Ideas for cooler ITX systems: use low-temp CPUs to help dissipate heat effectively.
Ideas for cooler ITX systems: use low-temp CPUs to help dissipate heat effectively.
Set up an entertainment PC built around an ITX PC for everyday tasks and light gaming. I kept my main system as an Intel i9 12900K, but it heats up significantly during idle—web browsing can push temperatures up to 60°C. In contrast, my Ryzen 9 7900X stays cool even at low loads. The heat is especially strong in ITX builds during summer. I’m looking to replace the CPU and possibly the motherboard to achieve much lower idle temps. I own a 280 Corsair AIO and have heard mixed things about AMD options; would you recommend any AMD models that perform well at idle? Also, Ulta 7 265K is known for being hot but reportedly very efficient—any thoughts?
Exploring cutting-edge options, saving on costs while potentially using DDR4 instead of older generations can be achieved with 12400 or newer equivalents (non-F). I'm not comfortable with Ryzen specs, but AMD hasn't been known for high temps. Intel has traditionally performed better, but from the 12th gen onward, managing heat with a solid frame and good thermal paste is crucial.
Ryzen tends to heat up more than Intel. 50-70°C idle temperatures are common. Yet Ryzen stays cooler during heavy use because its maximum power consumption is lower than Intel's, and it handles workloads more efficiently, resulting in a slower rise in power usage compared to Intel CPUs. My advice would be to consider underclocking your CPU—this is more affordable than replacing the whole system and won't sacrifice much performance.
Temperature plays a role, but TDP is another factor. As long as you keep the throttle limit during heavy use, other details become less important. If your 7900X gets too warm, PBO lets you adjust power limits on the CPU. You could essentially make it behave like a 65W TDP CPU, though performance will drop slightly. Under load, you can test temperatures using CB23/CB24 in advanced mode. For temperature monitoring during tests, use HWinfo64 only. You'll find a comparison of power usage across CPUs here: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/amd-r...x3d/9.html