chip, but if you were in my shoes, I'd consider relocating the cooler with better thermal paste (perhaps upgrade to higher quality). Also verify your fan settings and pump speed.
The speed gradually drops to 800mhz under load when temperatures hit the high 80s. I've tested two thermal compounds—Arctic Silver 5 and MX-4—and replaced the CPU cooler three times in the past six months after noticing this issue. I increased the fan and pump settings, even running them at full capacity, but it didn't help.
You're confident you're correct, and the NZXT CAM displays 2600-2800 RPM on the pump.
It seems the system is experiencing power limit restrictions rather than thermal throttling. Using HWiNFO or ThrottleStop will help identify the exact cause, which might involve a motherboard sensor sending a throttling signal through the BD PROCHOT path. ThrottleStop can detect this kind of restriction. Other monitoring tools may not be able to capture it.
Manufacturers haven’t shared details on which sensors send throttling commands through the BD PROCHOT channel. These signals might relate to temperature or power issues. Clearing the BD PROCHOT box in ThrottleStop will prevent the CPU from responding to external throttling attempts. Is this advisable? Not certain. Voltage regulators also have their own throttling indicators. It’s unclear what triggers the throttling on your board. Consider sharing a screenshot of Limit Reasons so others can understand this problem. What model are you using? You might want to point a fan near the voltage regulator section of the motherboard.
Using a signal through BD PROCHOT forces the CPU to enter high thermal throttling. The multiplier decreases to 8 and the clock speed drops to 800 MHz. This behavior can occur if a sensor fails while the CPU is not actively processing data. While this issue is more common in laptops, it can also affect some desktop systems. Do you need Prime95 running at 4.7 GHz or higher? The application consumes significant power and may overload the CPU, causing throttling even when idle. Running ThrottleStop to disable BD PROCHOT should keep the CPU at full speed, though safety isn't guaranteed. The manufacturer likely set this limit to protect a board component.